Random thought and probably way off topic. But since Spelljammer was mentioned, what about Space 1889? Would that be too Victorian?

Quote from: Benoist;558480Agreed. I really like the game, but it's just too much for what I have in mind.

Yeah, its a pity that their "basic" rules are too basic and lame; while the challenge of trying to pick-and-choose mechanics to try to get some kind of intermediate stage is too daunting (for me at least).

RPGPundit

Quote from: Benoist;558480Agreed. I really like the game, but it's just too much for what I have in mind.

What about . . .



Info and a review links:

http://www.roninarts.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=490
http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/13/13601.phtml

Never heard of it until just now.

RPGPundit

Quote from: Marleycat;558562Random thought and probably way off topic. But since Spelljammer was mentioned, what about Space 1889? Would that be too Victorian?

The occasions that I ran Western adventures were under Traveller.  So, the rules aren't a problem for Space 1889, though it is similar to MegaTraveller rather than Traveller.  If one wanted to have fantastic elements in a Western, there certainly is a lot of examples of that in the old Western serials and much later television shows.  The Victorian Britain focus of the game was not an alien world to everyone living in the West after all. ha  I am reminded of Study in Scarlet where Holmes focuses on the West of the United States.  So, even Holmes was brought into a Western story.  

So often back in the day all the fantasy campaigns I was involved with had towns and villages that always gravitated toward the old West type of town.  It always made it seem redundant to actually play a Western game too. This was probably a cultural thing, for sure.  

One of the problems I saw with Western games was that they focused on things that anyone of us could have done that day rather than play a game imagining it.  I mean, if you wanted to go range some cattle and all, you certain could get some hand work done, then there is hunting, prospecting, etc.  It always seemed to need fantastic elements or one would just approach the setting the same as any modern one.

Quote from: Kuroth;559583One of the problems I saw with Western games was that they focused on things that anyone of us could have done that day rather than play a game imagining it.  I mean, if you wanted to go range some cattle and all, you certain could get some hand work done, then there is hunting, prospecting, etc.  It always seemed to need fantastic elements or one would just approach the setting the same as any modern one.

That was my gig, too.  I didn't grow up watching Westerns, or being seeped in this romantic cowboy culture, so the idea of playing Six-guns and Stagecoaches never appealed to me on its own merits.  I think we played about four sessions of Boothill back in the day before abandoning it for Star Frontiers and Marvel Supers.

Quote from: RPGPundit;559325Never heard of it until just now.

RPGPundit

Likewise. What is it like?

Quote from: Benoist;559708Likewise. What is it like?

Read this review: http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/13/13601.phtml

Quote from: StormBringer;559707That was my gig, too.  I didn't grow up watching Westerns, or being seeped in this romantic cowboy culture, so the idea of playing Six-guns and Stagecoaches never appealed to me on its own merits.  I think we played about four sessions of Boothill back in the day before abandoning it for Star Frontiers and Marvel Supers.

yep, that's me, too.  eastwood flicks are fun, and make for inspirational one-shots, but western campaigns just never floated my boat.

Quote from: vgunn;559715Read this review: http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/13/13601.phtml

It sounds interesting. Have you played it yourself?

Quote from: beeber;559725yep, that's me, too.  eastwood flicks are fun, and make for inspirational one-shots, but western campaigns just never floated my boat.

The Red Steel campaign for AD&D 2nd did that to me.  I thought it would be this cool add-on with a different kind of magic/magic items, but it ended up being Dances with Worgs.  Blech.  Still, the 'cinnabar' idea was pretty cool, I might expand on that if I get to writing again.

Quote from: Benoist;559726It sounds interesting. Have you played it yourself?

I haven't had the chance to. From what I've read, its going to give you a quick and easy type of game. Not sure about long-term play. For the price, don't think it would be a bad pick-up.

Boot Hill remains the only TSR game I never bought and never played growing up. For some reason all the stores in my area had stacks of boxes of D&D, Top Secret, Gamma World, Star Frontiers, Marvel Supers, Gangbusters, and even Dawn Patrol, but all I ever saw for Boot Hill were a couple of modules.

From what I later saw of the old editions, it was mostly a skirmish game (as others have mentioned). Kind of along the lines of Dawn Patrol (sure, you could throw some RPG elements into it).

If I was going to do a Western campaign (despite my dislike for straight Westerns and lack of ideas for how to extend one into a campaign), I'd probably go with the GURPS Old West book.

Quote from: Black Vulmea;557918The basic gunfight rules are fast and deadly. There are three kinds of wounds: light, serious, and mortal. One shot, one kill. Head wounds are fatal 60% of the time. There are advanced and optional rules which increases the complexity of gunfighting, such as trading shots, sniping, &c. Wounds make you slower and less accurate so there's a death spiral.

The campaign rules are mostly advice, though they do cover stuff like how far and fast you can ride (depends on the quality of your horse), gambling, tracking, what you get paid for your job. Oh, and dynamite and Gatling guns, 'cause, y'know, DYNAMITE and GATLING GUNS.

It makes quick-draw that much more important.

JG

Quote from: James Gillen;560605It makes quick-draw that much more important.

JG

and weapon speed!  i seem to recall BH having those stats, too