Miniatures Adventure => Old West => Topic started by: Kelgtar on July 25, 2016, 10:07:22 AM
Title: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Kelgtar on July 25, 2016, 10:07:22 AM
Hey guys
Let me just jump straight into :
As a kid I've always been fascinated by the old west. Be it comics, movies and toys. Anyway I'm a wargamer (offc) but mostly 28mm ww2. However I have some old west buildings but no figurines.
I'm keen on starting the project but I would love to hear what is the most fun ruleset to play (just with friends, no tournament and club stuff). Thinking the ruleset will allow me to start building and painting some stuff.
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: SteveBurt on July 25, 2016, 12:11:33 PM
Dead Man's Hand is excellent. A real cinematic feel, and the card play is thematic, too.
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Elbows on July 25, 2016, 01:07:21 PM
That's one of the nice things about Old West gaming - there isn't really a bad/heavy/competitive rule set out there.
Most of the rule sets are reasonably cheap and require little else. There are loads of them out there. Dead Man's Hand is popular, as is the re-released Fistful of Lead. Shoot N' Skedaddle will be out shortly and the rulebook is free so you can check it out before purchase. GW Historicals used to produce a game called Legends of the Old West, based on Mordheim/Necromunda. It's pretty decent.
There are some others like Six Gun Sound, The Rules with No Name, Blackwater Gulch, etc. There is Gutshot but that's a bit more heavy role-play than the others (normally concentrating on a figure or two per player). I don't think you can really go wrong. If you let us know what kind of game mechanics you prefer we can probably help you out.
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Sir_Theo on July 25, 2016, 01:25:43 PM
What Elbows said...
The great thing about Old West gaming is that there are loads of great ruleset out there and the same Figures and terrain can be used for all so if you hunt around you should be able to find one you like the feel of.
Even games such as In Her Majesty's Name and in particular Pulp Alley could be used for Old West gaming without much changing.
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Elbows on July 25, 2016, 01:28:16 PM
Also, worth noting is that you can collect figures/terrain and play any of the games. They're almost all skirmish level games with no basing rules/restrictions etc. When I started Old West gaming I think I had 4-5 rule sets at one time, feeling my way through - trying to decide what I liked. There are few eras/types of miniatures that you can collect and then play a dozen different rule sets - Old West being one of them. I feel the same way about Gladiator gaming.
You just can't go wrong painting up some Cowboys.
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Westfalia Chris on July 25, 2016, 01:34:40 PM
GW Historicals used to produce a game called Legends of the Old West, based on Mordheim/Necromunda. It's pretty decent.
It should be noted, though, that the actual game mechanics are from the Lord of the Rings game. Some folks don't like them too much, but I found them to be eminently suitable. Furthermore, they mesh rather well with the Necromunda / Mortheim-derived campaign rules, which really made LotOW what it was. As a one-off, it's nothing extraordinarily, but in a multiplayer narrative, it really shines for about 6-8 campaign intervals.
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Mad Lord Snapcase on July 25, 2016, 01:43:03 PM
In no particular order:
Dead Man's Hand Shoot N' Skedaddle Fistful of Lead Legends of the Old West Pulp Alley
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Elbows on July 25, 2016, 03:24:28 PM
From a blog (I think a LAF member runs this one) but it does a big comparison of various Old West games, and includes mechanics/reviews of each. Each game has its own post later as well. Worth looking through. Only cover 5-6 games but they're all current.
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: pops on July 25, 2016, 03:35:02 PM
I'm a noob to Old West gaming as well - have looked at a couple of rule sets and have found for me personally that Desperado appears to be the simplest and most straight forward.
Might be because I was past the age when D & D came out - but I am not into keeping track of all sorts of attributes, and some of the rules I have seen are very heavy on that.
I like a rule set with a minimum amount of text - nice and simple...
May your tumbleweeds keep tumblin' along!
All the best,
Frank
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Leigh Metford on July 26, 2016, 02:22:08 AM
You might also consider 'Law of the Gun' by Chris Peers. Figures operate in small 'units' of up to four figures, the mechanics are simple and emphasise morale and cover, and it has the flexibility for you to assign the limited range of skills as heavily or lightly as you deem appropriate to a particular character.
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Hupp n at em on July 26, 2016, 03:08:30 AM
Desperado is quite fun and allow for a very easygoing and often humorous narrative style to the game, Forrest Harris over at Knuckleduster Miniatures collaborated on a very nicely updated version some time in the last few years. I've also heard very good things about Dead Man's Hand and would like to give it a try.
