Icebiter Games Publications first game-Hurled into Eternity

Time for a micro blog update.

Since June I've been toiling away most nights in my man cave working on my first RPG. But, the story of the RPG in question: Hurled into Eternity goes farther back then June of 2012; in fact it goes back to 1995/96. Hurled into Eternity got its start as a traditional fantasy RPG back then. I wrote the game in an on and off again fashion for years, never quite finishing Quest (as the game is called).

This year my interest in westerns was reawakened and I started to write a Boot Hill module. It quickly became apparent there are far too many holes in the 1st and 2nd editions of Boot Hill, and 3rd is a different animal altogether. So in June I started to consider writing my own game. Looking about, the western genre isn't too crowded so I went for it. Fortunately for me however I was able to reuse a ton from my unreleased game.

As of right now the game is available in its Alpha state. The rules are there, a bit rough and not edited by my editor yet, but playable.

If you are interested let me know and I can direct you to the rules. Owing to its fantasy roots I might back-port the game to Quest. They certainly worked the other way around. So in a sense I've got a game that can go from ancient times to 1920s tech fairly easily.

I'd just like to be able to go back to my 1995 self and tell me that what I was working on would first be released as a western, I probably wouldn't have believed it.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Western City Role Playing Game

 

Western City RPG – A Dusty Gem Worth Discovering

Continuing my read-through of lesser-known Western RPGs and modules, today I’m taking a look at Western City, designed by Jörg Dunne and first published in Europe back in 2006.

Before we get into it: this is an overview, not a rules deep dive.

might be a rules-light system on the surface, but it’s got enough nuance that a full breakdown would go well beyond a standard review. Just know: it’s lean, but not shallow.

How I Got It

I came into possession of Western City thanks to a good friend who scored a lot of games off eBay. He handed it to me with a shrug and said, “I’m probably never going to read this.” Challenge accepted.

It sat on my desk for a few days until I cracked it open — and then finished it in one go. That’s not too hard, since it clocks in at a digest-sized 92 pages with a clean layout and a manageable word count per page.

Presentation & Style

Let’s start with the aesthetics. Western City immediately gets a nod for its sharp cover design and internal art by Kathy Schad, which has a distinctive and appealing style — somewhat reminiscent of early Elmore, which is a plus in my book (despite what the grognards say).

The period photos, bullet-hole textures, and playing card visuals throughout reinforce the Western tone well. This isn’t the dry grit of Boot Hill — this feels more stylized, more cinematic.

Unfortunately, the translation (in my January 2008 first printing) leaves a lot to be desired. There are numerous awkward phrases and reversed quotation marks. It’s readable, but janky — a shame, because the presentation otherwise really works.

The Game Itself

Let’s clear one thing up: Western City isn’t a Western RPG in the vein of Boot Hill, Deadlands, or even Sidewinder. Instead, it’s designed for collaborative storytelling, player-driven scenes, and a gamemasterless structure. It leans more “story game” than “simulation.” Think improv theater with poker chips.

Here’s all you need to play:

• One d8
• A deck of playing cards
• Poker chips
• A dollar bill (!)

That’s it. And just to make it more impressive: it was written in 72 hours for a game design contest. If that’s true? Hats off.

Character Creation

Characters are built around three core stats:

• Body (Clubs)
• Mind (Diamonds)
• Charisma (Spades)

Players distribute points between 1–5 across these. Everyone gets 8 “Hearts”, which serve as your hit points (shades of Legend of Zelda, maybe?). No rolling — just assign points and move on.

Skills range 1–5 and are resolved with a d6. You get a pool of points to spread as you like, with difficulty based on what you’re trying to do.

From there, you assign background details, Hubris (a character flaw), and — most importantly — you create an Extra and a Foe. These characters serve as part of the supporting cast for other players’ stories. Once all players have built theirs, you use poker chips to bid and assign Extras and Foes. It’s a brilliant mechanic — ensuring everyone’s story is already entangled with everyone else’s. You’re building a shared narrative web from the jump.

Later in play, you can also introduce spontaneous Extras as needed, which keeps the story flexible and reactive.

How the Game Flows

Time is divided into three parts per day:

• Dawn
• Noon
• Dusk

Events or “Scenes” happen during those time blocks. Each player proposes a scene where their character is the star. Other players take the roles of Extras or Foes — so no one is ever just watching. Even if your character’s not in the spotlight, you’re still part of the action.

Scenes are bid on and ordered collaboratively, though if there’s strong disagreement, there’s a rule called “Not In My Town” that lets a player force a scene through. It’s all very improv-heavy — and cleverly set up to prevent players from just sitting on the sidelines.

High Noon, naturally, is where the big confrontation is most likely to take place — though it’s not locked in.

Mechanics & Design Choices

Combat, wounds, resolution — all are simple and snappy. The suits from the playing cards play a subtle mechanical role in tests and effects. It’s clever without being clunky.

One downside? Characters can’t die unless the player wants them to. For me, that’s a head-scratcher. I’m not saying every RPG has to be meat-grinder mode, but the lack of stakes takes the wind out of high tension moments. Then again, this is designed for narrative control, not tactical risk.

Optional Magic

There is an optional magic system, and it follows the same rules-light approach as the rest of the book. Personally, I’m a fan of gritty realism in Westerns, so I’d likely skip it — but if you want to inject a bit of Weird West flavor, it’s there.

Equipment? Monsters? Nope.

There are no gear lists or bestiaries. The assumption is: if it exists in a Western, it exists here. That’s either liberating or annoying depending on your comfort level with improv.

Leveling Up

No XP tables here. Players vote on experience awards based on scenes and performance — another narrative-heavy design choice that fits the game’s structure, even if it leans more “actor” than “gamer.”

Final Thoughts

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

There’s a lot to admire in Western City. The system is elegant, unique, and impressively efficient. It leans hard into collaborative, character-driven roleplay — and if you’re the type who loves improv, narrative arcs, and shared storytelling, it’s probably a 4-star (or higher) game.

But for me? I’m a role-player, not an actor. I like some structure. I like GMs. I like death being on the table. Western City is a beautifully crafted storytelling machine — but it’s not what I reach for on game night.

Still, it’s inventive, inspiring, and absolutely worth a read — especially if you’re looking to stretch beyond traditional RPG formats.