Character sheets by Will Jobst

actions by the Gun & Slinger. way—which lunges at them! Created by Nevyn Holmes
can always call for one for simultaneous Bust or Fail, failing to shoot the spider either
Gun&Slinger
attempt to shoot something but the Maestro 7+Ace+5(Modifier)=23 OR 13. They either
Blind Pays are always used when Players simultaneously. A 7 and Ace.
Single face-down then flip them like this are uniquely suited for: so lean in!
Accounting for this, each player plays a unique and memorable—something games
Modifier—adding it to the Blind Pay’s total.
you’ll collaboratively create something
below and flips the Deck’s top card—the
is added to whatever the Duo plays. sharing worldly authorship with your players
Maestro sets a difficulty based on the ranges
They then flip the deck’s top card: a 5 which answers you share about the world. By
Pay’s difficulty is calculated as follows: the
next fictional step considering questions’
revealing and combining their value. A Blind
difficulty: a total of 18-21. players to make decisions, determine the
respective cards before simultaneously
deck’s top card revealing a 3, setting the conversation and feel free to work with
from their Hand face-down obscuring their
rushing from the treeline. One flips the yourself, however! Treat the game as a
To Blind Pay, both Players place a Single
The Duo wants to shoot a Twist-Spider You don’t need to come up with everything
Blind Pay
keeping players on their toes. Play
Fuel this using tension and tough decisions, slippery.
you create danger, excitement and drama. Example of Maestro-less
aimed attacks, climbing something
act on foreshadowing. Be the players’ fan as someone actively seeking you, evading
appropriately for the shared game’s tone, • Complicated (9-12): Sneaking past course accordingly!
unforgiving place—but you’re not. React disarming a simple trap. what it means, changing the scene’s
control its reaction. The world is a harsh, shaky ground, evading hip fire, played it. Collaboratively determine
world, while created with the players, you • Involved (5-8): Maintaining footing on chosen and players act as if the Maestro
As the Maestro, you play the knocking down a door. • If this reveals a Face Card it must be
to offer simple aid, evading quickdraws,
• Simple (3-4): Convincing a neutral party selects one setting the Check’s Difficulty.
Here are example Difficulties and Costs: flips the Deck’s top 3 cards. The other
• When making a Check, a player
Cost consider context!
is also the Cost.When declaring a Check’s following changes:
12—higher values are harder. The Difficulty the Maestro, make the
Difficulty in GUN&SLINGER ranges 3- GUN&SLINGER without
If you’d like to play 2 Player
Cost
Maestro-less play Declaring Difficulty &
Like the Players, you always Go Fish before
Doing Things & Resolution A Check’s Cost—and occurrence—is the making your move.
Maestro’s decision. The Maestro should rely
The Players & Maestro are participating in on situational context and their judgment
Go Fish notably modified to fit RPG determining when a Check is appropriate. The Card played reflects the new element’s
structure. Some good heuristics for requesting a Check intensity. At your discretion, this translates to a
is when: Check Players must overcome or simply
When a player wants to do something under heightens a scene’s intensity.
pressure or with an uncertain outcome, the • The outcome is uncertain.
Maestro can request a Check. The Player • There’s immediate pressure.
then asks either the Maestro or the other Maestro face moves
Player if they have a particular card (“Hey, Failure or Mixed success provide interesting
Gun, do you have any fives?”). As with Players, Face cards are used differently.
narrative outcomes. Important notes about For the Maestro, they’re spent as singles with
Pairs: unique moves based on the card’s Suite and
The person who is asked must answer Face. The move you make:
truthfully. If they have any cards of that • A Pair has its single-card value (ex. a
value, they are handed to the petitioner. If Pair of 10s is worth 10). • Kings: Separate the Gun and Slinger.
not, the asker draws a card from the deck.
• The total value Paid is the Pair’s value • Queens: The Gun & Slinger lose
If at any point someone’s hand contains a plus your relevant Stat. something valuable.
Pair (two cards of the same value) it is set
face-down on the table in front of them. The • You can exceed, rather than exactly pay, • Jacks: Someone receives a Major Injury.
Maestro does not make Pairs, keeping all of the Cost.
their Hand’s cards. • Aces: Immediately raise the stakes
The cards and you
This area is called their Cache and Pairs How you do it:
remain here until used. Players may peek at As the Maestro, you do not make pairs. Cards
their own Pairs whenever but not anyone remain in your Hand, used as Singles to make
else’s. moves and mix up the current scene. As the • Hearts: The Environment
Maestro, you’re mainly reacting to the
players—detailing NPC or Monster responses • Diamonds: The Twist
After the player making the Check requests to Player actions.
a card and either receives or draws one, the
Maestro reveals the Check’s Difficulty and • Spades: The Antagonist
Cost (“This is an Easy check, doing it costs When playing a card from your Hand, be
4”), and then the Player either pays with a proactive not reactive. You’re introducing • Clubs: Dealer’s Choice
Pair, requests a Bargain or accepts Failure. something new by shaking things up with novel
elements, shifting who has the upper hand or
other twists!