Wild West (role-playing game)

Cover art by Bob Charrette

Wild West is a role-playing game published by Fantasy Games Unlimited (FGU) in 1981 that is set in the Wild West frontier.

Description

Wild West is a system of skill-based character rules that is set in the American western frontier of the mid-19th century.^[1]

To create a character, the player chooses an occupation such as cattle baron, gambler, dentist, shepherd or lawman, and then adds applicable skills from a list of forty-five^[2] that includes Marksmanship, Locksmithing, Weather Forecasting and Mule Skinning.^[2]

Skill resolution is achieved by cross-referencing the relevant skill with the difficulty of the task.^[2] Other rules cover employment, gambling, dynamite, horses, cattle drives, mule trains, stage lines, railroads, the military, and the Indians.^[1] Dodge City is briefly described as a campaign setting, and the game also includes a map of the Old West.^[1]

Publication history

Wild West was designed by Anthony P. LeBoutillier and Gerald D. Seypura, and was published in 1981 by FGU as a boxed set with cover art by Bob Charrette,^[3] and included a 40-page rulebook, a large map, and four reference sheets.^[1]

The only supplement for Wild West was the adventure Trouble on Widow's Peak published by FGU in 1984.

Reception

In Issue 52 of The Space Gamer, W.G. Armintrout commented "Wild West is OK in my book - the good basic system makes up for the lack of polish. It is worth looking into."^[4]

In his 1990 book The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games, game critic Rick Swan liked the "clever" character-creation system, and the "nice" task resolution system. But Swan found the rest of the game "a hodge-podge of underdeveloped ideas. The combat system is pointlessly complicated, the equipment lists are colorless and inadequately detailed." Swan's biggest issue was the lack of background material about the Old West although he also pointed out that "The awkward organization ... and hand-drawn maps don't do much to enhance the game's appeal." Swan concluded by giving this game a poor rating of 2 out of 4, saying, "Western aficionados might be able to dig out a few interesting character generation ideas, but casual players will find Wild Wrest to be more frustrating than fun."^[2]

Reviews

• Different Worlds #18 (Jan., 1982)^[5]

References

1. Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Prometheus Books. p. 401. ISBN 0-87975-653-5.
2. Swan, Rick (1990). The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 237–238.
3. "Wild West". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
4. Armintrout, W.G. (June 1982). "Capsule Reviews". The Space Gamer (52). Steve Jackson Games: 31.
5. "Different Worlds Magazine".