:strip_icc()/pic2477278.jpg)
/pic2060483.jpg)
A very miniscule amount of you may recognize me for the work I've done reviewing on 2D6.org, FortressAT.com, and here on BGG. I've been writing reviews for several years now and gaming for many many more. What may be surprising is that I consider myself first and foremost a game designer, as opposed to a reviewer. While I'm extremely passionate about the hobby in general, my true desire lies in the creation of thematic Ameritrash games that espouse theme with strongly integrated mechanisms.
As my gaming group would tell you, A Fistful Of Dinero is far from the first game I've designed, but it does have the distinction of being the first I stuck with, developed, and playtested repeatedly to the point it was ready for publication. This is a unique little game that packs a great deal of depth and variability into a relatively short playtime. I'd classify it as a super-filler, packing enough meat to push the boundaries of the small games envelope and offering a rich and dynamic experience that is continually engaging.
/pic184259.jpg)
An overwrought
masterpiece
The idea of using a card drafting mechanism to select Action cards that were then programmed came to mind almost immediately. Card drafting does a great job of keeping things interesting and dynamic, while allowing play to move along at a brisk pace and downtime to be non-existent. I'm also a huge fan of action programming as the inherent chaos and unpredictability does a great job in fostering tension and mimicking real-world spontaneity and havoc. This combination would yield the initial prototype, which would actually change very little from inception to its current published state.
/pic2477279.jpg)
A set of core actions initially sprung up which would form the bulk of the action deck. These include:
-----• Fire! – Allows you to attack another player
-----• Aim – Stays in play and builds up, adding to your attack roll
-----• Hit The Dirt – Stays in play and subtracts from an opponent's attack
-----• Mad Dash – A reckless sprint through the carnage to grab a handful of dinero from the poker table at the center of the saloon
-----• Cover – A wide array of objects you can play to gain defensive benefits
-----• Reload – Reloads a round in one of your weapons
-----• Re-Arm – Switches weapons between your Off-Hand and Main-Weapon slot
The idea of including specific actions undertaken by the participants in combination with an evocative weapon selection and an vibrant damage deck births sizable chunks of narrative that arise from playing the game and are easily grasped — much like the aforementioned Gunslinger. You witness an intense action scene playing out before your eyes while placing you at the center of the action. Films like Unforgiven and The Wild Bunch come to the fore and put a grin on your face as you lap up the intensity.
The selection of actions you perform are drafted from rotating card hands à la 7 Wonders, programmed onto your player mat (called a Gun Belt), then executed one at a time in player order. The goal is to have the most chips or to be the last man standing. It's a chaotic, riotous experience as players blow holes in each other and hold in their guts as they scramble for money and flip tables. You can dive behind the bar, throw bottles of whiskey, and even chuck a stick of dynamite to light up the room like the Griswold's Christmas tree.
Attacking involves rolling 2D6, requiring a 7 or above to hit. You can mitigate the odds by building up a steady Aim or bolster your defense by hiding behind a billiard table or a support beam. When you're hit, you draw a wound card and apply the effects. The combat is tactical and framed around tough choices facilitated by the draft/programming mechanism but is surprisingly flexible in your ability to adapt between going for victory points and pursuing the path of violence.
:strip_icc()/pic2477274.jpg)
:strip_icc()/pic2477275.jpg)
One of several unique elements to the design are the Cover cards peppered throughout the action deck. Cover cards remain in play and will protect you until you Mad Dash, sprinting from your position to clutch a handful of coins. Cover cards feature a diagram based on the number of players participating in the game and offer protection against specific seats at the table. Thus, you may deploy a Bystander Cover card (as you shield yourself with a hapless civilian) which protects you from the player sitting to your left and the player two seats to your right. Later you may swap that out for a Keg cover card which protects you from the two players sitting to your right. Different options allow you to adapt and shift depending on who forms the largest threat at the table.
Another mechanism I want to highlight is the ability to throw objects and weapons at your enemies. Certain weapons, like the Frogsticker and Iron Stingers, allow you to play a Fire! action and physically toss the action card at an opponent's player mat. If the card lands touching the mat but not touching his Cover card, you hit him and inflict damage. Several action cards allow you to perform throws as well, such as the fan-favorite Tomahawk and Thrown Chair. This light dexterity element births moments of laughter and intensity as the table becomes razor focused when someone lights a stick of dynamite or tosses a chair at a drunk neighbor.
It was important in balancing the game and the experience to get the mix of action cards correct. The thrown cards were of significance here as I did not want them to overshadow the experience. In a typical game you will see only three or four throws, which through repeated plays seems to be the perfect mix. Additionally, while the standard actions listed previously are the most prevalent cards, a healthy mix of special actions offer unique benefits, such as action cards that allow you to ward off the effects of wounds, fan-fire your Peacemaker, and place Bounties on enemies incentivizing target selection. You never quite know what the brazen sawed-off wielding lunatic sitting adjacent will do.
:strip_icc()/pic2477287.jpg)
An element that adds flexibility and curtails frustration in action programming are the dual-sided cards. Many action cards found throughout the deck feature two actions, one on the top and one on bottom. This allows you to execute either of the two actions when you resolve the card. It also brings about opportunity to introducing additional drafting options by allowing the single action cards to possess a bit more bite. This manifests through single-sided Fire! cards occasionally possessing special effects that allow you to steal a chip from the person you target, or draw two damage cards and choose which one to apply if you roll a hard 12. The choice of flexibility versus focused quality is ultimately interesting and another layer contributing to the richness of the whole.
When you start to combine all of these elements – drafting, programming, special actions, throwing, variable cover, interesting wounds, and unique weapons – you get an experience that plays quick and brutal while focusing on enjoyment and theme. Playtesters quickly remark how the subtle tension and exhilarating chaos emerge naturally in play, and the resulting narrative of bloodshed is utterly memorable and distinct. This is a 30-minute game that plays 3-6 and offers a unique experience, separating itself from similar titles. It's a game that I wager appeals to many and ultimately delivers on its promise.
Charlie Theel
/pic1798823.jpg)
/pic2482399.jpg)
/pic194176.jpg)
/pic2480332.jpg)
/pic1783239.jpg)
