Getting started with western roleplaying.

Like I was sayin' last time, you're just going to need a handful of things to get started. Good news is, you've already got the most important one, a love for the epic tales of the wild west! When you're ready to turn that love of cowboys, outlaws, lawmen and the Indians(1) of the west into some great times playing games and telling stories with your friends, mosey on over to your local game shop or website and pick up a copy of a western role playing game. I, of course recommend Coyote Trail, but there are plenty of other games around if you want to poke around a bit before deciding.

Got your rule book or computer files? Great. Next up is pencils and paper, and I'm just gonna count on you knowin' where to find those, alright?

Now you need some dice, two 6 siders to be exact. Now, if you don't want to ransack your kids' monopoly set to steal the dice, you have a few options:

Precis Intermedia offers a low priced set of wooden "Cowboy Dice". They're the official dice of the Coyote Trail game and in buying them, you help keep PI and Coyote Trail going strong.

 http://www.pigames.net/store/product_info.php?cPath=59&products_id=269

If you visit a Dollar Tree in your town, or stop by their website, you'll find a cheap 10 pack of perfectly useful dice for a measly buck (though if you order online, you have to buy 4 or more).

http://www.dollartree.com/Game-Dice-10-ct-Packs/p325869/index.pro







For the devoted gamer, or those to whom money is no object, there are a couple purveyors of high end dice worth checking out:

The craftsmen at Artisan Dice will custom build you a set of dice (including the "rpg dice" with more (or less) than six sides, if you need them) from their ever-growing stock of rare woods, metals and stones. The prices are high, but well worth it, these dice are beautiful!

http://www.artisandice.com/

Another dealer of rare (and pricey) dice is Crystal Caste. These guys offer all sorts of unique materials, including dinosaur fossil and meteorite, I kid you not! Current offerings vary, and CC also offers an extensive line of more traditional dice, as well as their namesake crystal dice, which have the standard range of results (1-6 that is), but come shaped like crystal gemstones! Stop by their website and have a look.

 http://www.crystalcaste.com

For the truly frugal or creative gamer, I'll provide one last link to some do it your self print-fold-and-glue dice from the fine folks at Crayola, the Crayon people:
http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/personalized-paper-dice-coloring-page/ If nothing else, it could be a fun project to do on a rainy day with little ones.

(1) A note on the term "Indian".
I have a deep respect for the cultures and history of all the native peoples of North, Central and South America, and intend absolutely no disrespect or insult with the use of the words Indian, Injun', Redskin, etc (the latter two would only be used 'in character' by a fictional personage I might be writing about anyway). This is intended to capture the feel of the Wild West genre as it exists in film and literature, not to disparage any persons then or now.

Likewise with terms related to other ethnic groups (Blacks, Mexicans, etc) used historically or in the media of the genre but considered offensive now. I'll try and tone it down, and rest assured I will never use the inexcusable "N Word" here, but in the rare event something sounds crass, it's meant to build the setting of the game story, not to offend.