Cowpoke: Reforged

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Game Overview

Cowpoke is a fast-paced 28mm skirmish game set in the unforgiving Wild West. It isn't about simulating the boredom of a cattle drive; it's about capturing the high-octane tension and stylish lethality of a classic Spaghetti Western.

In this game, henchmen drop like flies, heroes stare down death with a grin, and the difference between glory and a shallow grave is a single trigger pull. The rules are designed to be "quick and dirty," focusing on cinematic moments, gambling your luck, and rolling big handfuls of dice.

1.2 What You Need to Play

• Miniatures: Models representing your Posse (Cowpokes, Lawmen, Banditos, or Drifters). Fits 28mm or 15mm miniatures agnostically. About 3 characters per player are quite manageable, but up to about 5 or so characters per player should work well. A rough rule of thumb is that a game will take about an hour per 6 characters—for example, a game with 4 players and 12 characters might take about 2 hours.
• Dice: You will need a lot of six-sided dice (D6). In Cowpoke, you don't roll one die; you roll a "bucket" of them.
• Measuring Tape: Marked in inches (").
• Character Stat Cards: Every Cowpoke has a dedicated card to track their Weapons, Skills, and Wounds. Health conditions and injuries are marked and managed entirely on the character cards (there are no separate condition tokens to clutter the table, other than tactical markers like Out of Ammo).
• Play Table with Terrain: A battlefield to fight over—from a full Old West town to a handful of rocks and wooden fences.

1.3 Core Concept: The "Bucket of Dice" System

Forget complex math charts. Cowpoke uses a visceral shooting mechanic designed to keep the action moving fast.

The Golden Rule: When you want to do something violent—like shooting a revolver or swinging a whiskey bottle—you don't add modifiers to a target number. Instead, modifiers change how many dice you get to roll.

2.0 The Posse

2.1 Character Profiles & Stat Cards

In Cowpoke, your models are characters with handles, reputations, and scars. Every model is defined by a Stat Card tracking:

• Name: Give them a handle ("Shootist #3" is bad luck).
• Tier: Experience level (Greenhorn, Cowpoke, or Legend).
• Weapons: A character may carry a maximum of two shooting weapons (e.g., two revolvers, or one rifle and one revolver, but never two long arms). In addition, they may carry one Melee weapon (Basic or Heavy).
• Wound Track: A diagram of the body (Head, Chest, Gut, Arms, Legs) to record specific injuries.

2.2 Experience Tiers

2.3 Skills & Traits

While Tiers define general competence, Skills give a unique tactical edge:

• Brawler: Loves saloon fights. Add +2 Dice to your pool when making a Brawling (Melee) roll.
• Fast: Add +2 Inches to any Run action.
• Lucky: Once per game, after an enemy rolls their dice pool to shoot or brawl this character, you may force them to reroll all of their successful 6s.
• Marksman: Choose one specific signature weapon (e.g., "Winchester Rifle"). When attacking with this weapon, add +1 Die to your shooting pool.
• Quick Draw: If an enemy moves into base contact to initiate a Brawl, this character may take one free Point Blank shot with a Revolver before the Opposed Melee roll is resolved.
• Tough: Ignore the very first Light Wound (1 Damage) received in the game. (Note: Does not reduce Serious or Mortal wounds; remains active until a Light Wound is taken).

2.4 Health & Wounds

Standard Cowpokes and Legends have 4 Health Points (HP). Greenhorns have 2 HP. When HP reaches 0 or less, the character is incapacitated and removed from play.

3.0 The Game Turn

3.1 The Turn Cycle

Cowpoke is played in continuous Game Turns representing a few chaotic seconds of real time. There are no cleanup phases—the action never stops.

1. Initiative: All players roll 1D6 to determine the order of play.
2. First Player's Turn: The winner activates ALL of their characters, one by one.
3. Next Player's Turn: Play passes to the next player, who activates ALL of their characters.
4. New Game Turn: As soon as the last player finishes, a fresh Game Turn begins immediately with a new Initiative roll.

3.2 Initiative

At the start of every Game Turn, all players roll a single D6 (reroll ties). Highest roll goes first, and turns proceed clockwise around the table (or in descending initiative order by pre-game agreement).

3.3 The Player's Turn

When it is your turn, you activate every character in your posse strictly one at a time:

• 1. Select: Pick one character who hasn't acted yet.
• 2. Act: That character performs up to 2 Actions (Walk, Shoot, Aim, etc.).
• 3. Resolve: Completely resolve all actions for that model before picking the next one.

3.4 Tokens

• Aim Token: Placed next to the target to mark a +2 or +3 shooting bonus.
• Overwatch Token: Placed next to a character declaring a 90° reaction arc.
• Out of Ammo Token: Placed on empty weapons after Blazing Away or firing a Derringer.
• Dynamite Token: Marks the landing spot of live dynamite before detonation next turn.

