Aces and 8's is pretty darn slick!

[Treebore]

Let me preface this with saying in my 24+ years of gaming I have stayed away from westerns. In fact, I got dragged into my first experience only about 6 months ago with a RPG called "Go for Your Gun!"

Guess what? I had a lot of fun!

I stayed away from Westerns because I thought I wouldn't. Boy was I wrong!

Anyways, we are now checking out Aces and Eights, an pretty new RPG done by Kenzer. Anyways, in preparation for our game I was told to watch 3 Youtube tutorials located here:

YouTube - Jollybgood's Channel

What has really lighted up my fire of interest was several things. One was how they resolve the randomness of shotguns. Another is how cover is inherent to how you resolve hits. Another is how the higher the damage done the more debilitating it is to the target. Including requiring amputation and knocking you unconcious!!

Plus its pretty innovative, to me at least, how they use a targeting template, silhouettes, and a deck of poker cards, along with tables in the book, to pretty quickly resolve shots fired in what I think is the most realistic simulationist manner I have ever seen!

Gunfights in Aces and Eights are certainly deadly! Plus resolution of each shot looks to only take a minute or so once you get used to using the tools provided. Actually in the demo it would take less than 30 seconds.


So I highly recommend you check these video tutorials out. Even if you think you hate Westerns like I used to think.Even if you have no intention of playing the system alone is worth checking out for ideas.

Give them a look. I doubt you'll regret it.

 

[Thanee]

Yep, kinda fun to see that silhouette/template stuff again.

I don't even remember, which game it was, that did that... Phoenix Command most likely.

Do they also have numerous silhouettes for prone, crouching, standing, running, and so on?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Treebore]

Do they also have numerous silhouettes for prone, crouching, standing, running, and so on?

Bye
Thanee

Yes. Available on their website.

 

[Treebore]

In fact:

Aces & Eights Roleplaying Game

 

[Evil_Dead_Jedi]

Ok, this is going to sound really dull and boring of me, but what kind of stories can you tell in a western setting? I ask because this game looks cool, and I like the idea of playing a western game, but I don't want to invest money in a game like this and then not be able to think of fun scenarios for it. What kinds of things do you guys think would be fun in this type of game?

 

[Treebore]

Ok, this is going to sound really dull and boring of me, but what kind of stories can you tell in a western setting? I ask because this game looks cool, and I like the idea of playing a western game, but I don't want to invest money in a game like this and then not be able to think of fun scenarios for it. What kinds of things do you guys think would be fun in this type of game?

Tons. Do you watch Western movies? Read the books? You can be bounty hunters working for Pinkerton hunting down bank and train robbers. You can be a prospector hunting for gold, fighting off indians, claim jumpers, etc....
You can be a gambler who goes from town to town taking peoples money through gambling. You can be a Texas Ranger, trying to be among the too few and far between Rangers who enforce law and order in the lands of Texas.

Then, once the campaign gets going, the story will take on a life of its own as the players start taking interest in various things.

Like our group got wrapped up in the Chinese slave trade among the RR company and associated business'. The GM even had our Chinese buddy being hunted by an assassin sent all the way from China to get revenge. We also hunted down lost silver mines, fighting others doing the same, often killing them. We helped a town throw off the yoke of an oppressive cattle rancher/miner and his men. Now we are heroes in that town.

Lots of possibilities.

 

[RefinedBean]

The Western genre has an INSANE amount of history behind it, tons of source material, and some of the best media out there. Watch a few episodes of Deadwood, drink in the atmosphere, and go crazy.

Stylistically, I'd keep it episodic, but there's no reason you have to. Maybe run a practice session based on a favorite western scene, to get the mechanics down. Recreate the final scene of 3:10 to Yuma with the players playing Dan Evans, Ben Wade, Charlie Prince, William Evans, and others.

 

[Thanee]

Ok, this is going to sound really dull and boring of me, but what kind of stories can you tell in a western setting? I ask because this game looks cool, and I like the idea of playing a western game, but I don't want to invest money in a game like this and then not be able to think of fun scenarios for it. What kinds of things do you guys think would be fun in this type of game?

What could you do in a modern game?

There is a lot of potential in games other than fantasy and sci-fi.

Or you just mix western and fantasy/horror and go Deadlands.

Bye
Thanee

 

[tenkar]

Yep, kinda fun to see that silhouette/template stuff again.

I don't even remember, which game it was, that did that... Phoenix Command most likely.

Do they also have numerous silhouettes for prone, crouching, standing, running, and so on?

Bye
Thanee

The Morrow Project is the first game i recall with a silhouette / template system for combat... that is early 80's geekdom speaking

 

[Relique du Madde]

What could you do in a modern game?

There is a lot of potential in games other than fantasy and sci-fi.

Or you just mix western and fantasy/horror and go Deadlands.

Bye
Thanee

Don't forget, you can also mix westerns with sci-fi or use western inspired themes/elements in other genres (strangely cowboys and samuraii seem oddly interchangeable).