Generic Questions

[grubman]

I'm currently into western stuff (LotOW), but I'm already looking ahead a few steps.  I fully plan to do some Pirate stuff when Warhammer Historical Pirates comes out...but after that I'd like to do something in the 20s, either (American) gangster, or perhaps something a bit pulpier.

First of, I heard a rumor from one source that GW is going to put out a gangster game sometime "soon" after the pirate game based off of the same rules from pirates and Legends of the Old West.  Can anyone confirm this at all?

Second, what are the cool pulp games out there?  The only one's I've really seen are .45 Adventure (I've read some reviews of the rule system and am not really sure if I would like these...I'm into pretty straightforward streamlined rules, and from what I've read these seem a bit "complex" compared to simpler games like Warhammer and Legends of the Old West (or any GW game for that matter)) and Geir Krieg, which has too much of a war theme for me to really get into.

(P.S.  I live in the USA, so most of the more "obscure" games are pretty hard to find or convince people to play)

Thanks

[matakishi]

There's a set of Pulp rules available for free on Bob Murch's Pulp figures site.
http://www.pulpfigures.com/download.php?custID=861421451941199028508

I have no idea what GW's plans are so I can't help you there, sorry.

[Argonor]

You think, Warhamster is not complex? I've never really played it, but one of my gaming pals gave it up after a year or so, because it gave him a headache every time (so he claimed).

And I've never really watched a game; every time I passed by a game in progress in a club I used to attend, it seemed that nothing had happened/moved since the last time I passed by (perhaps a couple of hours ago - and the same held true for 2nd Ed. 40K....).

A game where turns take like forever MUST be complex....

My advice is: Buy a copy of .45A and read it. It's not complex, it's very straight forward. You can play a scenario containing lots of cinematic action with a handful of minis on each side in a couple of hours.

If you do not like it after reading/trying it out, $18 won't set you back a lot (I own 3 copies of the core rules to have something to lend to potential players).

[Rhoderic]

I'm not sure I'd call .45 Adventure complex (and like Argonor, I wouldn't call Warhammer simple). It is pretty detailed in some points (wound allocation, character skills and such) but it's not really an issue of micromanaging anything. For one thing, you're not meant to use particularly many miniatures, and on those occasions when you do, most of the miniatures on the table will be low-level henchmen where wounds and skills don't factor into it much.

You need to appreciate that it's a more free-flowing ruleset, where things like points calculation and the "letter of the rule" take second-seat to imaginative gameplay. The rulebook isn't the template and end-all arbitrator of everything that goes on in the game, as it is in Warhammer.

I will admit I'm quite a big fan of Rattrap Productions (who make 45A), so maybe I'm naturally biased that way, but I've also played a lot of Warhammer in the past. As such, the statement that 45A is more complex than Warhammer (or, in your words, any GW game for that matter) just doesn't sit right with me.

[Mo]

I've done some writing for Rattrap, so I'm not completely unbiased here, just so you know.

I've played LoToW an enjoyed it immensely. Comparing that gaming system to .45A, I would say it is not a matter of complexity but just adding a little more detail. First you get to customize your characters a lot more. Even though there are only 20-25 archetypes, the choice of skills you get keeps the characters from getting stale.

Second, there is a bit of record keeping in the form of a character sheet. Once again, not much, but enough to add a little more work to the game.

My suggestion is download the demo rules here...

http://www.rattrap-productions.com/PulpHeroes/Downloads/Downloads.html

Give them a try. see if you like them. If you do, be sure to give Fantastic Worlds a try if you are into the pulp sci-fi gaming. (sorry. shameless plug)

Marc

[Lowtardog]

I'm currently into western stuff (LotOW), but I'm already looking ahead a few steps.  I fully plan to do some Pirate stuff when Warhammer Historical Pirates comes out...but after that I'd like to do something in the 20s, either (American) gangster, or perhaps something a bit pulpier.

First of, I heard a rumor from one source that GW is going to put out a gangster game sometime "soon" after the pirate game based off of the same rules from pirates and Legends of the Old West.  Can anyone confirm this at all?

Second, what are the cool pulp games out there?  The only one's I've really seen are .45 Adventure (I've read some reviews of the rule system and am not really sure if I would like these...I'm into pretty straightforward streamlined rules, and from what I've read these seem a bit "complex" compared to simpler games like Warhammer and Legends of the Old West (or any GW game for that matter)) and Geir Krieg, which has too much of a war theme for me to really get into.

(P.S.  I live in the USA, so most of the more "obscure" games are pretty hard to find or convince people to play)

Thanks

I havent heard of a Gangster version, they talked about stats for Tommie guns in Showdown but I cant see there being a drive for it any time soon. From what I understand GW only produces 3 books for historical per year (budget requirements or some such) and I know one is Divine wind and the second looks likely to be A WW1-40K variant so if The pirate one isnt released until Feb this year (2008) it might not be until 2009

45 is more RPG, Scenario based than the LOTOW series which are really hybrid LOTR/Necromunda

[Argonor]

My suggestion is download the demo rules here...

