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

[Brad Hindman]

Fair enough. The desire to stick to a well-known and well-loved ruleset is certainly as good a reason as any. Our local gaming group is migrating in the opposite direction. We like the d20 Modern ruleset and are starting to convert most of our games to it. Tastes vary of course.

Just to save you some time, DHR hasn't released any adventures in the standard form to date. The Frontier Town books have lots of plot hooks, but you would need to flesh those out yourself to turn them into a full-fledged adventure. We have several short adventures in the works, but they are probably several months away from completion and release, longer if day jobs or real life decide to get complicated.

 

[FCWesel]

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.

UNISYSTEM! On all fronts.

First off, you could choose Cinematic or Classic (more hard edged) Unisystem, depending on how gritty you want.

For Classic, you can get a free set of the rules via a FREE PDF of the Witchcraft Classic Unisystem game at drivethru. Link here:
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=139

This will give you the basic system, combat and pretty much all you need.

If you want Cinematic rules, I sugest the ANGEL RPG by EDEN. After a quick read through you'll be able to see how easy this system is.

OR you could go with AFMBE (All Flesh Must be Eaten), THE zombie game and it's companion book, "A fist full of zombies" which is a western supplement for the game. You can pretty much ignore the zombies aspect if you so want or need. Here's a few links for you:

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=57_60&products_id=733
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=57_60

BTW, Eden books have the Watermark protection at Drivethru and not the DRM stuff, so they are even easier to DL and use now. You can even print only the pages you might need or use. (Me, I like having a book, but that's just me.)

UNISYSTEM is easy to learn, fast to play and can really be used to do anything. Really freindly to GM tweaking and such.

As for FIREFLY...Eden has a booklet out, called ESP #1 (link below) that has a "space western" article in it. It's all but Firefly in name. This would give you even MORE ideas for westernizing the game.

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=57_61&products_id=564

Do yourself a favour, check it out.

 

[Krieg]

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?

D20 = Sidewinder Recoiled

Non-D20 = Gunslingers: Wild West Action!

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

Non-D20 = MegaTraveller or Alternity.

D20 = Traveller d20 w/the usual smattering of bits & pieces stolen from other sources.

 

[scourger]

We have several short adventures in the works, but they are probably several months away from completion and release, longer if day jobs or real life decide to get complicated.

I'll keep a lookout for them. Sidewinder was a very well-written product, so I'm sure the adventures will be worth a look.

 

[GMSkarka]

Funny thing, I'm actually running a Firefly game starting tonight, and we're using:

• D20 Modern
• D20 Future
• Sidewinder Recoiled
• Some Firefly-specific stuff I whipped up for the occasion

If I was to run a "straight" western, I'd be torn between using Sidewinder Recoiled, original, first-edition Boot Hill (which was, essentially, just a set of miniatures rules), or the new Legends of the Old West from Games Workshop (part of their Warhammer Historical line).