Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
DEAD MAN'S HAND is the 28mm skirmish game by Great Escape Games. Bands of tough and wily Cowboys, stoic Lawmen, ruthless Outlaws and crazy Desperados fight for fame and respect in the Old West.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Read the full game description
DEAD MAN'S HAND is the 28mm skirmish game by Great Escape Games. Bands of tough and wily Cowboys, stoic Lawmen, ruthless Outlaws and crazy Desperados fight for fame and respect in the Old West. With an accompanying range of 28mm miniatures and pre-painted buildings, now you can fight legendary gunfights of the historical Old West and the silver screen. This rule book contains all the rules you need to recreate your gunfights and twelve blood-soaked scenarios. Initiative order is determined randomly by placing cards face down next to each character. The cards are then revealed and play proceeds in the order of the cards from high to low. Various actions or cards can alter this if you so desire and are lucky enough but in general the winds of fate decide who goes when. Once activated each model has three actions each turn, these must be declared at the start of each figures activation. This speeds things up and allows you opponent to play the odd special effect on you and catch you off guard. Movement is simple. There are no terrain modifiers to worry about and other than reduced movement rates for climbing and jumping. Combat is fast and simple as befits the game, and while it is possible to kill somebody in a single shot attrition is going to be the real deciding factor for most characters. Weapons come in one of four types; Pistol, Rifle, Repeater and Shotgun.