"Nobody buys Cowboys any more!"

[bayonetbrant]

I was going to ask about Grand Theft Horse when someone mentioned it up-thread

[GJK]

I made an ebook (.chm, Windows Compiled Help Manual, i.e., HTML based help file) of the rare 3rd edition rules for the old TSR game "Boot Hill".  It's an easy to play and fun game using table top miniatures (which can be bought very cheaply on ebay) or by using one of those square grid playing mats that you can draw on with a dry erase marker and some chits.  I'll share that file with those that may be interested:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mc4cu2bfaugt1jh/Boot%20Hill%203.chm?dl=0

(I may put together a VASSAL module for it some day, who knows!)

There's also a game which is similar to Boot Hill and a bit of a "lite" version of AH's Gunslinger called "Outlaws" that was done by an amature game designer but it is a very polished game with some wonderful graphics.  It's a free print and play (and it has a VASSAL module already).  You can find it at:

http://cryhavocgames.net/Outlaws.htm

There's also "Cowboys: Way of the gun": http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/17465/cowboys-way-gun

"The Rules with no name": http://www.amazon.com/RULES-WITH-NO-NAME-Fistful/dp/190154317X

And probably dozens more board/miniature games covering the subject.

[bayonetbrant]

I am curious: has anyone made a board game with a gunfighter theme?

Gunslinger, by Avalon Hill circa 1982. Accept no substitutes. It might cost ya a bit but well worth it. Kind of detailed/crunchy in the 80's wargame way, but I've played few games that tell stories like Gunslinger does. I remember specific incidents from games I played 30 years ago.
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1044/gunslinger

If you are willing to go down the miniatures path, The Rules With No Name are hard to beat. Requires a bit more effort but a fine set of rules and a fun game.
http://www.mts.net/~gisby/noname.htm

Boot Hill count?  There's plenty of that game that gets played on a map.
edit: ninja'ed while looking for Outlaws! graphics


There's also
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/85530/outlaws-adventures-old-west

There was someone working on a new set of graphics for a while

[gameleaper]

There are two western FPS not mentioned yet, 'Outlaws' that I played often,and a mod for modern version of wolfenstien that made a realy good bank robber scenarios etc...

[Jack Nastyface]

A few points:
On Page 1 of my "Big Book of Ideas That Will Never See The Light of Day" I have an overview, some basic use-cases, a basic flow-chart, a story-board and even some wire-frames of a game tentatively titled "A Quick and the Dead shooter for ipad etc".  Think "Pistols at Dawn" meets Madden football "pass" mechanic.  To make it difficult, you might need two of the "pass meters", one for each hand.  And to make it interesting, you'd be able to "level up or one-time bonus skills" to change aspects of the pass meters.

Gunslinger is indeed an excellent game.  It is very detailed, which some people find boring.  I hosted a game at a convention last year and MOST of the people at the table (only 1 had played it before) didn't like it.  Having said that, I might even be willing to manage an on-line game of it via this forum if you really want.  You can find the rules, etc in various what-appear-to-be-legal places on the net, and theres' a good VASSAL module as well.

Cowboys: Way of the Gun by Worthington is okay.  It's not as detailed as Gunslinger, but that's not a bad thing.

Legends of the Old West is a minis based game by Warhammer Historicals.   It plays fairly well, but it really comes into it's own when you start a campaign with competing posses.  I can possibly help you out if you want to see the rules.

Ganesha Games is set to have a set of old-west mini-rules in the New Year.  I like the mechanics of most of their games, so it may prove interesting.

Two Hour Wargames has done "Six Gun Sound".  Their rules are based on an action - reaction mechanic.  I tried the "Chain Reaction" rules (for free!) and they are okay.  I am uncertain how they would work in an old west "open range" kind of situation.

Reaper miniatures allows you to download for free their old west rules, appropriately titled Cowboys and Gunslingers.  I downloaded them (they're free and I'm cheap!) but I honestly haven't even read them.

