Started my survey of skirmish games last week.  Besides having fun, I want to come up with a set of hybrid rules incorporating the best element(s) of each game. While hopes are high, expectations are relatively low.

Started with “Gunfight At  O.K. Corral” by Minden Games. This is a “point and shoot” game that plays quickly and has some replay-ability.  I’ve had the  print and play edition for several months.

I’ve always been interested in the event.  Sure, there’s the enjoyable movie, which has some questionable historical aspects.  I’ve been to Tombstone.  It’s, shall we say, “touristy”.  I enjoyed reading “The Last Gunfight“, “High Noon In Lincoln“, and “No Duty To Retreat”

For me, the fundamental definition of replayability is whether or not I enjoyed a game enough to play it again at some point in the future.  Another consideration is rules overhead or, “are the rules so involved that I am willing to  re-learn them at some future date”, and how much effort will that take.  Some rules systems just stay in your head better than others.  Another factor is whether or not the optional rules and/or scenarios are intriguing enough to try another day.

This game has a relatively low rules overhead as well as some optional rules/characters and a campaign game.

Here’s the feuding factions lined up to conduct business.  I didn’t use the schematic O.K. Corral play area included in the game.  It’s not bad at all.  I didn’t use the two optional allies of the Clantons, which include Johnny Ringo.

The player controls the Earp Faction.  The sequence of play is in phases:  Nominate Targets, Action, Fire Order, Fire.  The Action Phase is skipped on Turn One.

Each participant is rated for Accuracy, Experience (upper right and left, respectively) as well as Morale (alpha) and Gun Speed (numeric).

Accuracy and Experience are used to calculate whether shots hit or miss their target.  Morale is tested for “B” and “C” ratings (which apply to the Clanton Faction) to determine  during Turn One if they fight or run.  Gun Speed determines who fires when in the Action sequence.

The Clanton Faction’s targets are determined (“Nominated”) by the system using a table and six-sided die (this is the only instance where a die is used), while the player nominates the Earps’ targets.  Ranges are short (directly opposed or directly diagonal) or medium (two diagonals).

A modifier chit is drawn for each character before play begins.  This effects the individual’s place in the Fire Order.

Players shoot in a sequence (Fire Order) determined by  the sum of Gun Speed plus the modifier chit.  Shooting is not simultaneous.  So, hits will effect a subsequent shooter’s abilities.  Hits result in a single wound (light), three wounds (major) or KIA.  Six wounds incapacitates a player, or in game terms, renders him “unconscious”.

A deck of  cards determines whether a shot hits or misses, and the location/severity of any hit.  The  To Hit number for all characters is “7”.  This is modified by the character’s Accuracy and Experience ratings.  This modified rating is compared to the value of the card drawn.  If the value of the card is equal to or lower than the final To Hit number, the shooter hits the target.  A King is always a miss, and an Ace always a hit, regardless of To Hit number.   The suit of the subsequent card draw determines the severity of the wound.

A game takes three rounds.  The side with the most participants killed, routed or rendered unconscious is the loser.

I played three games.  While the game is acknowledged to favor the Earp Faction, some ahistorical results occured.  In one game the highly rated Wyatt Earp missed his target on two consecutive turns.  The result was a Clanton Faction victory.

The card use in determining sequence of shooting is one that I will try to incorporate in my hybrid rules.

In summary, this game “is what it is”.  A shootout.  No running, jumping or second-by-second actions (Gunslinger).  The inclusion of 52 additional counters with, photos of characters, including other gunfighters and bystanders allow you recreate any number of historical or theoretical shoot-outs.Of course, one can always cook up a whole bunch or house rules to expand the scope of the action.

The game provides a good value as well as replayability if one is a fan of this genre.