I'm looking around myself but wanted to see if anyone could recommend a currently produced/supported Old West RPG. Preferably something about as complex as an OSR game or Traveller. Any recommendations?
Find an old copy of Boot Hill
I have one and it would probably work for my purposes but wanted to see if there was anything newer out there.
Coyote Trail (http://www.pigames.net/store/default.php?cPath=59)'s fairly light.
Legends of the Untamed West: Dark City Games sort of TFT lite rethemed to a western. Base rules are free.
http://www.darkcitygames.com/docs/UntamedWest.pdf (http://www.darkcitygames.com/docs/UntamedWest.pdf)
They also have one solo adventure out.
Gunslinger: by Avalon Hill. Wargame. But gets the job done.
Heard of a BRP book called Devils Gulch that is supposed to be a Wild West rendering of the rules?
And Boot Hill of course. Also more a wargame. Though later editions add a few RPG elements.
Gunslingers & Gamblers, by FJ Gaming
There's a version using a poker dice-based system and one using the so-called Streamline system. I own the latter myself. Go to DTRPG/RPGNow for the pdf. Available from lulu.com in print and pdf.
Also apparently FGU's old Wild West RPG is up online with permission.
I'd suggest Aces & Eights. The core rules (or the lite version) are just a couple pages long and everything else is modular. I'd also recommend GURPS Lite and add in stuff from core GURPS on an as needed basis. Both are pretty simple and because the systems are modular you can just add what you need (if anything extra) and forget the rest.
If you just want to have fun playing a western game, I'd grab 1st or 2nd edition Boot Hill. If you are a bit more fussy about the structures of rules and so forth, try 3rd edition Boot Hill.
Quote from: ligedog;959079I'm looking around myself but wanted to see if anyone could recommend a currently produced/supported Old West RPG. Preferably something about as complex as an OSR game or Traveller. Any recommendations?
Traveller: Cowboys vs. Xenomorphs
Best Western game mechanic. And lite. Leave out the Xenomorphs.
Quote from: Larsdangly;959127If you just want to have fun playing a western game, I'd grab 1st or 2nd edition Boot Hill. If you are a bit more fussy about the structures of rules and so forth, try 3rd edition Boot Hill.
I second that. I wish I still had 2nd edition Boot Hill. I have 3rd but the skills list is just way too much for me. I recently lost a copy of 2nd on eBay...went far too high for me!
Blood & Bullets (http://beyondbeliefgames.webs.com/freestuff.htm) is free to download and is based on Swords & Wizardry Whitebox. At 40 A5 pages, it is pretty much rules light.
All Flesh Must Be Eaten core book (unisystem), with the Fist full of Zombies book. Strip out the zombies and there you go.
Quote from: Omega;959101And Boot Hill of course. Also more a wargame. Though later editions add a few RPG elements.
ohforthesakeoffuck
Quote from: Ronin;959267All Flesh Must Be Eaten core book (unisystem), with the Fist full of Zombies book. Strip out the zombies and there you go.
So buy a game and a supplement then ignore the main part of the supplement.
I love thoughtful, practical suggestions. This isn't one of them.
Quote from: ligedog;959079I'm looking around myself but wanted to see if anyone could recommend a currently produced/supported Old West RPG.
Why does it have to be "currently produced/supported?" Are you incapable of taking a supplement written for one game and adapting it to another?
Quote from: Black Vulmea;959278ohforthesakeoffuck.
Surely you've encountered this before, the people who want dice mechanics to substitute for the roleplaying part of RPGs? I keep seeing this, "How do I bribe the spaceport administrator if I don't have it on my skill list?" Next they'll want a percentage chance just to speak to an NPC.
Quote from: Black Vulmea;959278ohforthesakeoffuck
Well true.
Its more a skirmish game than a wargame.
There. Happy now. Yes. Yes you are. :cool:
Quote from: Omega;959296Well true.
Its more a skirmish game than a wargame.
There. Happy now. Yes. Yes you are. :cool:
Can't speak for him but you made me laugh.
Thanks all for a lot of great suggestions - I'll have to start looking at them closer. I really like the idea of using Traveller as the base a la "Cowboys and Xenomorphs" but from the reviews it doesn't look like they went all the way with making Old West style career paths - though that does present an interesting project!
Quote from: Black Vulmea;959279Why does it have to be "currently produced/supported?" Are you incapable of taking a supplement written for one game and adapting it to another?
