Quote from: boulet;315912How much exposition does religious background get ? It's probably no biggie for American players who are familiar with it, but the topic is complicated enough to justify basic explanations for the rest of the hobby.

I don't know for sure, but I'd hazard a guess that they didn't get into some of that because so much of it is easily available for research. For instance, I've found the best sourcebooks for A&8's is the Time/Life Books about the American West.

For example, here's one but there are quite a few in the set;
http://www.amazon.com/OLD-WEST-SOLDIER-TIME-LIFE-BOOKS/dp/B000EA9282/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249356136&sr=8-1

I've used Reputation in my games since the 2nd Edition Bard's Handbook.

Boo to the alt history.

I very much want to get this now. I was quite gung ho on it after reading about it for what seemed like forever on the Kenzer board, then I lost my job right before it came out, and couldn't justify the price in place of rent, and haven't seen it on shelves since. The mini-games included sounded like gold nuggets to me, like Pundit, I'm very much a tookit lover.

And I kept seeing movies like 3:10 to Yuma that were just dying to be "played". Young Guns/II, The Quick and the Dead...
I'm not a western guy. That's my father's area, I'm into vampires. I think maybe I never got into the Wild West specifically because it was my father's area. I bought all the other boxed sets TSR put out (Gamma World, Top Secret) but never bought BOOT HILL. I wonder if I'd started with Boot Hill if I could've gotten my father to play.

I guess my question to Pundit would be: Do you still play it?
I've bought a lot of games over the years, because I'm a collector and because I love games, but very few do I actually ever get to play.

It looks like I'm a bit late to the party for A&8s -- Amazon has the rulebook for a couple hundred dollars (!) so I have to pass on that.  Any reprints planned?  Newer (affordable) versions?  Thanks!

Quote from: BigWeather;654081It looks like I'm a bit late to the party for A&8s -- Amazon has the rulebook for a couple hundred dollars (!) so I have to pass on that.  Any reprints planned?  Newer (affordable) versions?  Thanks!

Kenzer sells all the books in PDF form on their website.  If they do a revised A&8 it will be a long time comin'.

CRKrueger, thanks for the reply.  I may have to resort to that, but I was hoping to get a physical book.  I'll poke around on eBay and check out some other places, since it doesn't sound like a re-print is in the offing anytime soon.  Thanks!

Given the quality of the RPG, and the fact that copies are truly scarce, I am somewhat pondering why they don't reprint. A sold - out RPG that's not POD in this day and age?

Preferably in 2 ways - the expansive leather cover, and the not - so - expansive softcover.

For some reason, my previous post is invisible, so:

1) I do not understand why they won't reprint. Seems it's quite a popular one. And worth it indeed.

2) The random generation is indeed quite fun . Nothing like watching a man rolling a professional gambler, who's a southern rich, lazy and messy fop from upper class, who flees a pregnancy.

edit: huh, now it's visible.

The physical book is awesome. I don't know if $200-awesome, but still, awesome.

This is alternate history with a bias?  Barf.  Glad I read your review without bothering with opening the thing.  What a waste of a somewhat interesting sounding system.  400 pages for Wild West too?

Quote from: Kuroth;664674This is alternate history with a bias?  Barf.  Glad I read your review without bothering with opening the thing.  What a waste of a somewhat interesting sounding system.  400 pages for Wild West too?

I play in classic Wild West. The alternative history stuff takes about 30 pages.

The system is heavy, yes, but well:

The "minigames" for hunting, gambling, tracking and cattle herding take a lot of pages, and they are entirely optional - but also great fun in practice (technically they are just rolls, but the presentation brings a fresh air into that concept). There are a lot of optional rules, so to speak.

The only "gripe" is that making a character takes quite long - it took us about 2 hours (with all  tacks and bells on, admittedly), but I think it'll cut down when we get accustomed to the system more.

FYI: Was awhile ago but I posted the review on the Kenzer Boards

http://www.kenzerco.com/forums/showthread.php?60798-Saw-this-review-on-the-RPGSite

Edit: fixed.

Were you meaning to post a link to the Kenzer boards just there?

Keep meaning to pick this game up but always get sidetracked, it would be perfect for a Hell on wheels/deadwood type game so why i keep forgetting to grab a copy is a mystery....maybe now im less active in the hobby(no group they either moved away or shifted over to mmorpg's and have zero interest in tabletop anymore) i can finally pick it up on pdf for a good read.

Quote from: RPGPundit;681119Were you meaning to post a link to the Kenzer boards just there?

Yes; apparently multitasking isn't a strength in my case-:o

BTW:

Outside of the game itself, this review is wonderful. It's full of good ideas-ideas that need writing...