4.0 Actions

4.1 The Action Economy

Each activation grants 2 Action Points (AP). You may repeat the same action twice (such as Shoot twice for 2 AP). Free Actions (0 AP) include talking, dropping items, turning facing, or switching equipped weapons.

4.2 Movement Actions

• Walk (1 AP): Advance up to 6". (Strict maximum of 1 Walk per turn).
• Run (2 AP): Sprint 6" + 2D6". Consumes the entire turn (no shooting or brawling allowed).

4.3 Combat Actions

• Shoot (1 AP): Fire a ranged weapon at a visible target.
• Brawl (1 AP): Engage an enemy in base contact in melee.
• Throw Dynamite (1 AP): Hurl a stick of dynamite (Sure Throw up to 6" or Hail Mary 1D6+6").
• Reload (1 AP): Remove an "Out of Ammo" token from a weapon.

4.4 Special Actions

• Aim (1 AP): Place an Aim token on a visible target. Your next action must be a Shoot against that target. Grants +2 Dice (Revolvers/Derringers/Shotguns) or +3 Dice (Rifles/Bows). Aim is lost if you move, take another action, or lose LoS. Cannot be combined with Blaze Away.
• Blaze Away (1 AP): Fan the hammer or crank the lever wildly! Grants +3 Dice (Revolver) or +2 Dice (Lever-Action). Every 6 rolled counts as a separate hit! Weapon is immediately emptied (gains Out of Ammo token).
• Overwatch (1 AP): End activation immediately and cover a 90° arc. Interrupt an enemy moving into that arc to take an immediate free Shoot action.
• Interact (1 AP): Open doors, pick up loot, light fuses, smash windows.

5.0 Movement & Terrain

5.1 Measuring & Pacing

Pre-measuring is permitted at any time unless playing with the Dead Reckoning optional module.

5.2 Walk & Run Breakdown

Walk (1 AP, up to 6"): Allowed only once per activation. May curve around obstacles.
Run (2 AP, 6" + 2D6"): Mad sprint. Fast skill adds +2". Consumes the entire turn.

5.3 Terrain & Obstacles

• Blinded Penalty: Moving into a building from outside applies -2 Dice to all Shoot and Brawl actions this turn as eyes adjust to the darkness.
• Doors: Free passage without stopping.
• Windows: Climbing through forces the character to stop immediately inside; all remaining movement for that action is lost.
• Vertical Movement: Climbing stairs or a ladder costs a flat 6" of movement per floor. No ending movement halfway.
• Difficult Terrain: Movement speed is halved through mud, water, or dense brush.

5.5 Falling & Jumping

When dropping without stairs/ladders, all remaining movement is lost:

• 1 Floor (Balcony/Roof): Roll 1D6. 1–3: Safe. 4–6: 1 Damage (Light Wound) & activation ends.
• 2 Floors (Water Tower): Roll 1D6. 1–3: 1 Damage. 4–6: 2 Damage (Serious Wound) & activation ends.
• 3+ Floors (Clocktower/Cliff): Automatic 4 Damage (Mortal Wound / Instant Death).
• Soft Landings (Hay wagon, awning): Reduces fall height by 1 floor.

6.0 Shooting

6.1 Line of Sight & Cover

LoS is drawn from the shooter's head to any part of the target model's body (torso or limbs). If the target is partially obscured (at least 50% of their body is hidden behind an obstacle from the attacker's angle), they claim Cover. Light and Heavy cover share the same 50%+ obstruction requirement, differentiated by material:

• Light Cover (Wood or similar) — -2 Dice: Anything made of wood or lighter materials, such as wooden fences, boardwalks, crates, saloon tables, furniture, wagons, or thin timber.
• Heavy Cover (Stone, Brick, Metal, or similar) — -3 Dice: Anything made of solid stone, brick walls, metal boilers, iron safes, or thick earthworks.

Player Intent & Sportsmanship: It is always assumed that a player's intent is to gain the 50% coverage provided by adjacent cover even if not explicitly declared (such as placing a miniature peeking around a saloon corner or crouching behind a crate). Miniature bases and physical terrain can sometimes make exact alignment awkward, but if the intent to take cover is clear and adjacent terrain permits it, grant the cover. Conversely, if a piece of terrain is physically incapable of concealing at least 50% of the model from an aggressor's firing angle (such as standing behind a narrow lamppost or in an open flank), no cover is awarded. Use good sportsmanship to resolve tough table decisions quickly and fairly.

6.2 Dice Pool Modifiers Table

Minimum Dice Rule: If modifiers reduce your pool to 0 or fewer dice, the shot cannot be attempted unless positive modifiers (like Aiming) raise the total to at least 1 die.

7.0 Brawling

7.1 Close Quarters Combat

Moving into base contact engages characters. Engaged models cannot shoot and must Brawl or attempt to Disengage.