No, fully capable. I'm thinking of making an adventure to run at a convention or two - I like the idea of supporting a game that is currently in prduction especially if it a small press sort of thing. My first inclination was Boot Hill but I thought I'd check around.
Quote from: ligedog;959317Thanks all for a lot of great suggestions - I'll have to start looking at them closer. I really like the idea of using Traveller as the base a la "Cowboys and Xenomorphs" but from the reviews it doesn't look like they went all the way with making Old West style career paths - though that does present an interesting project!
Now you make me want a Western Traveller with career paths for cowpunchers, sheriffs, horse grooms, chuck wagon cooks, and the like. Someone get on that! What would you call it? Trailrider sounds too much like Pathfinder.
Quote from: Omega;959296Well true.
Its more a skirmish game than a wargame.
It's a roleplaying game with origins in a skirmish game - just like every other roleplaying game, ultimately.
Quote from: Omega;959296There. Happy now. Yes. Yes you are. :cool:
<---------- Yeah, that's my happy face right over there.
Quote from: ligedog;959320I'm thinking of making an adventure to run at a convention or two - I like the idea of supporting a game that is currently in prduction especially if it a small press sort of thing.
That . . . actually makes sense.
In which case I'd give the Dark City
Legends . . . title a serious look.
Quote from: ligedog;959320My first inclination was Boot Hill but I thought I'd check around.
That's usually a fine inclination.
Quote from: Dumarest;959321Now you make me want a Western Traveller with career paths for cowpunchers, sheriffs, horse grooms, chuck wagon cooks, and the like.
Burros y Bandidos has something like this, and we're using it with our
Boot Hill campaign.
Quote from: Dumarest;959321Trailrider sounds too much like Pathfinder.
Scout, perhaps.
Black Vulmea, when are you going to blog some more about your Boot Hill game? I've been reading both of your blogs and need some more Western campaign goodness.
Quote from: Dumarest;959328Black Vulmea, when are you going to blog some more about your Boot Hill game? I've been reading both of your blogs and need some more Western campaign goodness.
Wait, someone's actually reading that shit?
Hey, thanks a ton for making me feel obligated to write something now . . . .
Quote from: Simon W;959217Blood & Bullets (http://beyondbeliefgames.webs.com/freestuff.htm) is free to download and is based on Swords & Wizardry Whitebox. At 40 A5 pages, it is pretty much rules light.
Simon: What about "Go For Your Gun?" Is that one much heavier?
Quote from: Black Vulmea;959375Wait, someone's actually reading that shit?
Hey, thanks a ton for making me feel obligated to write something now . . . .
Yeah, now get off the forum and get writing!
Quote from: Black Vulmea;959278So buy a game and a supplement then ignore the main part of the supplement.
I love thoughtful, practical suggestions. This isn't one of them.
No, not at all. Unisystem to my knowledge does not have a universal book. Otherwise I would have suggested it. The Fist Full of zombies is a decent western supplement. Not time life material. But good and conveys several different approaches to the western genre in general. Besides stripping zombies would be as easy as, no zombies and no supernatural. So just the basic core rules. Which are quite nice in my opinion. I know making a suggestion that require a massive rewrite, ignoring a ton of stuff is dumb. But it is really easy, and no trouble at all in this case.
Quote from: cranebump;959398Simon: What about "Go For Your Gun?" Is that one much heavier?
A bit more 'cos it's based on Castles & Crusades and has more classes and stuff...
Quote from: Simon W;959585A bit more 'cos it's based on Castles & Crusades and has more classes and stuff...
Problem is Go for Your Gun was taken down. If you didnt get it when it was out then it essentially has ceased to exist.
Quote from: Omega;959629Problem is Go for Your Gun was taken down. If you didnt get it when it was out then it essentially has ceased to exist.
I did take it down but I got some requests for copies, so I put it back on LULU. It won't stay up there for too long though.
Quote from: Simon W;959666I did take it down but I got some requests for copies, so I put it back on LULU. It won't stay up there for too long though.
Is there any way you can get
M1 Saving Stetson City up there as well? It appears Rusty Staple has disappeared into the ether.
Quote from: Omega;959101Heard of a BRP book called Devils Gulch that is supposed to be a Wild West rendering of the rules?
Devil's Gulch is an adventure/setting with overt occult elements for BRP.
