Wild West Maps!

[Chorpa]

Just found out that 0one Games is about to release a bunch of Wild West themed maps. I know there are people here running Wild- or Weird West adventures and might be of interest so wanted to give a heads up on those. I for sure plan on getting them.

http://www.0onegames.com/catalog/

[Skunkape]

Hey thanks for posting the link, I'm really interested in them!

[jaysun]

Nice. Thanks for sharing!

[Vorax Transtellaris]

This is good news. For some reason Wild West themed floorplans and maps are rather hard to find. Maybe the genre is too niche.

[soltakss]

I get a product not Found message for each of them - must be because they are not due until 01/04/2014.

[seneschal]

I get a product not Found message for each of them - must be because they are not due until 01/04/2014.

But ... it's already March 2014 ...

I couldn't pull them up either.

As far as Western-themed stuff being niche ... if publishers can put out haunted house maps for Call of Cthulhu and mad scientist laboratory maps for GURPS, why not 19th Century maps for wild West play? I mean, in the stories I've read and movies I've watched, many mining and prairie towns are a single street with the same typical buildings -- general store/post office, telegraph office, sheriff's office/jail, bank, city hall, railway station, blacksmith's shop, a few additional shops and private homes, etc. How hard could it be to come up with a generic Western town? After all, Boot Hill wasn't too far behind D&D and Gamma World, and there have always been some Western RPGs around, even if not as many as the fantasy and science fiction ones.

Hmmm, lots of usable images on Google, and possible leads for usable gaming stuff ...

http://tinyurl.com/lgbgz64

http://www.hawgleg.com/little_warriors_adventures_01.asp

http://www.clandunbar.com/tombstone.jpg

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/earp/earpmappage.html

http://arch1932010-group4.blogspot.com/2010/01/deadwood-map.html

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/browse.php?filters=700_2200_0_0_0

No actual maps but a good discussion of what a Western town needs ...

http://www.therpgsite.com/showthread.php?t=21397

Edited March 21, 2014 by seneschal
Add links

[Vorax Transtellaris]

I'd like for wild west maps and floorplans to be a bit more diverse with stuff based in actual history also more easily accessible. The couple of decent to good western games that are currently in print (or available as pdf) don't have much content in them that consists of maps or floorplans.

I've never actually payed for map and floorplan RPG material before. 0one's products look solid, though. Makes me wonder how useful their other stuff would be. How's their pirate- or pulp-themed stuff, for example?

Edited March 21, 2014 by Vorax Transtellaris

[Skunkape]

I've bought most of the Whitewash City PDFs, each one is a whole building that you can create using cardstock, and include in each one is a floor plan. Eric Hotz created them using real western buildings, those that he could find! Most of the buildings floor plans come out a little small for my tastes, but I still like them!

You might want to check his stuff out too! I'm hoping that 0One's products will be good. I'm also looking at their ships as well for fantasy gaming.

Forgot to put in the link to his stuff! Whitewash City Models

Edited March 24, 2014 by Skunkape
Added link to Whitewash City

[MrJealousy]

One of the things I've been toying with is the idea of running a game purely set on a moving train.

[seneschal]

One of the things I've been toying with is the idea of running a game purely set on a moving train.

Inspirations:

Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTVJuZIC0GY

The Lady Vanishes (1932)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1J0pUURCj8

Horror Express (1972)

Ghost Train (1941)

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) -- and/or From Russia with Love (1963)

Strangers on a Train (1951)

3:10 to Yuma (1957)

Couldn't find the last two on Youtube. Only the last listing, 3:10 to Yuma, is a Western (see the 1957 original, not the remake). But all of these demonstrate that moving trains are adventurous places. The train is speeding relentlessly toward destiny. The passengers can't (or can't easily) get off; they are isolated, trapped. Despite the cramped living quarters, the long string of cars provides plenty of hiding places for bad guys, stolen items, and scary things that can lurk in dark baggage cars or in closets seemingly too small to hold them. The passengers aren't in control, but since the train's route is public knowledge it can be affected by outside forces, such as bandits, hijackers, or track blockers. And since trains are made to haul lots of passengers, the player-characters won't know many -- or any -- of the NPCs surrounding them. Whom can they trust? Are their fellow travelers really who they appear to be? Are the train officials really dedicated to safeguarding their charges and getting them to their destination? Or have they been replaced by criminals or monsters with their own agenda?

Note that the situations in my inspirations aren't necessarily tied to a time period or specific setting. Whether the adventurers are drawn by a steam locomotive or gliding along on the latest mag-lev, danger awaits!

[MrJealousy]

Wow!

From toying with the idea to having lots of research to do in unexpected time. I've definitely seen some of those and I have the modern 3:10 so I might have to check out the rest now...

Thanks!

[Chorpa]

One of the things I've been toying with is the idea of running a game purely set on a moving train.

The systemless freebie adventure Cray Canyon Cold Snap do contain some nifty Wild West maps of train carts that you can probably use. I am pretty sure you could even use the adventure itself since the whole adventure takes place on a train.

And yes the Wild West Maps from 0one Games doesn't have any additional information yet. But talked to Mario Barbati not long ago and they are about finished and still planned to be released next month.

Edited March 25, 2014 by Chorpa

[MrJealousy]

Cray Canyon Cold Snap

Ah yes! Thanks for reminding me about that one. I already have it in my tinker and consider folder.

[seneschal]

I didn't yet have it but downloaded it. Good mini-scenario. Reminds me a bit of Horror Express.

So ... Mr. Jealousy ... when do we get to thrill to your all-railing, all-dancing, pulse-pounding train campaign?

[Matt]

Good resources for a straight (non-"Weird West") Western are hard to come by. I mostly use some reference books and Louis L'Amour novels plus personal visits to Tombstone, the Black Hills, etc.

Thanks for posting these various links.

Would love to play some Boot Hill.

[seneschal]

Not only is L'Amour an excellent story teller, but he's a stickler for historical and geographic accuracy. Many of the places in his stories actually exist.

Some other good inspirations include:

Elmer Kelton -- His Westerns are often set during key periods in Texas history and are grimmer and less romantic than L'Amour. His stories aren't necessarily depressing and cynical, but tragic events have real and lasting effects on his characters.

Bret Harte -- The original Western author, Harte wrote tales of California frontier life while prospectors, gamblers, cowboys and Indians were still actually doing their thing in North America. (Note: All of the above are still doing their thing in North America, but now they use computers, cell phones, helicopters, and data mining to do it. )

Zane Grey -- He, too, wrote while many of the real participants in the Wild West were still living but often presents a vision more romantic and idealized than L'Amour.

[MrJealousy]

when do we get to thrill to your all-railing, all-dancing, pulse-pounding train campaign?

Don't hold your breath, I'm winding up part 3 of my decade spanning RQ campaign at the moment. When that's done I'll have some time to think about this. I'd like to use a historically accurate train line, but my idea requires some specific scenery so I might have to sacrifice some accuracy or alter my ideas It exists purely in concept for the time being.

[seneschal]

Don't hold your breath, I'm winding up part 3 of my decade spanning RQ campaign at the moment. When that's done I'll have some time to think about this. I'd like to use a historically accurate train line, but my idea requires some specific scenery so I might have to sacrifice some accuracy or alter my ideas It exists purely in concept for the time being.

What! No enterprising dwarven inventor has established a working rail system in your campaign? Get it built before your competitors can, sir!