Pecos Bill - Legendary American Cowboy


Pecos Bill was a Texan Cowboy during the American Westward Expansion (in some versions, the 1830s, other tales claim 1845 - the year Texas became a US State). In either event, Bill was separated from his family after falling out of their covered wagon and was subsequently raised by a pack of coyotes. He rescued a colt from a pack of buzzards and it became his constant companion, eventually growing into the horse "Widow-Maker".  


Bill was the toughest cowboy of his time, equally at ease brawling with bandits as he was with Native Americans. "They" say he dug the Rio Grande and not only roped, but rode a tornado. 


He eventually courted a (and I am not kidding when I say this) catfish-riding woman named Slue-Foot Sue. Bill and Sue were soon engaged to marry and Sue insisted on riding Widow-Maker before the wedding. 


Widow-Maker was jealous of Sue and during her attempt to ride, he bucked so hard that her dress's bustle bounced her to the moon. Her ultimate fate (and Bill's) vary from story to story. Some end in her rescue while others end with Bill delivering a mercy killing (to keep her from dying of thirst/starvation on the moon) and spending his remaining days howling at the moon with his coyote brethren in mourning. 

Incorporating Bill into your campaign: Bill can be used "as is" in most campaigns. If you don't use firearms, switch his pistols out for light or hand crossbows and change the names of places to fit your setting. Maybe he comes in search of a Wizard to help him rescue Sue from the moon. Maybe an Air Elementalist wants to seek him put to learn how he mastered the tornado he rode. Maybe the party druid wants to breed Widow-Maker to produce superior offspring. Maybe Bill is a hot sauce vendor, having gotten out of the cowboy game while the getting was good. 

"Pecos" Bill
Texan Cowboy
SPD: 90     Very Fast, +12 Spd Mod
GAC: 83     Very Good, +10 Acc Mod
TAC: 88     Excellent, +15 Acc Mod
STR: 65     Sturdy, 15 Hp
BRA: 86     Very Brave, +3 Spd Mod, +10 Acc Mod
EXP: 76     3 Gunfights, +0 Acc Mod

Age: Unknown, presumably late 20's to early 30's
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 180 lbs
Handedness: Ambidextrous

Wpn     BSP/BAC     R(S/M/L/E)     RF/RR
DAR6       20/70        4/10/20/40         3/3
Lasso*

*For the Lasso, roll 2d10, add the results, and consult the following chart:

9 or less    No Hold
10 or 11    Arm Lock, Left
12 or 13    Arm Lock, Right
14 or 15    Leg Lock, Left
16 or 17    Leg Lock, Right
18             Both Legs
19+           Both Arms and Chest

Gear: Clothing, Two Pistols (DAR6), Lasso, Horse (Widowmaker)

AD&D stats
LN Human male Ranger 2
Climate/Terrain: American Frontier, particularly Texas
Frequency: Unique
Organization: Solitary
Activity Cycle: Day
Treasure: See Gear
AC: 10
MV: 12
HD: 2
Hp: 15
Saves: PPD: 14, RSW: 16, PP: 15, BW: 17, Sp: 17
THAC0: 19
# att: 1 or 1+1
Dmg/Att: by Weapon
Str: 15, Dex: 13, Con: 14, Int: 12, Wis: 13, Cha: 11
Languages: English
Wpn Prof: Lasso (Specialization), Punching, Pistol
Nonweapon Prof: Animal Handling, Animal Lore, Animal Training, Direction Sense, Fire-Building, Riding - Land-based, Rope Use, Tracking (b)
SA: Hide in Shadows 15%, Move Silently 21%; in light or no armor, may fight with two weapons at -2 hit with main hand and -4 hit with off-hand
SD: Nil
MR: Nil
SZ: M

• Pistols deal 1d4 damage. If a 4 is rolled, roll the die again and add the result to 4 (repeat the process for every 4 that is rolled; e.g. Bill shoots an outlaw. His player rolls 1d4 for damage with a result of 4. He rolls again, gets another 4, and rolls again with the result bring a 1. His total damage is 4+4+1=9.
• For detailed lasso rules refer to the Complete Fighter's Handbook.

Lasso requires its own weapon proficiency, which is not related to any other weapon proficiency. Weapon specialization gives you the normal +1 to attack rolls with the lasso and +2 damage on all damaging effects of the lasso (strangulation after the initial hit is still only 1d4, not 1d4+2). The Rope Use Nonweapon Proficiency grants a +2 bonus to all attacks made with a lasso.

I was going to make Bill a Ranger in 3.5e also because of his background and relationships with the animals in his backstory (his Lasso was a rattlesnake named Shake at one point). I decided against it so I could make use of the bonus feats a Fighter receives instead.


3.5e stats

Human male Fighter 2
CR: 2     Medium Humanoid (Human)
HD: 2d10+4     Hp: 19
Init: +1      Spd: 30'     AC: 11 (+1 Dex), t: 11, ff: 10
Attacks: (BAB +2/Grap +4); +4 Unarmed Strike: 1d3+2 nonlethal or +3 Pistol: 2d6 (20/×2) or +4 Lasso: Entangle
SA: - -
SQ: Human traits, Class Abilities
Align: CN     Saves: Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +2
Str: 15, Dex: 13, Con: 14, Int: 12, Wis: 14, Cha: 11
Languages: Read/Write and Speak English
Skills: Handle Animal +7, Intimidate +2, Ride +8, Survival +4, Use Rope +3
Feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Lasso), Improved Unarmed Strike, Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus (Lasso)

• Human traits (Ex): Additional +4 skill points at 1st level and +1 additional skill point per level after 1st, bonus feat at 1st level, Class with highest level is Favored Class for multiclass purposes
• Class Abilities: Proficient with all Simple and Martial Weapons, all types of armor and all shields; 2 bonus Fighter feats
• Firearms are treated as Martial Weapons during the "Old West".
• Once Bill advances to 3rd level, I would take Improved Grapple as a feat and allow him to apply the bonus to opposed checks when using the lasso.

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