Bountytown (2015) Board Game

Bountytown is a card game set in the American West, where players take on the roles of bounty hunters competing to capture the most notorious outlaws. Released in 2015, the game is designed by Brett Mitchell and features artwork by Victory Point Games.

Game Components of Bountytown

Character Cards: 15 unique characters, each with a special ability.

Location Cards: 15 cards used to randomly construct the town; 6 are used in each game.

Bounty Cards: 31 cards representing desperados, each with its own Renown value, item count, and card draw number.

Duel Card Deck: A modified poker deck with values 1-5 in five suits (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs, and gold).

Item Deck: Items for purchase or gain, which enhance dueling, movement, or hand management.

Train Card: Signals the end of the game when drawn.

General Store, Sheriff’s Office, and Doc’s: Permanent location cards providing specific actions.

How To Setup Bountytown

To set up Bountytown, players start by shuffling the Bounty deck and placing a number of Bounty cards (16 for 3-4 players, 22 for 5-6 players) face up in designated locations around the town. The town itself is constructed using 6 randomly drawn location cards from a pool of 15. The Train card is shuffled into the bottom five cards of the Bounty deck. Each player selects a character and starts at a designated location. The item deck is placed near the General Store, with several items laid out for purchase.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Action Point Allowance System: Players perform up to three actions per turn, choosing from moving, using standard buildings (Sheriff’s office, Doc’s, General Store), dueling bounties or other players, or reloading their hand.

Dueling: Resolved using a modified poker system where players draw and play hands to capture bounties or steal them from other players.

Renown System: Players earn Renown by capturing bounties; the player with the most Renown when the Train card is drawn wins.

Item Usage: Players can buy or gain items to enhance their abilities.

Player Experience

Bountytown offers a highly replayable experience with its variable setup and unique character abilities. The game allows for different play styles, ranging from a straightforward poker-like approach to a more tactical game utilizing items and location abilities. Player interactions are significant, especially through duels which can both provide tension and help keep the game balanced by preventing any one player from running away with the lead.

Pros

Smooth Integration of Poker Mechanics: Simplified and thematic, making it accessible to casual players.

Great Variability: Random town setup and diverse character abilities ensure no two games are the same.

Thematic Artwork: Immersive Wild West theme.

Close Games: Often results in tight competition among players.

Cons

Poker May Not Appeal to Everyone: Some players might not enjoy the poker element.

Dueling Players Not Always Effective: Can sometimes fail to balance the game.

Increased Downtime with More Players: Games can drag with 5-6 players.

Personal Thoughts on Bountytown

Bountytown is ideal for fans of the Wild West theme and those who enjoy a blend of strategy and social interaction. It’s a great choice for groups looking for a game that balances individual strategy with meaningful player interactions. While it may not be perfect for everyone, especially those who dislike poker mechanics, it offers a fun and engaging experience for most players.

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