More list of rules, here:  http://www.erichotz.com/game_rules1.html


PS.  Rules With No Name in boring HTML format, here:  http://www.mts.net/~gisby/noname.htm

[jomni]

Anyone rember that SSI cowboy wargame?
http://videogamegeek.com/videogame/79537/six-gun-shootout

[RooksBailey]

Anyone rember that SSI cowboy wargame?
http://videogamegeek.com/videogame/79537/six-gun-shootout

That's the game I couldn't remember!  I loved that game!  Would love to see a remake one day.

Wait. Did you just say mount and blade cowboy mod? That's cool. Is there an existing project?

Yup.  It is called 1860s Old America:

http://www.moddb.com/mods/1860s-old-america/images/na13877917775#imagebox

I think there is another one out there somewhere, too.

And thanks to everyone who posted some mini rules/board game!  I have to check some of those out!   O0

[RooksBailey]

Gunslinger, by Avalon Hill circa 1982. Accept no substitutes. It might cost ya a bit but well worth it. Kind of detailed/crunchy in the 80's wargame way, but I've played few games that tell stories like Gunslinger does. I remember specific incidents from games I played 30 years ago.
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1044/gunslinger

Good news!  BGG has a PDF version of the rules here:  http://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/7379/gunslingerpdf

And a VASSAL module here:  http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Gunslinger

What more do you need?   ;)

And I really like the sound of that free print and play game, Outlaws.  Might give that a go soon!

[Nefaro]

Nice timing.






:)


http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/146791/shadows-brimstone-city-ancients

[MikeGER]

My dream Western is a Skyrim, where you can build, mod, mine, adventure...where there is a rep system where you can become notorious for your misdeeds, where you can build a reputation with a gun and put on a Marshal's star. Where guns are accurately modeled, where you can feel the sand under your feet in Tombstone and sweat over if you have enough bullets to survive the warband of Apache's you just crossed.

Yeah, I'd buy that.

a big fat +1 , pilgrim  ;)

[GJK]

Gunslinger is indeed an excellent game.  It is very detailed, which some people find boring.  I hosted a game at a convention last year and MOST of the people at the table (only 1 had played it before) didn't like it.  Having said that, I might even be willing to manage an on-line game of it via this forum if you really want.  You can find the rules, etc in various what-appear-to-be-legal places on the net, and theres' a good VASSAL module as well.

Having just recently secured a copy of Gunslinger (finally, and at a great price too!) I'd love to learn the system via a forum game were there to be enough interest.

[JasonPratt]

Apparently I dreamed seeing RDR (and its Undead Nightmare expansion) on sale at Steam and Gamersgate; much to my surprise, it doesn't exist for PC after all.  (I bought and played it on PS3.)

That's just money lying on the table right there. It can't be that hard to release a PC version based on Xbox360 code...?????

[bayonetbrant]

y'all should check out today's GARPA


just sayin'

[MengJiao]

y'all should check out today's GARPA


just sayin'

  Scramble for Africa?  Right time period, wrong continent?

  Which brings up the real possible problem with Cowboys:  Indians.  Now I personally would really relish a Wild West sanddboxy game
if you could play as some specific kind of Indian.  Sure, I'd like to play a Pawnee or any other Caddoan, but I'd be open to plenty of other general Indian types.  Being a very large Jicarrilla would be swell, but being a smaller, sneakier Zuni might be good too.

   If you played one of the raider type Indians (eg. Gataka = Kiowa Apache) or Commanche (2-3 subtypes!) or a Lipan, you'd already be pretty far in a Skyrimmy direction: wiping out settlers of all sorts, gathering weapons and horses and selling slaves.

    As a Cowboy your options would be limited, but as a Commanchero (New Mexican farmers who rode with the Commanches), you could cover all your bases and be a European by Summer and Fall and an Indian in the winter and spring.

[bayonetbrant]

y'all should check out today's GARPA

Scramble for Africa?  Right time period, wrong continent?

Today's GARPA, not yesterday's AAR :)