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Thread: Wild West settings
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2024-03-27, 01:39 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2014
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Wild West settings
I'm generally looking for various books, sources, games, etc, that could help build up a wild west feel. I'm happy to work with different systems and options to get a game to where I want it to be.
Edit: I do have copies of darksun 4e, and pure steam for PF and it's westbound expansion.Last edited by Buufreak; 2024-03-27 at 01:44 PM.
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2024-03-27, 04:37 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
Re: Wild West settings
Deadlands (the classic) seems a pretty good option - you could even file off the supernatural elements or scale them back, if needs be. This had the feel, for me, and had plenty of reasonable source material for a decent post-Civil War-era game.
The first Boot Hill (TSR) was really just a combat system, as I recall, but maybe the successor versions offer something more?
- MNo matter where you go...there you are!
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2024-03-27, 05:45 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2009
- Location
- In my library
Re: Wild West settings
The Savage Worlds versions are also worth a look, I only have Hell on Earth Reloaded but I hear the updates to the original are pretty good. Probably helps that SW is essentially a stripped down Dead lands system-wise (mostly to allow large battles to be played in a day). Honestly the biggest issue is probably that one setting element that the latest edition removed, the original Weird West setting isn't otherwise a big deviation because of how recent the fantasy elements are.
The latest edition even apparently drops the scope to 'arrive in new town, deal with local weird things, leave'. So the supernatural becomes much easier to cut out and reduce if you want to
There's also various other games out there, although I've not personally played any of them. Like I've heard of Aces & Eights, Dogs in the Vineyard, and seen a couple of things on DTRPG, but I don't know if they're good.
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2024-03-27, 06:14 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2010
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Re: Wild West settings
I belief White Wolf's World of Darkness setting has some western splats you could use for inspiration (if not mechanics.) Werewolf: The Wild West would be the main one.
Plague Doctor by Crimmy
Ext. Sig (Handbooks/Creations)
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2024-03-27, 06:44 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
Re: Wild West settings
As I recall, didn't the SW books lean into the generic thing, and strip away some of the flavor and reference material in the DL books? Of course, there were dozens of Deadlands books and far fewer SW: the Deadlanding books, so maybe just a byproduct of mass.
- MNo matter where you go...there you are!
Holhokki Tapio - GitP Blood Bowl New Era Season I Champion
Togashi Ishi - Betrayal at the White Temple
Da Monsters of Da Midden - GitP Blood Bowl Manager Cup Season V-VI-VII
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2024-03-27, 09:09 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2009
- Location
- In my library
Re: Wild West settings
Nah, I believe ABs that use the Power mechanics rather than getting unique Edges lose a lot of flavour, as there's little space spent on trappings. It's definitely a tradeoff to consider: do you think inbuilt trappings make up for slower gameplay?
The real advantage to the Savage Worlds versions is that they're current, I'm not certain that Pinnacle is still selling the Anniversary Edition of Classic. That can make procuring them a lot less if a hassle (although it still took me a while to find anywhere with HoER for sale, because I was looking a good decade after release). That and the fact that some of the subsettings are SW-only, but I think that's just Noir for now.
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2024-03-28, 12:30 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2016
Re: Wild West settings
While it isn't totally on point Space 1889 is a Victorian Steam Punk setting.
If you strip out the steam punk there is a very solid historical basis to build on. The core setting is for European focussed PCs, but there is enough American information to develop further, especially if you have other sources to help flesh out things.
For overlap with current systems I think the 2010 reprint using Savage Worlds is your best bet
Edit to add:
If you are interested in mass combat the Space 1889 Soldier's Companion is a fantastic fast play wargame. Very flavoursome and easy to playLast edited by Pauly; 2024-03-28 at 12:33 AM.
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2024-03-28, 11:14 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
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- San Antonio, Texas
- Gender
Re: Wild West settings
Kenzer & Co (known for Hackmaster, Kingdoms of Kalamar, and Knights of the Dinner Table) have Aces & Eights.
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