Shoot N' Skedaddle - SNS PDF version available for $7, rules free online.

[Elbows]

Update: I have been in touch with Chessex dice, and if I decide to produce the game, they've given me a cost - allowing me to provide 20 dice (5 of each one that you need) per game.  So, if I can produce a large number of games, I will be providing dice in the finished product...hopefully.  Time to consider a small kickstarter.

PS: I have also been in touch with the Bicycle Card company, and have been given bulk prices on their 1890's vintage card sets...meaning the "full" game will also feature two poker card decks.

PSS: I'm talking to my buddy Lee about providing acrylic tokens as well (though if this proves too costly I'll look for some other way).

[Heisler]

Sounds like you have things well in hand if you decide to do physical production. I would still be in for a PDF version, just provide a template to make stickers to go on the dice with the PDF and we can all go out and scrounge blank dice to put them on (and yes Chessex makes blank dice too!).

[Elbows]

The dice you'd need are available straight through Chessex - nothing fancy.  The special dice are just an option.  For normal gameplay you use simple D6, D8, D12, and D20's.

The dice I made with the stickers etc. are for creating random test rolls, or marking modified attributes on your character cards.

As it stands now, it should end up being thus:

1) Free PDF of the rules (though without the cards, it's not overly useful...but you will be able to peruse the rules before buying anything)

2) Simple set, just the needed cards, and rules.  You would thus be providing your own dice, poker decks, etc.

3) The full set, cards, rules, tokens, dice, poker decks, and a few added bits.

To be honest, with all of the Old West games coming out, I may not bother - but it never hurts to look at my options.  Even if I produce a large run to drive down costs, this would end up being a not-for-profit game. 

[pinny]

The dice you'd need are available straight through Chessex - nothing fancy.  The special dice are just an option.  For normal gameplay you use simple D6, D8, D12, and D20's.

The dice I made with the stickers etc. are for creating random test rolls, or marking modified attributes on your character cards.

As it stands now, it should end up being thus:

1) Free PDF of the rules (though without the cards, it's not overly useful...but you will be able to peruse the rules before buying anything)

The amount of obvious effort you have gone to in making this game it deserves a chance at being let loose on the public
2) Simple set, just the needed cards, and rules.  You would thus be providing your own dice, poker decks, etc.

3) The full set, cards, rules, tokens, dice, poker decks, and a few added bits.

To be honest, with all of the Old West games coming out, I may not bother - but it never hurts to look at my options.  Even if I produce a large run to drive down costs, this would end up being a not-for-profit game. 

[Elbows]

At this point, I'm very much considering leaving it all in the hands of a small kickstarter.  I'm meeting up with my mother (super financial guru/cpa/accountant etc.) to really put all of the numbers together to make sure I'm not missing anything.  See what she thinks from a financial perspective.

Worst case scenario - it'll be available somehow...so don't fret.  I just really think if I do it right and get enough ordered I can provide an entire game with all of the tokens, cards, dice etc. needed for a very reasonable price.  The quantity discounts from my suppliers are upwards of 50%, so I will be selling the extra components in the game at far below what the average gamer would be able to find.

It'll be a lot of work for no real profit, but it'd be nice to share it with the gaming community. 

[pinny]

My last reply didnt seem to show up,

i did say it would be a mighty shame to see something you have obviously worked so very hard to get perfect not  see the light of day

[Elbows]

Yeah, Pinny - if you look, you accidentally typed your response inside of the quote you made.  I saw it, but it took me a minute. 

[Elbows]

What do you guys think would be more popular?  Just the necessary rules and cards...or a fully fleshed out offering, including vintage poker decks, tokens, dice etc.?

Think around $25-ish for the cards and rules...and around $40 for the cards, rules, 35 acrylic tokens, two decks of 1895 cards, and 20 chessex dice colour matched to the game cards.

[Heisler]

Tough question. I'm usually more than willing to get a set of rules that tells me what else I would need especially if its stuff I'll probably have laying around already. However, Wild West games are really about the atmosphere so I would likely throw in for a full set of rules and accessories.

[Elbows]

Yep, that's actually why I'm torn about putting it all together.  The full set would be giving buyers the stuff they need at significant cost...BUT...the stuff required is pretty easy to buy, and plenty of people will have stuff which would work.

This is the 1895 Expert Back Deck from Bicycle which would be included (two decks actually)





^A similar set of tokens would be included (number to be determined, but five designs, around 35 or so tokens)



^20 Chessex dice which are colour matched to the cards in the game.

Prices would include shipping to the U.S., and I guess an additional charge for customers abroad.



^And of course the primary decks (40+ Characters, 60+ Weapon cards, and each special deck consisting of 30+ special action cards)

A small quick-rule book, and the PDF download for the full rules (including minor campaign rules, and likely a few scenarios).

The only remaining question would be blank cards.  I may make this a small separate Gamecrafter purchase, but I can provide blank character cards, weapon cards, and special action cards...along with dice and stickers (which can actually be used on the blank character cards etc.)

[pinny]

Im always "in for a penny in for a pound" so id be buying the full set for sure

[Heisler]

What about doing it this way. Option 1 being the rules and the cards at price A (approx $25). Option B being the rules and the cards plus accessories at price B (approx $40) and Option C being just the accessories (say $20). That way there is added incentive to take Option B and go for the whole thing right off the bat.

You might consider adding cardboard tokens that have to be cut out with Option A as well.

That's my two cents worth at this point. I'm still in search of rules so I'm likely to be investing in and trying out several rule sets to be used with Calamity and your's intrigues me a lot. I see myself definitely attracted to Old West games that involved card decks, it just has the poker hand feel to it, much like the original Deadlands.

[Elbows]

Yeah, that's what I'm leaning toward.  Having two options.

The biggest draw to my game (in my own horribly biased opinion) is the ability to play Solo, and the ability to create a game out of nothing in moments.  Random characters mean it's quite simple to simple set up a table, agree on a number of figures...draw them and start playing.  No need to build or create gangs, use army lists etc.  I've always been a huge fan of card-driven mechanics, and random chance.

You should see the gamers at the conventions eagerly reading each character/weapon they draw.  Even once the game is started, the special deck can often throw the game completely on its ear.  Include poker-card-driven activation and you can see how players are really along for the ride...and must make the most of it!

I think this system makes it rather unique, and quite a laugh.

[Heisler]

Sounds like the plans are more or less in place, at least in your head, and your ducks are in a row. The question now is when do we get to shoot the ducks!

[Elbows]

Working on that.     (actually working on assembling the rules PDF which is a slow goin' process...)  Unfortunately I can run the game because it's all in my head, and seems bloody simple till I start typing it up...