KNUCKLEDUSTER MINIATURES IS KICKSTARTING A BOARD GAME!

On January 2nd, Knuckleduster Miniatures is launching a Kickstarter for a lighthearted Western gunfight board game called Gunfight Royale, designed as a gateway product for board gamers (relatives, non-gamer friends, etc) who want a fun shootout game but have never considered themselves "hobbyists." It ticks many boxes on the list of things that make a game friendly for people outside the hobby: It features plastic cartoon figures and simple rules, is completely self-contained, requires no painting or modeling, and can be played straight out of the box. 

Players (from 2 to 6) each get one character and fight to the finish (the name references the "battle royale" style of video games) through numerous scenarios using not only weapons, but dirty tricks and found items. The poker-chip wound system from Gunfighter's Ball has been adapted to Gunfight Royale, as well as the "quick draw" concept of turn interruption. Each game takes about a half hour, so multiple games can be played in one session. Players whose character gets eliminated can continue to play dirty tricks so that nobody is completely left out because of an early misfortune. A time-keeper traverses a track on the outside of the board to enforce an end to the game and eliminate the possibility of stalemate. There are enough rules to formulate sophisticated strategies, but the various types of cards place all the important information at your fingertips so intrusive rules lookups are not required.

Throughout playtesting, this game produced an amazing vibe. It taps into the elements that make Knuckleduster's "Gunfighter's Ball" game so much fun; a sensibility that's very close to a first-person-shooter arena video game, with players laughing their way through the unbridled devastation of large-caliber firearms, crazy melee weapons and, not infrequently, explosions.  The cartoon figures and artwork reinforce the carnival atmosphere and the idea that games like these need not be intimidating to play or learn.

The Kickstarter offers a boxed game with the board, cards, dice, dry-erase markers, chip-and-token punch-outs, 12 plastic figures and a mounted time-keeper model called "The Lone Rider of Eternity." Stretch goals will add characters to the game at the medium tier pledge level, and at higher levels metal versions of the figures, clay poker chips, and wooden tokens are included. The latter three items are also available as add-ons, as are metal versions of the game characters in the "Gunfighter's Ball" style of sculpting for use with that game. Buy the boxed game for a non-gamer and keep the Gunfighter's Ball figures for yourself!

More info:

Kickstarter page 

FAQ 

Facebook

GUNFIGHT ROYALE GAME FAQs

So what's the fuss all about? Here are all your Gunfight Royale questions answered in one place!

(This FAQ has to do with the game itself, and not the kickstarter).

WHAT IS GUNFIGHT ROYALE?

Gunfight Royale is a board game with plastic cartoon gunfighters who fight to the death!

KNUCKLEDUSTER IS KNOWN FOR TABLETOP MINIS, SO WHY THE CARTOON FIGURES?

We wanted to make something fun for people who love board games and aren't necessarily interested in the tabletop miniatures hobby. No painting or modelling is required; you can play this game right out of the box.

HOW DO YOU PLAY?

Players each get one character. When it's your turn, you can move, shoot, or brawl using dice, or you can do non-combat things like pick up items from the board, manage your inventory of stuff, or reload your weapon.

Your character's health is represented by poker chips, and as you take damage, you cash in your chips. Each character has a bounty, and each time you eliminate an opponent, you collect their bounty. 

IS IT HARD TO LEARN?

This is a board game and not a hobby game, so have a quick flip through a booklet and then just follow the cards, which have instructions printed on them so you don't have to constantly look things up. 

If you can play Cataan, Monopoly, or Risk, you'll find this a breeze.

WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM?

A "battle royale" in video game terminology is a fight to the finish. Playtesters loved the first-person-shooter feel of the game, and the name just seemed to fit. 

IS THIS A SERIOUS STRATEGY GAME?

This is a cut-throat first-person shooter strategy game that has simple rules crafted with hidden strategies that encourage players to think about every move. It's serious from the standpoint that it's rich with opportunities to outwit your opponents, but the cards are loaded with humor and unexpected twists and turns. There is plenty of luck involved as well, so if things don't go your way, you can always blame the dice!

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN PLAY?

Six max.

CAN YOU PLAY TEAMS?

Yes. There are specific scenario cards for team play.

DOES IT MATTER WHICH CHARACTER YOU PLAY?

Most definitely! One of the first choices you will make is which character to play.

They each have very different abilities, starting weapons, and quirks so your choice of character has a huge impact on your chances. Make sure to choose your fighter based on the objectives of the gunfight, and the other characters in play, as some characters have offsetting abilities.

WHAT MAKES THIS WESTERN GAME DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS?

1.  This is not a "sandbox" game, so it's not a whole hobby-in-a-box. It's focus is very disciplined; the characters, board, cards, and mechanics are fine-tuned to deliver a particular experience which is intensely entertaining. This is a well-crafted board-game first and foremost, and a western game second. If this kickstarter goes well, we already have ideas to adapt this game engine to other fun genres like space, pirates, or high fantasy.

2.  The art design is very specific. The cartoon gunfighters are just one part of a look that is meant to have a "Sunday Comics" feel. This isn't really life-and-death; it's just a playing "cowboys!"

HOW DO GET IN ON IT?

Support our kickstarter in January 2021. Go here and click "notify" to get an email when the festivities kick off!

Kickstarter