How Would You Run A Western? (Magnificent Seven? Firefly?)

[Macbeth]

Okay, I've been feeling like running a Western recently, so I wanted to get some ideas.

If you were running a generic Western (including fantasy or Sci Fi elements, if you like), what rules set (or combination of rules) would you use? No need to stick to d20, or just a single book, you could say mix feats from one book and classes from another, or use a non-d20 system.

If you were running a game based on the movie the Magnificent Seven, what rule set would you use? Would it be the same as the above?

And, finally, what would you use for running a Firefly style game?

Don't worry about what books you use, I want your ideas, not what will work for me.

 

[BSF]

Oddly enough, I have been pondering the same thing. More for playing in that environment than in running it though. I think I like the feel of D20 Modern a bit more than standard D&D. Spellslinger has some fun stuff in it too. I haven't given it deep thought yet though, so I will mostly watch this thread and see what everyone else thinks.

Are you thinking of running some western flavored games? That might be a fun diversion for a bit at some point.

 

[Fate Lawson]

*Ahem* Never mind me, gents. Just passin' through.

*walks away whistling*

 

[GuardianLurker]

D20 Modern, if you were sticking totally in d20 land.

If you're willing to look elsewhere, there's
GURPS Western, probably in 15 different sub-flavors including Mint Coffee Banana.
HERO
Deadlands (and its d20 variant)
Tribe8 (for that funky anime-scifi-western)

 

[Crothian]

Dog House Rules has excellent, and I do mean excellent books for d20 modern western called Sidewinder.

http://www.enworld.org/reviews.php?do=publisher&publisherid=2005290

It is a straight western full of the feel and the fun of everything we know Westerns should be.

 

[Turanil]

And, finally, what would you use for running a Firefly style game?

For Firefly I would probably use Bulldogs! (two reviews of this book on enworld's review section). For a western I would probably get a look at Sidewinder Recoiled, or simply use Grim Tales which is an adaptation of d20 Modern.

 

[Null Boundry]

Deadlands: Weird West

The classic of course.

 

[hero4hire]

Deadlands: Weird West

The classic of course.

Might give my old Boot Hill (the TRUE classic) a dusting off for a night of fun. (Even if I came to realize the Game System sucked while I played it Id still prolly enjoy the nostalgia)

 

[TonyLB]

And for anyone who likes the western/itinerant setting, but who's willing to get a bit away from generic game-rules.

Primetime Adventures is a game pretty much explicitly modelled to run Firefly.
Dogs in the Vineyard is as good a game for supporting mechanically why gunfights happen morally as you're ever likely to see.

 

[Gomez]

I cannot recommend Dog House Rules Sidewinder Recoiled enough! GREAT western rules. It uses D20 Modern as a base.