[url]http://www.rattrap-productions.com/

I'd completely forgotten about those. After downloading the demo-version of Gloire!, and then immediately buying the book, subsequently buying everything (written) I could lay my hands on from Rattrap (apart from 'Under the Black Flag', shame on me, but it will follow when I get around to ordering some minis), I never gave the demo-versions a thought.

Do as Mo says, it won't even set you back 18 bucks, and I would be much surprised, should you regret it  

And, yes, Fantastic Worlds are a humongously nice set of rules, too (apart from the detail about Virtues/Flaws, notch, notch...  :mrgreen: )

I'm going to stage some FW games using my newly acquired Star Wars Miniatures, and I expect it to be an absolute blockbuster with my gaming pals  

[Mo]

And, yes, Fantastic Worlds are a humongously nice set of rules, too (apart from the detail about Virtues/Flaws, notch, notch...  :mrgreen: )

You doth wound me, sir...


 ::

[theoldschool]

Like Marc I am not totally unbiased since I have the delightful privilege of editing the Rattrap series of rulebooks. 45 Adventure, and its siblings, use simple and easy-to-remember game mechanics. There are many layers of detail which create a rich and complex game system, but complex doesn't mean complicated. In most cases it is up to the players - play it simple or complex the choice is yours.
If you prefer something a little closer in feel to the GW games (but so much better) you could try Astounding Tales by Howard Whitehouse. They use a D6 and have less of an RPG style to them than the Rattrap games. I believe the first version is available free from the Yahoo group.
Pat

[Darren]

I spoke to Allesio Calvatore at Gamesday this year and he's still planning on doing a "Legend of the Far East" style book (he's into martial arts...)  I think Tim's LotHS book got pushed ahead of his thanks to the Pirates of the Caribbean films.  It'd be similar to LotOW rules but there would be more emphasis on the heroes - the henchmen wouldn't gain skills as they're expendable but the heroes could tailor their skills.

[Lowtardog]

I am trying to build a Cave man LOTOW version  at the moment form the WAB rules I put together for the Cave_wars Yahoo group.

I am thinking of expanding it to build in some dinosaur hunters for good measure, this and I have actually got a couple of guys interested in it at last

This will be the first time I have managed to get guys at the club into any sort of pulp gaming :mrgreen:

[Lowtardog]

I spoke to Allesio Calvatore at Gamesday this year and he's still planning on doing a "Legend of the Far East" style book (he's into martial arts...)  I think Tim's LotHS book got pushed ahead of his thanks to the Pirates of the Caribbean films.  It'd be similar to LotOW rules but there would be more emphasis on the heroes - the henchmen wouldn't gain skills as they're expendable but the heroes could tailor their skills.

Hmm a bit limited on scope though a nice idea

[twrchtrwyth]

I am completely unbiased and have no conection to Rattrap whatsoever. I wouldn't hesitate to recomend their .45 rules.    

[revford]

I am trying to build a Cave man LOTOW version  at the moment form the WAB rules I put together for the Cave_wars Yahoo group.

I am thinking of expanding it to build in some dinosaur hunters for good measure, this and I have actually got a couple of guys interested in it at last

This will be the first time I have managed to get guys at the club into any sort of pulp gaming :mrgreen:

Lost world dino hunters with LOTOW?  

Sounds like a group I need to join, so you have a link please?

[Lowtardog]

I am trying to build a Cave man LOTOW version  at the moment form the WAB rules I put together for the Cave_wars Yahoo group.

I am thinking of expanding it to build in some dinosaur hunters for good measure, this and I have actually got a couple of guys interested in it at last

This will be the first time I have managed to get guys at the club into any sort of pulp gaming :mrgreen:

Lost world dino hunters with LOTOW?  

Sounds like a group I need to join, so you have a link please?

Rev this is something I have been working on myself, I originally wrote a set of skirmish rules based on a hybrid of WAB (because in the Cave wars group, that was the rule set that was most common) and Necromunda, however LOTOW has much more scope. I am just finishing off the Tribal part of it with Cro Magnon and Neanderthals possibly also the Hobbit cavemen (for Caque Carib) Scenarios include hunting Mesolithic animals, however I am looking to work on some dinosaurs and then introduce hunting parties amongst others

e.g.

The Monarchists - Officer type hunting parties
Slavers and Ne`er do wells - as the name suggests
Adventurers - think game hunters, explorers etc.

Hired hands

Natives
Bearers
Soldiers
Lord of the Jungle
side kicks galore etc


Dinosaur stats is the headache at the moment, I may categorise them by size and whether herbivore or carnivrous with some special attacks for good measure.

Not sure if it will pan out alright but I am enjoying it  :mrgreen: