“The north wind blew wildly all night. War was on it, blowing all over the world”
ROSS RIFLES - Available Again!
From 1914-1918, Canada played a major role in assisting the British Empire in winning one of the fiercest wars in history. But victory came at a cost. The First World War took the lives of over 60,000 Canadians. It was from this vast entanglement of international alliances, leaders, and agendas that Canada emerged as a modern fighting force on the brink of nationhood.
Ross Rifles is a tabletop roleplaying game about members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) stationed on the Western Front. Sent overseas to fight for crown and country, your characters will make personal sacrifices in the name of Canada, and experience the horrors of industrialized war. The game will not only teach players about Canada’s contribution to WWI but also highlight the struggles and sacrifices made by Canadians of all background to the war effort.
This game is structured around life in the trenches and the dangers of no man’s land. The horrors of war and the threat of shell shock have profound effects on the narrative. Action in Ross Rifles is structured around our mechanics of “gaining ground” in no man’s land – an objective based means of measuring success, scaffolding action storytelling, and visualizing the flow of war. This way, Ross Rifles effectively bridges the gap between highly structured, combat-oriented RPGs such as D&D and the reflexive, narrative-focused simplicity of Powered by the Apocalypse games.
THE TEAM
Dundas West Games - Daniel Kwan, Patrick Keenan, and Daniel Groh - have been developing and publishing small-press independent tabletop games since 2017. Our innovative designs not only span a variety of genres, but also create accessible experiences that highlight the passion and diverse perspectives that underlie every project.
DANIEL KWAN
Writer and Marketing Coordinator
Daniel is an ENnie AWard-nominated podcaster, developmental editor, and educational professional. He is the co-host of the Asians Represent! podcast on the One Shot Podcast Network, and works as a sensitivity reader and cultural consultant in gaming. As a writer, Daniel has contributed to games that span a variety of genres - from FlipTales to Haunted West. Through Dundas West Games, Daniel has co-authored Zany Zoo and Wolf of the South. Daniel also independently publishes micro-RPGs, most recently Room X Mates and String Cheese: A Snackable Game of Contemplation. Daniel is also one of the co-founders of Level Up Gaming, a Toronto-based organization that provides adults with autism and other disabilities opportunities to develop their social skills through group gaming experiences.
PATRICK KEENAN
Writer and Publishing Coordinator
Patrick is an archaeology masters student at the University of Toronto and museum educator who runs the Dungeons & Dragons program at the Royal Ontario Museum. He is the co-author of Zany Zoo. Is an University of Toronto Graduate with a degree in Archaeology, Patrick is also a trombonist in the Hart House Symphonic Band. Patrick’s family has a history of service in the Canadian military. His Great-Grandfather Thomas Vivian Keenan volunteered in the Canadian Corps during the First World War but did not reach Europe until after November 11th, 1918.
DANIEL GROH
Head of Operations
Daniel is an experienced project manager in the field of information technology. His experiences have led to him developing skills in scheduling, cost control, and risk management. Daniel also has a deep passion for the histories of the First and Second World Wars. He was able to trace his family tree back to James White, a soldier of the British Expeditionary Force who participated in the Second Boer War and again in the first World War until he was wounded in the battle of Vimy Ridge and sent home in 1917.
Our Games
Wolf of the South
Wolf of the South is a quick introductory fantasy adventure of a party of low level (1-4) characters that can be played in a single session as a standalone adventure or as a chapter of an epic adventure spanning multiple sessions. This Dungeons & Dragons (5e) adventure is designed for use as both a standalone module or as an element of any campaign. It takes great influence from the historical events of the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. As such, this adventure synergizes well with East Asian settings.
Zany Zoo
You are animals living in the Zany Zoo – the world’s premier metropolitan zoo! Life isn’t necessarily bad, but you long to escape captivity and roam the wild. The Zookeeper has been tasked with keeping you healthy, safe, and most importantly inside the zoo!
Zany Zoo is a simple tabletop roleplaying game about zoo animals attempting to escape captivity.
Ross Rifles
Ross Rifles is a tabletop roleplaying game about new recruits of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) stationed on the Western Front. Sent overseas to fight for crown and country, your characters will make personal sacrifices in the name of Canada, and experience the horrors of industrialized war. The game will not only teach players about Canada’s contribution to WWI but also highlight the struggles and sacrifices made by Canadians of all background to the war effort.