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: sespe on July 27, 2016, 07:00:02 PM
Fistful of Lead gets my vote. I run a game at a con each year, very simple and quick to teach the mechanics to people. Started with LoTW and tried several more. Just used Pulp Alley, I liked it a lot but the rest of the group wasn't sure yet.
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: BaronVonJ on July 28, 2016, 02:55:20 PM
As the author of Fistful of Lead, I can tell you it was written with "noobs" in mind. It's perfect for kids and adults alike. You'll pick up the rules in 10 minutes, max. A lot of clubs use it for cons and pick up games for that reason. That's not to say there isn't a tactical depth to it. The pdf is only $9.99 and includes 20+ scenarios. http://www.wargamevault.com/product/187463/Fistful-of-Lead-Reloaded And I'm always here to answer questions. -J
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: kenohhkc on July 28, 2016, 03:28:25 PM
Agree with the Baron, and its not because I have been playing these rules since their creation. To me FoL is my choice because you never feel like you are playing the rules. There is villainy an double dealin, an back stabbin, and a dose of strategery but the mechanics never get in the way of having fun during the game. You play the game(scenario) and not the rules. my 2 buffalo nickles...
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Harry Faversham on July 28, 2016, 11:06:53 PM
Only FofL can do this...
The Ringo Kid and his underthings break Tuco out of the jail. They go from one end of Dead Man's Gulch t'other killing anyone as gets in their way, in the time it takes Marshal Twerp to get his strides on and his fat ass, out of Dolores Trollop's knocking shop. Dolores follows the Marshal out carrying his enormous weapon, a Bluntline Special to be preesise, which he's overlooked in his haste to go do his civic duties. Tuco and The Kid drop the unarmed bastion of law and order in a blizzard of lead... Dolores, enraged at the demise of her most valued meal ticket to severe lead poisoning, cocks the big shooting iron and drops both the baddies with shots right between the minces. Restoring peace, harmony and tranquillity to the Gulchers.
Only FofL can do this.
:o :-* :o
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Golgotha on July 28, 2016, 11:11:20 PM
Deadlands Railwars
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Elbows on July 28, 2016, 11:21:16 PM
That highlights why any Old West game should allow some rather awesome ridiculousness. In most Old West games I've played (all sorts of rule sets) you should be laughing out loud, cheering and hurling ye oldey insults.
This photo illustrates one of my favourite moments.
Convention game, a crowd of about ten players ranging from some guys in their 60's to a pair of siblings who were naught but 10-12 years old (I was coaching them along at their father's request). The Lawmen are there to stop a wedding they disapprove of. Early in the game the would-be beau is gunned down. The wife decides to flee and I offer the Outlaws an escape --- the far end of the table. The table is a good 8-10 feet. The Lawmen, dug in around the church suddenly have to change tactics. The bride flees, Lawmen hot on her heels. An Outlaw player draws the "Horse Thief" card and they give the bride the horse. She begins a mad dash down the table edge. Lawmen are streaming across the board firing at her. The horse bites it and she's thrown. She gathers her bussel and runs nonstop for the corner of the board.
This picture shows the very last moment. The Lawmen, pouring through a gap in the buildings are struck by the Sabotage card - a barrel igniting and blowing up, killing and wounding four different Lawmen. The activation deck runs out and this is where the game sits. The kids with me are literally jumping and down screaming. We shuffle the activation deck. She's mere inches from the table edge.
We finish shuffling the deck. Draw a card (each character in the game has two cards, there are maybe 10-15 characters left on the board). It's the bride! She flees off the table the Outlaws win. The entire group erupted. A bunch of people, huge disparity in ages/interests all come together for a ridiculously tense wild game. It is the very definition of what I hope for when a game starts. lol
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Harry Faversham on July 29, 2016, 12:13:45 AM
Elbows, all I can say to that is...
"Hell boy, you remind me... of me!"
:)
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Cluck Amok on July 29, 2016, 05:50:50 AM
Tip o' the tricorn to Fistful of Lead. Tricorn, you, say; not stetson?! Fer Shur! Fistful is a fun game and a great toolbox - there is even a Horse and Musket variant that we use for French and Indian War. Check out some action here:
Full disclosure: I'm a friend of the author with a playtest credit in the rules, but as "life's too short for games that suck," friendship alone would not have gotten me to play!
Bests, Chris
Title: Re: Some help for a noob ...
Post by: Kelgtar on July 29, 2016, 08:06:03 AM
Guys thank you so much for your comments and suggestions and stories.
I will further think about what ruleset, read some reviews and find one that suits me best!