Legends of the Old West review

[Anatoli]

My review of the Legends of the Old West rules, which I really like. It should be mentioned that I have not played any other Old West rules so I can only compare the game mechanics, how the rules flow and the way they are written with a bunch of other miniature wargames I play.

But in my opinion these rules really convey a feeling of the old west and are easy to learn/fast to play great for campaign gaming rules. And that is what me and my friends wanted when we got into Old West gaming a while back.

My review picks out a few of the highlights with these rules and describes the major points of the game.

http://anatolisgameroom.blogspot.com/2011/09/legends-of-old-west.html

[Anatoli]

Just wanted to add, that I was tipped about the "Rules with no name" and have just downloaded them from their yahoo group. Only been ablt to glance at it quickly , a few things stand out as positive, some as negative, they seem a bit more complex than LotoW as well. But I really want to play the rules before doing a review about them, but there will be a review of Rules with no name as well in the near future 

[Galland]

This is absolutley interesting Anatoli, since me and Herr General Roos are discussing these two rules systems right now. I will have a look at both as well.

[Belgian]

Just wondering where could you buy these books within Europe? And what's the price, I always played LOTR skirmish and now we are quite familiar with the rules, so this game could be easily played without to much new rules. 

[Anatoli]

@Galland, have you read much off the The Rules With No Name?

It seem to incorporate a lot of randomness (which I highly dislike) and weird stuff like rolling 3D6 and move that many inches - but only in a straight line. And also seem to make extensive use of charts when it comes to resolving shooting/HtH results which I think will slow down the game a lot as it will be hard to remember everything on those charts.
I just came down with a cold so I’m unable to do a small scale test run of the rules myself yet (something I always do with rules and boardgames before playing a game with a  group)


Not to say LotoW does not have its share of weirdo rules as well, like falling off a horse you trying to mount when you roll 1D6 result of 1 or multiple covers provided by interfering fences/cloth lines (the later I can sort of accept and it does rarely go into full blown mad territory by requiring more than 2-3 rolls tops.

@Belgian, I myself and everyone in my group got our LotoW rulebooks from here http://www.warhammer-historical.com/acatalog/Legends_of_the_Old_West.html

My buddy Calle bought some of the expansion books as well but we have never used them. I think he bought them out of curiosity mostly.

[Belgian]

Thanks!

[Christian]

There's a lot to be said about adapting this set of rules to different periods, or generating your own content and expansions depending on what you want to do.

[admiraldick]

@ Belgian: as you say, if you already know LotR: SBG then you know this game. there are a few differences to help with the theme; some are more surprising than others (obviously there is no Will or magic in the game, but less obviously you can't vault a barrier after defeating an opponent on the other side). on the whole, i would say that LotOW is a significantly better use of the rules set than LotR, and i suspect you'll get even more enjoyment out of it. LotR always fell down because of the awkward, clunky feel of its combat mechanics, which really never managed to capture the cinematic feel of the setting. conversely, its a major strength of LotOW, as it feels gritty and realistic, you'd better have a damned good reason to try and charge an enemy whilst you're holding a six-gun and even then the resulting fight would seem more like a 60's movie tussle than a display of martial arts.

[thebinmann]

I played it but never really liked it and I know I am vastly outnumbered here as it is well loved, perhaps too many d6s.

The theme with posse, money and advances is good and really suit the OW (and I love the idea of rolled to "hit" cover, it really makes me think of OW cinema), but I prefer deadlands GRW (even for non-fantasic games). I like the idea of leaders and posse's in that game a little more than LOTOW. Plus buy using different dice rather than 2+,3+ on a d6 it adds more varietty (and I like dice too  ).

I liked the idea and reading the book and thinking about progression, more than playing the game...

[Lowtardog]

I played it but never really liked it and I know I am vastly outnumbered here as it is well loved, perhaps too many d6s.

The theme with posse, money and advances is good and really suit the OW (and I love the idea of rolled to "hit" cover, it really makes me think of OW cinema), but I prefer deadlands GRW (even for non-fantasic games). I like the idea of leaders and posse's in that game a little more than LOTOW. Plus buy using different dice rather than 2+,3+ on a d6 it adds more varietty (and I like dice too  ).

I liked the idea and reading the book and thinking about progression, more than playing the game...

That is exactly how I have gone with my OW games, also with it having a bit of a campaign theme it can bog down for the Umpire to pre prepare stats etc for charactors where as your 5 figure posse in GRW is standard, add in a leader-hero-villain and give them all their own cards and you have a no brainer of a game and lots of fun.

[General Roos]

Good review Anatoli. I have both Rules with no Name and Legends of the Old West, but I haven´t played them yet. Looking forward to a RwNN-review from you.

[Galland]

I just ordered it and will try to get my hands on the expansions as well. I blame Herr General Roos, since he is the one leading me in to the Road Of Utter Damnation (= Old West stuff, one level up in the gaming hell from Napolionics and ACW).

[General Roos]

I just ordered it and will try to get my hands on the expansions as well. I blame Herr General Roos, since he is the one leading me in to the Road Of Utter Damnation (= Old West stuff, one level up in the gaming hell from Napolionics and ACW).

It's just a matter of time before my bushwackers will meet your Pinkerton agents in the dusty outskirts of Dodge City mr. Galland. 

[Euthanasor]

I don't know "Rules with no Name" but I practiced "LOTOW" that I didn't like at all.
I do like LOTR (its the same rule) but I don't find it adapted to old west's gunfight.
I explain: You can wait in a nice place to embush. Your ennemi cross the road in front of you and hide on the other side of the street... You can't do anything.
I also remember a game where We had to circle the last sherif with all the remaining outlaws for a melee fight to end the game. That's not the way I imagine ending a gunfight game. LOTOW is a melee rule.

I henceforth play "6 Gun Sound" (a 2HW rule) that gives me great satisfaction.
 
(Sorry for my poor english level)

[Galland]

It's just a matter of time before my bushwackers will meet your Pinkerton agents in the dusty outskirts of Dodge City mr. Galland. 

The Posse is being gathered... naturally, some of the more morally consious elements of society will be with me, in my righeous cause to rid this little town of your precense. Law and Order will previal!