Dead Man's Hand

I have acquired a copy of Great Escape Games's 'Dead Man's Hand' - which, from reading the descriptions put out by Great Escape Games, aims to be a 'cinematic' skirmish game of gunfights set in the 'Old West' as mythologised by Hollywood. I have to say that, at first read through, it looks as though it should succeed in that aim. The rules are simple and bloody. And they don't require an awful lot of equipment… Apart, that is, from an Old Western Street. The rules come with a deck of 54 (very small!) playing cards - but playing cards with a difference - each has a bit of text on it, describing an effect or action which can be taken by playing one of the cards. The cards have other uses too - in particular, in determining initiative (i.e. the order in which figures have their 'go'). It's all quite clever. Markers for ammunition, hits, movement, etc are also required - and can be downloaded to print out, or bought as laser-cut MDF.  The entire product line looks very good.

I do though, have one or two 'issues' with the game 'as written'. The whole 'package' - buildings, figures, table, etc, can look very attractive, without requiring a great deal of effort (particularly if you use the 'dedicated' buildings from 4Ground). Having done that, once you start to play the game, you almost immediately have cards (albeit a fair bit smaller than standard playing cards) and markers scattered all over the table - which, for me, ruins the whole experience. It looks like a gaming board, rather than a scaled-down film set. If it was me, I think I would be inclined to make some larger cards, one for each model, giving you the model's attributes, but also providing space to 'play' any cards, and to place any markers (wounds and the like). These would be placed on the table-top, alongside the gaming board. The gaming board needn't be very big - the introductory 'scene' probably only needs a board 2' (600mm) square, whilst even the later ones probably need a surface no more than 3' x 4' (900 x 1200mm) - it really is a game you can play comfortably on the kitchen table!

But I am spoilt for choice, rules-wise - I seem to have acquired a fair few sets over the years… Dead Man's Hand, The Rules with No Name, Blackwater Gulch, Gutshot, Six Gun Sound, Legends of the Old West, and even the venerable Boot Hill. I guess it's obvious that this genre is something which I've been wanting to game for a long time. In terms of 'playability', Dead Man's Hand probably wins - it's very simple, and seems quite 'flavoursome'. Due to its design though, it is quite restricted.  There are just four playable 'factions' - The Law, Outlaws, Cowboys and Desperadoes. Each of those is 'tied' to one suit of the pack of cards, and those cards of those suits each carry special rules for those particular factions. So, if I wanted, say, to play a raid by an Indian war-party, I'd be clean out of luck. It is to be hoped that Great Escape Games will design more factions and produce more decks of cards…

And there's the rub - you're dependent on Great Escape Games.  Unless, that is, you acquire a set of playing cards and some sticky labels and start afresh.

Copyright © Dr. P.C. Hendry, 2010