Shotguns -n- Saddles old school wild west RPG

[grubman]

Shotguns –n- Saddles
By David Bezio
author of X-Plorers & The Phoenix Barony setting for LL

Cowboy up! Old School, New rules! Wild West Role Playing!
OD&D inspired, but taken in a different direction. NOT a Boot Hill retro-clone, or a retro clone at all, but filled with rules that will feel familiar.

RPGnow: http://www.rpgnow.com/product/115779/Shotguns-%26-Saddles
Drive Thru: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/115779/Shotguns-%26-Saddles

[grubman]

Hey, just so you know, this is released under the creative commons for supplements, settings, and adventures! So all you creative types can do your thing with no muss or fuss!

[Blood axe]

Grubman....that name rings a bell. Any other games you helped make?

I just bought Shotguns n Saddles, I was a big Boot Hill fan, and I like Wild West games in general. Im partial to the 3d6 system myself, as Ive been brought up on Basic D&D. (13-15 +1, 16-17+2, 18+3) But this game looks excellent so I gave it a shot.
As soon as I get a bit of free time, I'll read over the rules & roll up a character.
Maybe I can post a sample character here to show people what its like? (with your permission!)

Thanks!

[grubman]

You definitely have my blessing! The opinion of people who buy and play the game is more important than anything.

In addition to X-plorers and the Phoenix barony I also wrote wild west cinema...but I like this western game better. I also have a bunch of free games and adventures floating around on the internet for a multitude of games. I have a few writing and art credits too. If the name grubman is the one that rings a bell, it's probably just from stuff I've done on forums. I haven't been very active the lady year or so...but I'm back.

[Blood axe]

I skimmed the rules, so any mistakes or confusion are on my part. Character creation only took 10 minutes at most. Character creation is simple.
Roll attributes, then background, figure move/defense, hp, alignment, money and character details.

There are 12 attributes, I rolled 3d6 , 12 times, in order.
Athletics 16
Booklearning 6
Fighting 16
Frontier 12
Grit 12
Horsemanship 7
Perception 10
Presence 10
Shooting 11
Stealth 14
Strength 11
Quickness 7

I rolled Outlaw for my background, past. That gives me a further +1 on Fighting, Grit, Horsemanship, Stealth.

My special ability is "Hit 'em Hard!" Gives +1 to damage rolls.

Defense Im not sure about, since Im unfamiliar with the combat yet. 10+ level + Quickness.
So 10 + 0 level beginning character + 7 Quickness = 17. Im not quick, so that's probably not a great score.

Movement is good , because my high Athletics score so a 6".

Hit points are by your Grit score, I roll a d8. But I usually choose to give starting characters max HP at start for first HD, so 8 Hit Points.

Money is 3d6 , I get $140. Outlaws must get paid pretty well.

You start w/ clothing. (that's good!)
I buy several items, but cant afford a horse & saddle yet.

knife
2 short barreled pistols
100 rounds
pistol belt
bedroll
canteen
trail rations
compass
gun cleaning kit
pocket knife

And I still have $96 to spare!

Alignment is cool. You pick a "hat". Black hat- bad guy, Brown hat- neutral, average citizen type, White hat- good guy!

Im choosing Brown hat. My background is Outlaw. Im thinking a reformed criminal, he want to change, but it takes time. That checkered past follows you.
I just need a name & a few more details, fill out my character sheet, & Im done!

[grubman]

cool. only one thing to mention...the 3d6 you roll is only to determine your starting attribute score (-2,-1,0,+1,+2...and further modified by background). The 3d6 isn't the score itself.

[Blood axe]

cool. only one thing to mention...the 3d6 you roll is only to determine your starting attribute score (-2,-1,0,+1,+2...and further modified by background). The 3d6 isn't the score itself.

Ok, I get it. So stats would be 0,-1, +2 etc.
So is the bonus for background (like Outlaw) added to the dice roll or to the "bonus"? Im thinking the bonus- so if I had a Fight of +1 and a +1 for Outlaw, my Fight would be +2.

[grubman]

you got it exactly...so attributes will be a -2 to a +3 like you are more used too .

[Blood axe]

So my Defense would be 9 if I had a quickness of 7 ? Quickness -1. Defense 10 -1 quickness = 9.

[grubman]

yep...and defense equates to AC. Fighting or Shooting + level is your to hit bonus. Familiar rules just done in a way to cover more ground in less space...at least that was the design goal.