Richard R. Sartore & Associates (1978, $4.75)
Concept and Design by Richard R. Sartore, Jack L. Joyner, W. Walter Terrell & Frank Rey III
Players 2-4
Period 19th Century, Old West
Scale abstract card game

Components
Box 9"x12" ziploc
1 cover sheet
3 sheets of rules
2 sheets of gunslinger cards
4 sheets of trail cards
1 sheet of justice cards
1 sheet of town cards
1 Raid board

Card Manifest
36 gunslinger cards
72 trail cards
18 justice cards
18 town cards

Sartore & Associates says:

“Take aim on this fast-paced card game of gunslingers and gamblers, bullets and bad blood, posses and Pinkertons ... [L]oaded with 4 card decks, each of them offering you would-be gunfighters a chance for fame and fortune...or a very short career.”

The reviewer says:

Nothing — no reviews of the game could be located, but ...

The Zocchi catalog says:

“Each player becomes a Western Badman, robbing banks, gambling away his loot, escaping lynchings, evading the posse, rustling cattle and so forth! This is a unique, fast-playing cardgame which requires some assembly.”

Comments

Gunslinger is a beer and pretzels game of outlaw gangs in the Old West. It bears no relationship to AH’s Gunslinger other than in name and setting. Players control gangs of outlaws formed with cards drawn from the gunslinger deck. The object is to be the first gang to amass a specified dollar amount by pulling off successful bank robberies. Gunfights are resolved quickly by comparing the leatherslapping ratings of the combatants.

Sartore’s Gunslinger is sometimes erroneously referred to as Reward or Reward: Dead or Alive. That’s not surprising, considering that those are the largest legible words on the cover. To further confuse the issue, in 1981 an updated version of the game was released under the title Dead or Alive. Dead or Alive was sold in a small box and included pre-cut cards. Other differences from Gunslinger are some minor rules changes, a different assortment of cards, and a maximum of 6 players.

Collector’s Notes

Boone does not list this game.

Other Wild West shootout games

Boot Hill (TSR), Bounty Hunter (Nova), Gunslinger (Avalon Hill), Thunder-in Guns (Standard Games), and Shoot-Out (Argon Games).

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Gunslinger Dead or Alive