My stomach always hurts when I think of Boot Hill. Every character I ever made for it died from being gutshot. It's not even all that common a hit location...
I played Boot Hill a few years ago. A new character was introduced into the campaign in the middle of a gunshot and he was killed instantly by a stray bullet that missed its intended target during a gunfight at the train station. He was stepping off the train from Back East when he caught one in the head and died. It was funny in a dark sort of way.
Westerns should/should have been a much more fertile ground for gamers than it is now, or ever was, and I don't mean games like Deadlands, or any game of a fantasy-western or scifi-western hybrid. A pure western adventure done well, cultivated with a little TLC and a dedicated GM, is just as good as any fantasy or scifi adventure you'll play in or run.
I very much agree. I've long wanted to run a wide-open Western campaign in a fictional territory on the verge of statehood, but it's hard to find people interested. I don't think many younger gamers know much about the history or the genre and most older gamers I've asked are similarly disinterested.
Ugh. Arguably the most shameful era in US history and you want to roleplay in a reasonably realistic version of it? Not my cup of tea. It's just too grim - the US government's "Indian management" policies (enacted largely at the demand of the land-hungry settlers) killed about 2/3rds of the total Native American population between 1800 and 1890. You know, the same percentage of European Jews that died in the Holocaust. Lot fewer bodies, of course, but somehow that doesn't make me feel better about it.
I loved Boot Hill when I was in middle school in the early 80's, but it did have a lethality problem. In the many years since I've played it, I have mused about using some sort of "fame and fortune points" a la Top Secret to somewhat offset that lethality, should I find an opportunity to play again.
Is there Western RPG that works like Gene Autry/Roy Rogers/Hopalong Cassidy/Lone Ranger/Cisco Kid TV and movies? That might be a better fit as an RPG. Combat wouldn't be so immediately lethal.
The Dragon magazine wrote up Boot Hill stats for "The Fastest Guns That Never Lived". You could play all of the characters you mentioned and more. In different scenarios I have played; James West, Hoot Gibson, and Brett Maverick. These convention scenarios were fun to play, although I died in every one.
I don't remember that ad either. Interesting that in 1980 it would be after the 2nd edition boxed set was out, but the yellow coloring is giving off a 1st edition BH vibe to me.
I understand the points made above about it not being a good period of history to game but I'd suggest that it is quite possible for any campaign to treat indigenous people respectfully.
I'd love to play an rpg with a western theme. However my iconic westerns are The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West and Once Upon a Time...The Revolution!, the Wild Bunch and High Noon. These are the adventures I'd want to play.
Not having played BH but looking at the DMG section on conversions it seems possible that the system would suit your war of independence against the UK, your civil war or the Mexican Civil War.
My stomach always hurts when I think of Boot Hill. Every character I ever made for it died from being gutshot. It's not even all that common a hit location...
ReplyDeleteI played Boot Hill a few years ago. A new character was introduced into the campaign in the middle of a gunshot and he was killed instantly by a stray bullet that missed its intended target during a gunfight at the train station. He was stepping off the train from Back East when he caught one in the head and died. It was funny in a dark sort of way.
DeleteAt least he died fast? :)
DeleteWesterns should/should have been a much more fertile ground for gamers than it is now, or ever was, and I don't mean games like Deadlands, or any game of a fantasy-western or scifi-western hybrid. A pure western adventure done well, cultivated with a little TLC and a dedicated GM, is just as good as any fantasy or scifi adventure you'll play in or run.
ReplyDeleteI very much agree. I've long wanted to run a wide-open Western campaign in a fictional territory on the verge of statehood, but it's hard to find people interested. I don't think many younger gamers know much about the history or the genre and most older gamers I've asked are similarly disinterested.
DeleteBoot Hill sucked, sorry. WAY too lethal to be playable.
DeleteUgh. Arguably the most shameful era in US history and you want to roleplay in a reasonably realistic version of it? Not my cup of tea. It's just too grim - the US government's "Indian management" policies (enacted largely at the demand of the land-hungry settlers) killed about 2/3rds of the total Native American population between 1800 and 1890. You know, the same percentage of European Jews that died in the Holocaust. Lot fewer bodies, of course, but somehow that doesn't make me feel better about it.
DeleteI loved Boot Hill when I was in middle school in the early 80's, but it did have a lethality problem. In the many years since I've played it, I have mused about using some sort of "fame and fortune points" a la Top Secret to somewhat offset that lethality, should I find an opportunity to play again.
DeleteIs it time for “Blood Meridian: The RPG”?
DeleteDick, that's my own discomfort with the Western genre.
DeleteAt least in the 2000s when I went to game conventions, it was still popular for skirmish wargaming. But I wonder if that has died back.
I've tried a couple times to run a Western campaign (including a Deadlands run), but I could never really suss out what it needed to sing.
No. Hence the lack of games in this genre.
ReplyDeleteIs there Western RPG that works like Gene Autry/Roy Rogers/Hopalong Cassidy/Lone Ranger/Cisco Kid TV and movies? That might be a better fit as an RPG. Combat wouldn't be so immediately lethal.
ReplyDeleteThe Dragon magazine wrote up Boot Hill stats for "The Fastest Guns That Never Lived". You could play all of the characters you mentioned and more. In different scenarios I have played; James West, Hoot Gibson, and Brett Maverick. These convention scenarios were fun to play, although I died in every one.
DeleteI introduced my group to "Wild West Cinema" from David Bezos last week. They absolutely LOVED it!!!
ReplyDeleteA straight forward western game, set in a corner of Arizona Territory, in a fictional boom town.
I agree, the Western rpg trope is severely underused.
I don't remember that ad either. Interesting that in 1980 it would be after the 2nd edition boxed set was out, but the yellow coloring is giving off a 1st edition BH vibe to me.
ReplyDeleteI understand the points made above about it not being a good period of history to game but I'd suggest that it is quite possible for any campaign to treat indigenous people respectfully.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to play an rpg with a western theme. However my iconic westerns are The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West and Once Upon a Time...The Revolution!, the Wild Bunch and High Noon. These are the adventures I'd want to play.
Not having played BH but looking at the DMG section on conversions it seems possible that the system would suit your war of independence against the UK, your civil war or the Mexican Civil War.
"I'd suggest that it is quite possible for any campaign to treat indigenous people respectfully."
DeleteExcept for Orcs. Those filthy, violent, barbaric savages must be exterminated on sight, for the good of all enlightened, gods-fearing people!
Anyone know of a great, published, far-ranging sandbox campaign for the wild west genre, in any game system?
ReplyDeleteI'd love a cowboy version of 'Trouble Brewing' from Gangbusters.
Yes, that's exactly the kind of thing I'd like to see.
DeleteCall of Cthulhu took a stab at this recently in Down Darker Trails. I think the BRP system works pretty well for a Western.
ReplyDelete