Dead Man’s Hand (2013) Board Game

Dead Man’s Hand is a tabletop miniatures game set in the American Wild West. It was designed by Stuart McCorquodale and Mark Wheatley and released in in 2013. The game captures the essence of gunfights and skirmishes in the lawless frontier of the 19th century American West. Players take on the roles of various factions, such as outlaws, lawmen, and desperados, and engage in strategic battles to claim dominance in the rugged terrain.

Game Components of Dead Man’s Hand

Rulebook: A detailed rulebook, now updated in the second edition, which includes rules, scenarios, and flavor text.

Miniatures: 10 plastic male gunfighters and 5 plastic female gunfighters, along with bases.

Terrain: 3 fully detailed plastic buildings, a sprue of boardwalks, and street scatter.

Deck and Markers: A custom deck of playing cards, card markers, and dice (d10 and d20).

Additional: MDF scenery produced by 4Ground, building signage, and reference sheets available for download.

How To Setup Dead Man’s Hand

To set up Dead Man’s Hand, players begin by preparing the gaming area, typically a 3′ x 3′ or 3′ x 4′ board, with plenty of scenery such as buildings, boardwalks, and street scatter. Each player selects a gang (Lawmen, Cowboys, Outlaws, or Desperados) and chooses their models, ensuring the total reputation points of the gang do not exceed the scenario limits. Players shuffle their custom deck of cards and deal an initial hand based on the scenario. The remainder of the cards form the deck used during the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Initiative System: Initiative is decided by flipping the top card of each player’s deck, with the higher card determining who goes first. Tied initiatives require drawing a second card.

Card Allocation: Each model is allocated a card, which determines the order of actions. Cards also have special rules that can be played to affect gameplay.

Actions: Each model can perform three actions per turn (move, shoot, aim, reload, recover, etc.), which must be declared before execution.

Objective: The game objective varies by scenario but generally involves completing tasks such as robbing a bank, protecting citizens, or eliminating the opposing gang.

Player Experience

Players of Dead Man’s Hand often describe the game as fun, fast-paced, and easy to learn. The game’s use of a custom deck of cards adds a dynamic element, making each game unique. The gameplay is cinematic, evoking the feel of Hollywood Westerns, and the scenarios are designed to be played as standalone or part of a larger storyline.

Pros

Low Cost of Entry: The game requires a small number of miniatures and accessories, making it accessible.

Thematic Mechanics: The card system is highly thematic and adds to the game’s cinematic feel.

Easy to Learn: The rules are well-written and easy to understand, with plenty of illustrations and diagrams.

High Replayability: The dynamic card system ensures that each game is different.

Cons

Table Clutter: Some players find the use of many cards and markers on the table to be cluttered and less visually appealing.

Reading Intensive: The cards have special rules that require reading, which can be cumbersome during gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Dead Man’s Hand

Dead Man’s Hand is ideal for those who enjoy skirmish games, particularly those with a Western theme. It is a great introduction for beginners due to its simple and intuitive rules. The game’s fast-paced nature and high replayability make it appealing for both casual and experienced gamers. However, players who prefer a clean and minimal setup might find the card mechanic and table markers somewhat inconvenient.

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