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Post by buckwiley on Jul 9, 2009 4:26:15 GMT -9
GhostGirl's mini's have inspired me to try out a western themed RPG so I'll have a chance to actually use them! Can anyone suggest a good one I could start with? I've never really played any RPG other than D&D.
Thanks!
~ Buck
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Post by ghostgirl on Jul 9, 2009 4:31:00 GMT -9
well i am very fond of Savage Worlds game system... and they have the Deadlands: Reloaded setting which is Western/Horror. www.peginc.com/games.html
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Post by jabbro on Jul 9, 2009 4:41:05 GMT -9
OK, somehow I avoided the whole Savage Worlds stuff. Your post about it having a western component got me curious so I looked them up. They appear to be as versatile as GURPS. If the game play is simpler, I might be interested in acquiring it as a subsidiary rule set. I found their Test Drive. I'll have to sit down with it when I have more time.
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Post by ghostgirl on Jul 9, 2009 4:48:16 GMT -9
defiantly... savage worlds is as versatile as gurps but is playable by people who aren't engineers or mathematicians. I love gurps too btw.. but sometimes it is a bit overwhelming.
the other big plus with savage worlds is that it plays just as well as a skirmish game as it does an RPG. they even have a simplified version called "showdown" just for that purpose although it is currently being reworked.
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Post by jabbro on Jul 9, 2009 6:54:35 GMT -9
Cool, Thanks for the synopsis, GG. I like GURPS, but it is a bit daunting when you want to set up for a single evening of play. I would prefer something that took 5 minutes to build a character in and even less time to explain. I have not found my perfect blend of simplicity with a rich variety of options.
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Post by okumarts on Jul 9, 2009 8:17:28 GMT -9
Quirky and old school as it is I still have a soft spot for FGU's Wild West. It's long out of print , but there is an online version of the rules, but it's sort of hard to follow it. So quirky, not for all, but I'm definitely going to run it one of these days, just because. http://d_little.tripod.com/Games/Western/
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Post by abaddonwormwood on Jul 9, 2009 13:31:27 GMT -9
Just to second what Ghost Girl said - Savage Worlds is a beautiful system that has a lightness to match a perfect sponge cake; substance, for filling but at the same time light and simple to use.
Also the core book goes for $10US - that's printed! So even if you never play it it's almost cheaper than a Kabab and a can of drink.
Savage Worlds' background comes from mini wargaming. Once there was Deadlands RPG which gave rise to a wargame Deadlands: The Great Rail Wars....in turn this lead to Savage Worlds.
There is so much out there for Savage Worlds, in the RPG world SW is like a backing signer, a famous one that backs all the top acts. The general public may walk by the signer on the street due to the fact that they are unknown to the avg. Joe but in their world they are revered. SW is always highly regarded in the industry as one of the games that developers play &/or borrow from with full credit.
The other nice thing about SW is Showdowns which is a pure minis rules derived from the game (yes it's gone RPG -> Minis Game -> RPG = Minis game), Showdowns is being revised at the moment but it's a free plug-in that allows for point costing figures and the generic rules for tabletop action.
Lord Abaddon of Wormwood
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Post by godofrandomness on Jul 9, 2009 20:01:31 GMT -9
I've recently started playing the original system for Deadlands, and am thuroughly enjoying it.
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Post by buckwiley on Jul 10, 2009 4:09:39 GMT -9
Thanks for the advise, guys. Is Savage Worlds and Deadlands something I need to download online? I'll be in my FLGS this Sunday for a D&D game and might look for it.
So let me see if I get this straight... Savage Worlds is sorta like the "Engine" that drives the game and Deadlands is like the "body" that surrounds it and makes it look like a Western. If you learn Savage Worlds you could easily buy a new "body" and play the game in some other setting (including fantasy...)
Is that fairly accurate?
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Post by ghostgirl on Jul 10, 2009 4:39:21 GMT -9
in D&D terms... Savage Worlds: Explorers Edition... is the newest core rulebook available. it is basically the players handbook, DMG, and Monster manual in one book for $10.
Deadlands: Reloaded is like a campaign setting... like forgotten realms, or ebberon.
and you are correct that many other settings exist from fantasy to sci-fi... most of which are from 3rd party companies that work under a license with the savage world people.
