Dead Man's Hand Review

[sotek486]

Hello all,

Now that I have some games under my belt I feel I can do a review of DMH justice.  I just posted my review of it up on my blog at: http://jayswargamingmadness.blogspot.com/2013/08/dead-mans-hand-review.html

I hope you find it useful.

Regards,

Jay

[geboom]

Thanks for the review.
When The Boomville Casino is finished I will try the game myself.

Cheers,

Geboom.

[Elbows]

Come on, throw us a bone...perhaps a cliff's note review (this is, after all, why we're all on this forum!) 

[sotek486]

Here is the jist of it:

So this brings me to the first set of good things about DMH:
•Cost of entry is low, each gang really just being 7 guys and there being a total of 4 gangs to choose from (needing only two to play a game).
•The rules are well written, about 14 pages long with lots of pictures and diagrams.  You can pick up the system very quickly.
•In conjunction with 4Ground, they supported the system with pre-painted buildings, making any gamer able to provide a nice looking table with functional terrain to play on.
•They also support the game with MDF markers, everything you need - yes, even a 10cm measuring stick which just about does it for everything in the game.  I was shocked when I didn't have to go looking in my bin of measuring tapes and dice ... the rule book comes with the two dice you need (1 x d10 and 1 x D20), the cards, and the marker set has more than enough to play the game and measure the distances ... I had to pull nothing, it was all there from the beginning.
Being a lover of Muskets & Tomahawks I've really come to love the cinematic style of rules being released these days.  DMH really delivers on a old west experience that you grew up watching in Clint Eastwood movies and the likes.  Crashing through windows and having a proper go at it ... just lots of fun (the game is enhanced with sound effects).  The "scene" approach to providing a mini-linked set of scenarios for each game is brilliant (of course, each scene can be played as a stand alone game).

 Everything is driven by the deck of cards - which I think is a real innovation (not the cards, but the dual use of each).  Each player has either the red cards (hearts and diamonds), or black cards (spades and clubs).  The first 10 cards are the same for each suite, with the J-K being gang specific (you only use them if you are using that specific gang).  The turn starts with each player flipping the top card of their (well shuffled) deck up.  The higher card determines who has initiative (drawing a second card if tied).  That card gets assigned to one of your gang members.  Then each gang member gets a face down card.  When everyone has a card you flip them all up and resolve them from highest card to lowest.  Each player also starts with a hand of cards.  Every card has a number value (used for resolving the turn order) and special rules.  The cards in your hand are used for their special rules (which normally either help you during one of your activations, or interrupts your opponent by providing him some disadvantage to his actions).  Each model gets three actions (move, shoot, recover, etc.).  When all models have activated and completed their actions the turn is done.  Rinse and repeat (reshuffling the discard pile when necessary to replenish your deck).

 That is the core of the system right there.  No fiddling around with who stepped on a tac when scratching their arse in the 2pm sun while facing east and sneezing ... you get the drift.

 I have to say the models from their gangs are also very nice.  Clean, well sculpted and easy to paint.  They support the game with download of building signage, reference sheets, and additional "scenes" you can use to play once you've exhausted those included with the book.

[sotek486]

Thanks for the review.
When The Boomville Casino is finished I will try the game myself.

Cheers,

Geboom.

I can't wait to see that complete ... that is one hell of an impressive project you have there!