Fuck Bang! Tonight I played it for the third time and I can't help but think it probably is the most overrated game I have played. A chaotic, straightforward, light game with a strong take that -element is precisely the kind of game I usually like to play with my friends while downing a few beers and taking the piss out of each other. The thing is, according to my experiences the game's mechanics are utterly broken and maybe beyond repair. Let's review why.
My first game: I was a deputy so on my first turn I wielded the Vulcan, attached a scope and fired away at the player that was tactically in the most dangerous position for the Sheriff. He had a hand full of Miss! cards so my rapid fire attack did no damage. This turn was the only turn I have ever played where I was able to something this constructive - I actually caused an opposing player to use all of his Miss! cards. Unsurprisingly, after this show I was targeted by several other players who thought I was too dangerous to leave alive. On my next turn I had 1 HP left, drew only useless cards and the next player finished me. The game lasted for maybe 30-40 minutes after I was eliminated.
The next game my character had the same ability that Vulcan gives: I could use as many Bang! cards as I wanted. Since I was sitting next to the Sheriff he deemed me too dangerous for himself so he stole half of my cards and then locked me to jail causing me to lose my first turn. When I finally got to play a turn I again had only 1 HP left and no useful cards and was killed immediately afterwards. Again, I sat out while the game went on for half an hour.
Tonight, I asked to play the game again since I wanted to see if it could actually be fun and third time the charm etc. This time I was an outlaw but I was again jailed for my first turn. On my second turn I had only one wound but due to a bad draw (again) the only thing I could do was to heal myself back to full health. The game ended before my third turn when the other outlaws killed the sheriff since they had drawn ridiculously well.
So, I have played the game three times and the total time is around 80-90 minutes. During this time I have had one fucking turn where I have had a chance to actually influence the game. My friends tell me this game is a blast and the first two games where I mostly spectated it did look like it was really fun when it got rolling.
Yes, I'm aware I've had really bad luck. The problem with the mechanics isn't that luck plays a big role - that's a part of the fun in this kind of games. The problem is that bad luck prevents you from actually playing the game. That - is - not - fun. Despite that I see more add-ons and hype for Bang! than its much better - but still flawed - successor Samurai Sword.
/rant