By 1990, both Boot Hill and Gangbusters roleplaying games had been out of print for six years. So bringing them back into print made sense. But the way TSR did so was peculiar.
Third editions were announced in the TSR 1990 product catalog. They would both be inexpensive perfect-bound paperbacks with maps attached inside back cover.
When new core rules printings release, typically they tie in with new adventure modules on the schedule, or at least to support backstock sales. TSR catalogs had back-catalog lists of old product retailers could order.
But No. And No. These books would stand alone. No modules or support materials followed.
I’ve read people claiming that TSR’s sole purpose was trademark retention. And that is very plausible. One book was more-or-less a straight reprinting. But the other was a complete re-write, which seems like a lot of effort to maintain a trademark. So who knows.
What is known is that these two books stood alone. There is nothing in the TSR lineup quite like them in their format, except perhaps Gamma World 4th edition, which released 2 years later in 1992.
Boot Hill (3rd edition)
1990 … Steve Winter (adapted from 1st & 2nd eds by Brian Blume & Gary Gygax … 128 pages + fold-out map … TSR 7005 … ISBN 0880389761
Noble Knight | Amazon | DriveThruRPG (PDF / reprint)
Boot Hill 3rd edition was a thorough rewrite. 2nd edition (1979/1984 box sets) expanded on the little orange books, but it was still primarily a man-to-man gunfighting/miniatures game using percentile stats (Strength, Speed, Gun Accuracy, Throwing Accuracy, Bravery) and very high lethality… with RPG elements
3rd edition Boot Hill became a full RPG: New attributes (Strength, Coordination, Observation, Stature, Luck), dozens of skills, a d20 roll-under resolution system instead of percentiles, revised (somewhat less instantly lethal) shootout and fistfight rules, campaign structure, historical timeline, and more non-combat options.
BH3 photos
Gangbusters (“3rd” edition)
1990 … Mark Acres & Rick Krebs & Tom Moldvay … 128 pages + poster map + cover leaf with chits … TSR 7009 … ISBN 0880389753
No POD reprint is available for Gangbusters at DriveThruRPG. However, Mark Acres’ excellent Gangbusters B/X version is available.
So the “3rd Edition” is actually an error. In reality the rules are 2nd edition, and even that is being generous. The 1990 paperback is the first (and only) reprint of the 1982 rules.
The game mechanics are essentially identical: Percentile resolution, same attributes, careers, combat, car chases, etc. Only minor editorial cleanup. The extra 64 pages are almost entirely setting material pulled from the earlier modules (GB1 Trouble Brewing, GB2 Murder in Harmony, GB3 Death on the Docks): Lakefront City details, more NPCs, sample adventures, and a more pronounced split between player and judge sections.
Gang Busters 1990 photos
Unlike Boot Hill 3rd, this book has a back cover leaf with cut-out counters. (alas, sometimes these are cut-off in books today). The counters are copied from the same leaf in Trouble Brewing.
