Pulp Alley for Old West

[Goshawk]

Hi All,

Was thinking of changing up the rules set I use for my Old West minis and wanted to get some recommendations.  I've been using Gutshot, and while it's okay, it just doesn't do it for me - mainly due to the scenario balance problems.  I'm looking for something simple, fun, and convention-friendly with a modicum of balance built into the "team" building.  I recently heard about Pulp Alley via the Meeples & Miniatures Podcast and it sounded as if it could be a good match.  Anyone familiar enough with it to offer an opinion on its "Old West" compatibility?

Many thanks!

(Cross Posted in the "Pulp" forum as well.)

[Elk101]

Pulp Alley would work just fine for Old West.

There's also Fistful of Lead which is worth looking at.

[Earther]

I really fancy the new Fistful of Lead, but Northstar are doing Chris Peer's Law of the Gun, which sounds like fun: LINK

Preview article here: LINK

And to answer your original question, I think Pulp Alley will cover just about anything, especially scenario driven games.

[sespe]

I have been using Flying Lead (Ganesha Games Songs of... engine) for multi-player games and it worked well.  They I bought the super-cheap Fistful of Lead rules.

I see no need to wait for the 'new' rules to come out.  These rules are great for quick action in a big group!  Everybody is involved, bookkeeping is minimal to non-existent, it plays very fast. 

These are my new go-to rules for old west.  I can't say enough good things about them!

[General]

Six Gun Sound from Two Hour Wargames is fun

http://www.twohourwargames.com/sixgunsound.html

[Irishrover13]

Pulp Alley would be great. Another one I would put forward is In Her Majesties Name. Right time period and easy to make your own leagues. It does have a Mystic/Weird science aspect but you can easily ignore that.

[Goshawk]

Awesome and thanks for the recommendations!  I love rules sets so I'm sure to check them all out at some point. Pulp Alley, PDF $9.99, is a steal so this time out it'll get the call.

Thanks again!

[Jan]

What bugs me on Pulp Alley is, that you do not have weapons or stats for weapons.
If you see a guy with a shotgun and a guy with a pistol it implys ... nothing. You have to ask your "opponent" which of them is more dangerous. Maybe they are both the same.

Fistful of Lead with own upgrades rules!

[Wolf Girl]

What bugs me on Pulp Alley is, that you do not have weapons or stats for weapons.
If you see a guy with a shotgun and a guy with a pistol it implys ... nothing. You have to ask your "opponent" which of them is more dangerous. Maybe they are both the same.

Fistful of Lead with own upgrades rules!

Yes, Pulp Alley gets away from the idea that characters are just walking-weapons. "That's a shotgun-guy" is pretty limiting and unrealistic when you really think about it. Personally, I can guarantee you that I'm far more dangerous with a .38 revolver than a shotgun.

There are weapons in Pulp Alley and they are part of the character profile/abilities. If you're guy is effective with a shotgun, then you can pick Short Blast, Blast or even Burst Fire ability. If you want your guy to be good with a rifle, then take Eagle-eye and so on. So when you create a character you take their weapons into account.

In general, I've found that the way a miniature looks usually matches their Pulp Alley profile quite well.

[Goshawk]

@Wolf Girl - I'm normally a "crunchy player" - type of rifle, how many bullets left, etc.  (Aces & Eights RPG type minis  )  Buuuuut, PA will definitely be a better fit for the general gaming con Where I'm hosting a game. The story/adventure elements are awesome and easy to implement, plus it's up to me to make the "characters" fit the minis I have at hand. Just from reading the AARs and such about the game -- the great stories -- really have me pumped to play it. It'll be a big hit.

Now, where did I stash those old Call of Cthulhu minis...?

[Irishrover13]

How did you game go/ how is the game planing doing?

[Goshawk]

Coming up soon...about three weeks or so.  It'll be a good-sized game with four players, four "leagues."  So far, I made a character card (concept and inspiration shamelessly lifted from a user here) and have started the board layout.  I think it'll be a lot of fun.

[/img][/img]

How did you game go/ how is the game planing doing?

[Treebeard]

Characters card looks great

[Goshawk]

Thanks, Treebeard!  They're a work in progress, but I'm pretty happy with them.

Characters card looks great

[obsidian3d]

I'm not sure if they're still available for free download, but Blackwater Gulch rules are pretty good. I've played a half dozen games and enjoyed it quite a lot. You can use pre-made gangs or create your own, and the weapons list is pretty solid without being ridiculously detailed. I made up two squads of five from scratch, for my EM4 western pre-paints in about an hour.

http://obsidian3d.blogspot.ca/2012/09/wild-west-wanderings.html