7.2 The Opposed Melee Roll

Both combatants roll simultaneously. Base pool is 3 Dice, modified by:

• Basic Melee Weapon (Knife, Tomahawk, Knuckles) — +2 Dice: All player characters and posse members are assumed to carry at least a basic knife by default. Unarmed townsfolk or civilians might not, fighting truly unarmed at the base 3 Dice.
• Heavy Melee Weapon (Cavalry Sword, Pickaxe, Sledgehammer) — +4 Dice
• Brawler Skill — +2 Dice
• Legend Tier — +1 Die | Greenhorn Tier — -1 Die
• Blinded (Entering Bldg / Dark Interior) — -2 Dice

7.3 Fight Resolution

• Clear Winner (More 6s): Winner inflicts a Hit on the loser. Fighters remain locked in contact.
• Bloody Draw (Equal 6s, at least one): BOTH fighters take a Hit simultaneously!
• Scuffle (Zero 6s): No damage; action spent; remain locked in contact.

7.5 Disengaging (Parting Shots)

Declaring a Walk or Run away triggers a free attack from each engaged enemy: 1D6 (Unarmed) or 2D6 (Armed with Knife or better) with no modifiers. (Note: Armed means possessing a knife or better melee weapon; it does not refer to holstered firearms). Any 6 scores a Hit. If the fleeing model survives, they complete their movement.

8.0 Damage & Recovery

8.1 The Reality of Violence

In Cowpoke, Health Points (HP) represent blood, grit, and the will to stay standing. When a character takes a hit, it isn't just an abstract number—it's a bullet in the shoulder or a knife in the gut. Injuries are marked directly on the character's Stat Card.

8.2 Determining the Injury

Whenever a Hit is scored, roll two dice: Location Die (1D6) and Severity Die (1D6).

8.3 The Master Wound Chart

Battle Scars: If a specific body location accumulates 2 or more total damage, the character suffers the permanent Critical Effect listed in the right-hand column.

8.5 Death & Defeat

Greenhorns have 2 HP; Cowpokes & Legends have 4 HP. When HP hits 0, the model is incapacitated and removed from the table immediately.

9.0 Optional Rules

9.1 Dead Reckoning (No Pre-Measuring)

Under Dead Reckoning, all pre-measuring is banned. You must declare your action and target before putting the tape measure down. If you come up short, your movement stops in the open or your shot is wasted.

9.2 The Campaign: Dust to Dust

When a character drops to 0 HP, roll 1D6 post-game to determine their survival:

• 4, 5, or 6 (Survival): The character crawls to the doctor, digs out the bullet, and recovers to fight in the next battle.
• 1, 2, or 3 (The End): The character dies, is permanently crippled, and is retired permanently from the roster.

Appendix A: The Armory

A.1 The Master Weapon Chart

A.2 Weapon Traits

• ♥ The Spread (Shotguns, Gatling Guns): The number of Hearts indicates maximum additional secondary targets within X inches of the primary target. Roll separate full dice pools for each target!
• ♠ Out of Ammo (Derringers, Blaze Away): Weapon is empty immediately after firing; requires 1 AP Reload action to shoot again.
• ♦ The Blast (Dynamite): Proximity explosion dealing massive area damage.

A.3 Dynamite Rules

1. The Fuse: Thrown this turn, explodes at the start of the thrower's next activation.
2. The Throw: Sure Throw: up to 6" automatically. Hail Mary: Roll 1D6+6" for distance.
3. The Explosion: Every model within 2" takes 6 Dice; models 2"–6" take 3 Dice. Every single 6 rolled scores a distinct hit!

Appendix B: The Notch Deck (Boon Cards)

The Notch Deck represents the grit, luck, and momentum gained when gunning down an opponent. All Notch Cards are one-shot items—as soon as a card is played and resolved, it is immediately discarded.

How to get them: Draw 1 random Notch Card whenever a character drops an enemy model to 0 HP (First Blood). The GM may also deal 1 random card to each player at game start.
How to use them: Keep hidden in hand; spend on any character in your posse; discarded immediately after resolution.

Appendix C: Weather & Environmental Hazards

Frontier gunfights rarely took place in pristine conditions. Swirling dust storms, blinding lightning squalls, mountain scree, and marsh mists can drastically alter tactical decisions. Use this optional system to add unpredictable frontier elements to your shootouts without bogging down the action.

1. Arid Desert & Badlands

Sun-bleached alkali flats, cactus scrub, and scorching red canyonlands.

2. High Plains & Prairie Territory

Rolling grasslands, big skies, prairie winds, and sudden violent thunderheads.

3. Mountain Pass & High Altitude

Alpine pines, rocky ledges, freezing mountain squalls, and dizzying cliffside drops.

4. Swamp & Bayou Territory

Cypress swamps, murky bayous, spanish moss, and suffocating humidity.

5. Ghost Town & Canyon Basin

Abandoned mine shafts, wind-whipped ghost towns, echo chambers, and decaying wood.