(cross-posted from RPG Pub)

[video=youtube;O7WsPDSnzAk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7WsPDSnzAk[/youtube]

Alright, I have been thinking of a possible old-school RPG adaptation of my favorite zombie movie and one of my favorite horror movies period. And that is the 1978 classic Dawn of the Dead, written and directed by the late great George A. Romero.

When it comes to a system, I want to use a slightly modified Boot Hill 2E, as I own it on hard copy.

As for why I am going with Boot Hill and not something more recent or better suited for the horror genre like All Flesh Must Be Eaten or the Chronicles of Darkness rules, well there are a few reasons.

One is the fact that both Dawn of the Dead and Boot Hill 2E are of the same vintage, so you got that old-school late 70's feel. But that is a relatively minor reason.

The major reason is the fact that Boot Hill is notoriously lethal, which I feel helps add to the sense of horror and dread among the PC's.

With some slight retrofitting, Boot Hill's mechanics would lend itself very well to the survival horror genre.

Basically, all that needs to be done to the system is to write up stats for more recent weapons like semi-automatic pistols and assault rifles, and you're pretty much set to go. And honestly, that shouldn't be too hard.

(End Cross-Post)

So, what do you all think of the idea of using a mildly retro-fitted Boot Hill 2E as the base rules for a survival horror game?

Honestly, it could work well for zombies, slasher horror, Lovecraft-style stuff, or even old-school Gothic horror.

The only real hurdles I could see would be adding semi-automatic firearms (which should not be that hard) and maybe some extra stuff for melee combat as Boot Hill is mostly focused on gun combat with some rules for brawling.

Would any of you guys use Boot Hill (or any other old-school system) for a different genre than the default?

Shadows of Brimstone? A western horror themed board game with some RPG elements. The discovery of an otherworldly ore starts a boom in mining, untill said ore detonates and rips holes in space and time. So the PCs can end up meeting things like serpent men in a jungle temple setting, or undead astronauts on a space derilect. Wastelands marauders, skeleton British soldiers from the Revolutionary War, and so on. And some Lovecraftian things too. Great game really.

But there is one RPG that can do a horror western. Masque of the Red Death from TSR. Rules for guns, horror, and can call on anything from 2e if you really wanted. But is geared more or less for a lower key gothic horror vibe and can easily be set out in the west.

Would you really need rules for semi-automatic firearms? You can fire a revolver as fast as a semi-auto. The world record is like 12 bullets out of a revolver in 2 1/2 seconds (which includes reloading once)

Automatic, sure.

But I think Boot Hill is geared towards gunfighters, not normal people.

Quote from: JeremyR;1068291You can fire a revolver as fast as a semi-auto. The world record is like 12 bullets out of a revolver in 2 1/2 seconds (which includes reloading once)

Jerry Miculek doesn't count, his ability level is beyond human.

Quote from: Thornhammer;1068292Jerry Miculek doesn't count, his ability level is beyond human.

That's a fact!

You should mine Deadlands for content.

Quote from: tenbones;1068399You should mine Deadlands for content.

I whole-heartedly agree with this.



Sammy, i sent you a PM with some mods for BH 2e.

I prefer A&8s to Boot Hill, and more importantly I prefer straight historical wild-west campaigns to "wild west with fantasy element x".

Quote from: Omega;1068279But there is one RPG that can do a horror western. Masque of the Red Death from TSR.

That was an excellent game. It was OSR CoC!

If I was going to do "horror western", I'd probably use Deadlands.