Some help for a noob ...

[Golgotha]

Deadlands Railwars

[Elbows]

That highlights why any Old West game should allow some rather awesome ridiculousness.  In most Old West games I've played (all sorts of rule sets) you should be laughing out loud, cheering and hurling ye oldey insults.



This photo illustrates one of my favourite moments.

Convention game, a crowd of about ten players ranging from some guys in their 60's to a pair of siblings who were naught but 10-12 years old (I was coaching them along at their father's request).  The Lawmen are there to stop a wedding they disapprove of.  Early in the game the would-be beau is gunned down.  The wife decides to flee and I offer the Outlaws an escape --- the far end of the table.  The table is a good 8-10 feet.  The Lawmen, dug in around the church suddenly have to change tactics.  The bride flees, Lawmen hot on her heels.  An Outlaw player draws the "Horse Thief" card and they give the bride the horse.  She begins a mad dash down the table edge.  Lawmen are streaming across the board firing at her.  The horse bites it and she's thrown.  She gathers her bussel and runs nonstop for the corner of the board.

This picture shows the very last moment.  The Lawmen, pouring through a gap in the buildings are struck by the Sabotage card - a barrel igniting and blowing up, killing and wounding four different Lawmen.  The activation deck runs out and this is where the game sits.  The kids with me are literally jumping and down screaming.  We shuffle the activation deck.  She's mere inches from the table edge.

We finish shuffling the deck.  Draw a card (each character in the game has two cards, there are maybe 10-15 characters left on the board).  It's the bride!  She flees off the table the Outlaws win.  The entire group erupted.  A bunch of people, huge disparity in ages/interests all come together for a ridiculously tense wild game.  It is the very definition of what I hope for when a game starts.   

[Harry Faversham]

Elbows, all I can say to that is...

"Hell boy, you remind me... of me!"

 

[Cluck Amok]

Tip o' the tricorn to Fistful of Lead. Tricorn, you, say; not stetson?! Fer Shur! Fistful is a fun game and a great toolbox - there is even a Horse and Musket variant that we use for French and Indian War. Check out some action here:

http://cluckamok.blogspot.com/search/label/Fistful%20of%20Lead

Full disclosure: I'm a friend of the author with a playtest credit in the rules, but as "life's too short for games that suck," friendship alone would not have gotten me to play!

Bests,
Chris

[Kelgtar]

Guys thank you so much for your comments and suggestions and stories.

I will further think about what ruleset, read some reviews and find one that suits me best!

But for now, a great thank you !