Aces High is the BRP monograph for western games, but it also has some elements of folklore and the supernatural. Not a lot, and it's optional. For the most part it does stick to being a historical setting.
Quote from: ligedog;959320I like the idea of supporting a game that is currently in prduction especially if it a small press sort of thing.
This is awesome. I am a firm believer of supporting small press groups, particularly if they put out good product, and local game stores are a lot more interested in folks running games if there are potential sales to be made. Win-win.
For rules-light, I'd certainly recommend Coyote Trail. In my own Wild West campaign I'm running Aces & Eights, but it's definitely not what I'd call "rules light".
Oh, man, I tried to play Aces & Eights a couple of times. What a thick set of rules. The shot clock was nifty but the numerous rules overwhelmed us. I wasn't too crazy about the silly alternate universe they chose to set it in, but that was easily bypassed. Mainly it was the rules overload.
Hats off to you if you were able to wade through that rulebook and make a campaign of it.
I haven't heard of Coyote Trail; can you point me in its direction, pard?
This is their on-site store.
http://www.pigames.net/store/product_info.php?cPath=59&products_id=172 (http://www.pigames.net/store/product_info.php?cPath=59&products_id=172)
Quote from: Omega;960309This is their on-site store.
http://www.pigames.net/store/product_info.php?cPath=59&products_id=172 (http://www.pigames.net/store/product_info.php?cPath=59&products_id=172)
Thanks for the link.
If you're thinking of Coyote Trail (http://www.pigames.net/store/default.php?cPath=59), I recommend either the Expanded Edition (http://www.pigames.net/store/product_info.php?products_id=203) or Big Bundle (http://www.pigames.net/store/product_info.php?products_id=821) to get the most out of it.
Yeah, the expansions are good.
Quote from: brettmb;960322If you're thinking of Coyote Trail (http://www.pigames.net/store/default.php?cPath=59), I recommend either the Expanded Edition (http://www.pigames.net/store/product_info.php?products_id=203) or Big Bundle (http://www.pigames.net/store/product_info.php?products_id=821) to get the most out of it.
I didn't see a print version; are these games all PDF only?
The Expanded and Big Bundle have a print option. Just click the checkbox before adding to cart OR you can upgrade (http://www.pigames.net/store/upgrade.php) to print after purchase.
Quote from: brettmb;960753The Expanded and Big Bundle have a print option. Just click the checkbox before adding to cart OR you can upgrade (http://www.pigames.net/store/upgrade.php) to print after purchase.
That sounds like a good deal. As soon as I get some money I may have to throw it your way. I love cowboy games.
Cool. Thanks.
Print the Legend (http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/199199/Print-the-Legend) was released fairly recently. It uses a d100 roll-under rules set. It's a little more involved than Coyote Trail or Gunslingers & Gamblers but nowhere near Aces & Eights.
Quote from: 3rik;961157Print the Legend (http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/199199/Print-the-Legend) was released fairly recently. It uses a d100 roll-under rules set. It's a little more involved than Coyote Trail or Gunslingers & Gamblers but nowhere near Aces & Eights.
Do you happen to have the time to go into more detail about Print the Legend? I checked that link but the preview available doesn't reveal much at all.
That is pretty much par for the course with Drive-thru previews.
Quote from: Omega;961338That is pretty much par for the course with Drive-thru previews.
Yeah, I noticed that. The ones I have seen are either random pages or the first few pages, which tend to be a table of contents and an introduction but nothing I can use to evaluate the game.
Sixgun and its expansion Fistful of Sixgun from Deep7's 1PG line is extremely rules light, perhaps too rules light. The game is designed so that all the rules needed for play fit on the character sheet, along with the character. A One Page Game. They are designed for quick play, one-off adventures, usually emulating movie genres.
Beyond the rules the rest of the book is scenario hooks, GM advice, etc. They are like RPG popcorn. I like them for what they are, but they are definitely a snack.
Quote from: Dumarest;961319Do you happen to have the time to go into more detail about Print the Legend? I checked that link but the preview available doesn't reveal much at all.
Not really, but you'll find more info on the Kickstarter page (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hawvermale/print-the-legend-a-tabletop-rpg-of-the-american-so), there was a Q&A session at the GMshoe's Office (https://gmshoe.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/qa-lance-hawvermale-print-the-legend/) and there's a site (http://www.print-the-legend.com/) being put together.