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Post by kane on Jul 10, 2009 6:28:12 GMT -9
Doesn't the Deadlands book have all the rules in it as well, though? Been awhile since I looked at my copy.
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Post by godofrandomness on Jul 10, 2009 14:57:03 GMT -9
Deadlands comes in 3 different flavors... err I mean systems.
Deadlands "classic" (I am not sure if that is the official title for this) is the original system was released somwhen around 1999. It is out of print, but I know you can still get all or most of the books in PDF adn I know they have some sort of direct print to order system for at least the core book for 20-25 bucks USD.
Deadlands D20... well uses the d20 system, and of the fanboys I know, it is considered horrendous because of how badly they interpreted the unique concepts (using poker chips and a deck of poker cards, for example) the classic system introduced (I am not sure exactly as I have never read any of the d20 stuff for it).
Deadlands Reloaded is the savage worlds version, and from what I have heard (again, never read any of the books, and I don't know the savage worlds system), the chips and cards rules added in are actually pretty good.
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Post by ghostgirl on Jul 10, 2009 16:44:42 GMT -9
the chips and cards are actually a core mechanic of the savage worlds rules.. so it is more natural to the game mechanics and not such a "patch" to them.
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Post by stevelortz on Jul 10, 2009 19:52:31 GMT -9
Slightly off-topic:
I checked out a book from the library the other day titled Doc Holliday by John Myers Myers (that's really his name, I didn't double type it), that was originally published in 1955. One of the few bios of Doc Holliday that I've ever seen. It's chock full of authentic vignettes and anecdotes about the gunman/gamblers, lawmen/outlaws of the Old West... real tales of the real Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City... and more...
Have fun! Steve
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Post by gawd on Jul 11, 2009 6:29:55 GMT -9
Yeah ... the Savage Worlds stuff is pretty cool. But the best Wild West RPG is EASILY Aces and Eights ... It has everything: fighting (duh), very cool shooting mechanic, cattle drives, court mechanics, chases. If it's in the Western genre, it's in this game. AND, it makes very nice and flavorful use of cards (regular playing card decks), poker chips, etc ... . It puts you in the old west not just b/c of the theme but b/c of how they do the mechanics. It's also set in a very interesting alternate history too. It's my favorite RPG bar none right now. www.kenzerco.com/aces_n_eights/here is a video explaining shooting: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zaZ0vBVTpIoh yeah ... did I mention that it won Game of the Year at Origins in 2008?
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Post by djlittle on Aug 26, 2009 10:17:15 GMT -9
Quirky and old school as it is I still have a soft spot for FGU's Wild West. It's long out of print , but there is an online version of the rules, but it's sort of hard to follow it. So quirky, not for all, but I'm definitely going to run it one of these days, just because. http://d_little.tripod.com/Games/Western/ Thanks for mentioning my site! ;D ;D FGU Wild West is "old school", but I can definitely say that it IS fun! The worst part of it is, it really teaches you that gunfights are DEADLY! You can get a character killed mighty quick. The 'quirkyness' lies in the .html format. It is not in downloadable form (yet). I will be reformatting this and making it available in .pdf format. (Core rules only - no pictures or graphics) The maps, graphics and adventure will most likely remain as they are. My biggest problem, is that my Tripod-Lycos account is FULL. Can't get much more on it. ------------------------------------------ 2 more VERY COOL Western RPGS: -1. Six Gun - Put out by Deep7 - This game is SO easy to play, it should be illegal! It uses the "1PG" system. That means ONE page of rules! RPG Now also has the "Six Gun Pack" consisting of Six Gun AND the Supplement "A Fistful of Six Gun" for only $5.00 www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=50114&filters=0_0_0_0&manufacturers_id=447-2. Coyote Trail - Published by Precis Intermedia Games - is a full-fledged RPG with MANY supplements. They also have paper miniatures available for it. See "DISPOSABLE HEROES" www.pigames.net/store/default.php?cPath=59&osCsid=305bfd17540379cce64b14de4ab566abI know Todd Downing (Deep7) and Brett Bernstein (PIG); they are great guys.
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Post by locorules on Feb 16, 2011 8:14:23 GMT -9
Deadlands comes in 3 different flavors... err I mean systems. I think there is also a GURPS "flavor" of it
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