I recently took an interest in the Wild West so I bought some miniatures and terrain and painted them up, and went looking for a set of rules. I finally chose a game called The Rules with No Name, or A Fistful of Dice. They are available for free on the Internet. I made up some goofy characters, grouped them into factions with conflicting motives, and bought a CD of Western Movie and TV theme songs to set the mood. The result was a hilarious shoot out at the November Game Day.

Cast of Characters:

The Law Men - played by Phil Willows: Sheriff Andy Taylor, Deputy Barney Fife, Deputy C. Connors

The Texas Rangers - played by Ray Lopez: Walker, Clay Moore, Dandy Don DeMarco

The Cowboys - played by Ceasar Bennett: Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe Cartwright

The Outlaws - played by John Lesko: Ike and Billy Clanton, and Ringo

The Banditos - played by Tony and Rob McBride: La Bomba, Frito, Chico, Tuco, Pancho, El Guapo

The Apaches - played by John Burke: Dances with Cats, Little Big Man, Blows in Wind, Jay Stronbow

The Citizens - played by Matt Fritz (also referee): Maverick (gambler), Doc Potter, Mr. Munster (undertaker), Rev. Jim, English Bob (gun-fighter), Belle, Mickey Finn (bartender), Mr. Drysdale (banker), Crazy Joe (prospector).

The situation: The lawmen have El Guapo locked in the jail and his gang wants to break him out. The Apaches are after whiskey, guns, ammo, and scalps (in that order). The outlaws are looking to rob anyone they can, while the cowboys have just made a deposit in the bank and are off to the saloon for some drinks. The Texas Rangers are on the trail of the Mexicans, Apaches, and outlaws.

The Ringo Kid and his Gang Make a Withdrawl

The game began with the Cartwrights leaving the bank and heading for the saloon, ignoring Rev. Jim whom was preaching outside. As they neared the door Billy Clanton open fired on them from the roof of the bank across the street. All his shots were misses. Adam Cartwright dispatched Billy with a single well-placed shot. Ike and Ringo decided to quietly slip inside the bank rather than shoot it out with the Cartwrights. The Texas Rangers also entered the saloon where they encountered the legendary gunslinger English Bob. A duel ensued in which Bob killed Walker, Texas Ranger but missed the other two.

Clay Moore gunned him down and took his pistols as a trophy. Then Ranger Moore turned on the Cartwrights, outraged that they hadn't helped him. Adam fell victim to a bullet in the back and then all heck broke loose. The citizens were outraged by this violation of the code of the West and they turned on the Rangers. Mickey tried to bash Clay's head in with a chair but missed. Belle drew her derringer and tried to line up a shot. All this commotion attracted Reverend Jim. As he watched the Rangers methodically murdering the saloon patrons Jim decided that this was judgment day for Cow Town and he drew his sword. Jim ran through the wounded Joe Cartwright, and hacked Belle to death before the surviving citizens could flee.

The Mexicans crept into town on the opposite side. They immediately came under fire from the Indians who were positioned on a Mesa just outside of town. La Bomba, carrying the dynamite to blast open the jail, was pinned down in the street. Deputy Connors opened fire with his rifle from the window of the jailhouse but was killed by Tuco. Meanwhile Sheriff Taylor, legendary lawmen of the West, was cowering in the corner! Finally the sheriff decided to show his true grit and he crossed the street and boldly entered the barn to face down three of the Mexicans. A desperate fight raged in the barn. Taylor shot down Tuco before the remaining Mexicans who tried to kill him with their machetes swarmed him. But Matt had misread the melee rules and the Sheriff was unhittable.

In the bank Ike and Ringo forced Mr. Drysdale to open the safe. They collected all the money then tied the poor banker up. Crazy Joe, watching from outside, raised the alarm. Ike escaped town carrying the loot while Ringo decided to get some payback. He called out Frito and killed him in a duel. Then he went into the barn, called out another Mexican and killed him. He followed this by backshooting the sheriff. He might have continued his rampage but at this point Tuco recovered from his head wound and winged Ringo in the leg. Ringo escaped with the remainder of the money and a few more notches on his gun.

On the other side of town only Deputy Fife was left to guard El Guapo. He heard the undertaker whispering to El Guapo behind the jail. When the undertaker came into the jailhouse the nervous deputy open fired and wounded him. Across the street the Indians had been attracted by the smell of whiskey to Doc Potter's office. They made the doctor an offer he couldn't refuse and escorted him to one of their wounded warriors. The impetuous Deputy Fife fired on the Indians and the Doctor. It was a fatal mistake. The Indians ended his life with a rifle bullet between the eyes. Seizing his chance, the wounded undertaker got the keys and released El Guapo. He got a bullet in the back as thanks and El Guapo and Tuco fled town. The stage is set for the sequel - The Return of Ringo.