Wild West Role-playing

[Legionnaire Bert]

Bit of a departure from the world of miniatures, but does anyone know of a contemporary RPG system set in the wild west? I have a whacky idea to combine it with Dark Heresy!

Any suggestions gratefully received (provided that they are polite! )

Many thanks

Rob (aka Bert)

[Leetje]

Aces and Eights is great but it can be too in depth for some

http://www.kenzerco.com/aces_n_eights/

[Galloping Major]

That does look interesting 



www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[Gluteus Maximus]

Coyote Trail, available as a download from Wargame Vault for £3.07:

http://www.wargamevault.com/product_info.php?products_id=27617

There's also 5 expansion sets available (and an American War Of Independence adaptation)  - all similarly low-priced.

[Froggy the Great]

Deadlands: Reloaded is also current, and quite good.

[Brian Smaller]

Savage Worlds available from http://www.drivethrurpg.com

A generic system that is incredibly easy to pick up and play with.

[Stavros Banjo]

Aces & Eights is superb but, as Leetje's already mentioned, it is ridiculously detailed. I purchased the "Shattered Frontier" hardback tome when it first came out & I still haven't come anywhere near reading through it all.

There's also a list of Western RPG's here that might tickle your fancy.

[syr8766]

+1 on Deadlands. I actually like the older system and it's poker-hand based mechanics (I'm not familiar enough with Savage Worlds to comment). The cards really added to the western feel (saloon card games and the like). And despite the steampunk-horror nature of the game, it's really mostly a western game, and you can downplay the fantastic elements pretty easily...

[Mason]

What's going on, Robbie?
Are the Inquisition finally going to investigate what is REALLY going on at The Little House On The Prarie ?!?   

[Leetje]

One of the reasons people think Aces and Eights is complicated they feel they need to use all the rules straight away.

For example there are detailed rules for cattle drives that workout things like how many cattle you might lose crossing various terrain. When you start out, unless your actually running a cattle drive you would not even want to consider this rule.

One of the love hate things with A&8s is the character creation. It allows you to get an amazing amount of depth but some people prefer not to spend an hour fleshing out their character. Personally I like it.

On another note as a companion for whatever RPG you decide I highly recommend CowTown creator http://www.amazon.com/Knuckleduster-Cowtown-Creator-Authentic-Role-Playing/dp/0966704630  It's a great book. I learned lots of things about the old west that I did not know before reading it. 

[Gluteus Maximus]

On another note as a companion for whatever RPG you decide I highly recommend CowTown creator http://www.amazon.com/Knuckleduster-Cowtown-Creator-Authentic-Role-Playing/dp/0966704630  It's a great book. I learned lots of things about the old west that I did not know before reading it. 

Agreed! Pretty well essential to make an authentic Western town.

[Mo!]

Gutshot is really cool and movie like!

[Gibby]

Aces & Eights looks amazing but it's been out of print for ages. I've been trying to get it!

[Leetje]

Aces & Eights looks amazing but it's been out of print for ages. I've been trying to get it!

You can buy it as a PDF download. Also the players guide has all the rules for the game.

[Brian Smaller]

if you want a setting then try and find a copy (printed or electronic) of "Western Hero" by Hero Games. Has a whole section on Deadwood 1876 (real - well mostly real - not HBO).