Last Hope Frontier

It is possible to shoot into a combat situation where a model in your posse and a model in your opponents posse are fighting.

If you elect to do this, an additional step in the shot vs defence flow of events can occur. (For full breakdown of actions, See post ‘Shooting Mechanics’ for full breakdown).

If you elect to shoot into combat, you as the shooting player select your model to shoot and select your opponents model that is in combat.

If the shot vs defence test, as the shooting player, passes, you proceed onto the damage step as you normally would if you had shot an opposing model outside of combat

If the shot vs defence test fails when shooting at an opponents model who is combat with a friendly model in your posse, the shot is a fail. In circumstances where you would be shooting a model not in combat, you do not proceed to the damage step, however, to represent the whirling chaos of shooting into combat, your friendly model in combat takes one unsoakable damage as penalty.

Once all models in each gang have taken a move action in the movement phase of a round, there are one of three actions that can be taken during the main phase of a round for each model.

• A second move action
• A shot action
• A combat action

Note that models can always take free actions such as drinking whiskey or hooch to improve current wound total.

During the main phase of a round, each model can only take one second move action. If this second move action gets them into a base to base combat action, then they will be able to take a combat action on a subsequent activation, but cannot conduct that combat action in the same activation as a second move action.

A model can take as many shot or combat actions as a player likes, but how many can be conducted will be dependent on the diminishing amount of cards a player will have in their hand on a turn, as players cards in hand will also be used to conduct defence tests while they are the non active player.

Flow chart of strength vs defence

The combat action.

Active player nominates one of their models that is in base contact with a model owned by the non-active player to take a combat action.

Active player checks the strength value of their own model.

Non-active player checks the defence value of their model which has been nominated by the active player.

Active player selects a card to add to the strength value

Non-active player selected a card to add to the defence value.

Active player and Non-active player reveal their chosen cards simultaneously.

Active player and Non-active player add value of their chosen cards to their respective strength and defence values.

Active player and Non-active player check for favoured suit face cards that add to strength/defence values. Jack cards of favoured suits add 1 to strength/defence on top of face value of 11, King card of a favoured suit adds 1 to strength/defence on top of face value of 13, and Ace card of favoured suit add 2 to strength/defence on top of face value of 14.

Non-active player checks nominated model for any defence bonuses from padded clothing items. Defence bonuses from terrain cannot be applied as models from opposing sides in a combat action cannot benefit from defence bonuses.

If the Non-Active player’s value of card + clothing + defence value is higher than the active players card value + strength value, the non-active player’s defending model wins. Do not move onto the damage step.

If the Active player and Non-active player’s totals equal out to a draw, check for use of non-face card favoured suits

If a favoured suit has been used by one player, add 1 to the respective strength or defence value. 1 to the strength value means the combat action has been successful. move onto damage step. 1 to the defence value means defence is higher. Do not move onto the damage step.

If favoured suit is used by both players, score draw is resolved, no difference means no damage and do not move onto damage step.

If the Active player’s value of card + strength is higher than the non-active players card + defence value, the active player’s attacking model wins. Move onto checking cards for damage step.

Flow chart of Damage step – damage vs toughness

The damage action

A difference of 1 to 5 in scores equals 1 damage done from card draw.

A difference of 6 to 10 in scores equals 2 damage done from card draw.

A difference of 11+ in scores equals 3 damage done from card draw.

Active player and Non-active player check for favoured suit face cards that add to damage/toughness values.

Queen cards of favoured suits add 1 to damage/toughness in damage step, on top of their face value of 12 used in a strength/defence test, King card of a favoured suit adds 1 to the damage/toughness test, as well as the +1 in the strength/defence test, on top of face value of 13, and Ace card of favoured suit add 2 to the damage/toughness test on top of the strength/defence bonus and face value of 14.

Active player checks their nominated model for any bonuses from weaponry used to conduct shooting action.

Switchblade – base to base, adds 0 damage

Hunting knife – base to base, (can be thrown in 1 distance, but item is lost) adds 1 damage

Hatchet – base to base, adds 2 damage 

Machete – base to base, adds 3 damage 

Active player calculates total damage from

• Difference in scores from strength/defence test
• Damage bonuses from favoured suit card (if used)
• Damage bonuses from weaponry used (if any)

Non-active player calculates toughness from

• Toughness score indicated on model’s roster
• Toughness bonuses from favoured suit card (if used)

Subtract the non-active player’s toughness total score from the Active player’s damage score.

The remainder is total amount of wounds taken by non-active players nominated model.

Flowchart of play –

example 1

The attack

Player X wants to use leader model in sheriff gang to attack player Y’s outlawmen ganger model.

Player X leader model has strength value of 3, Player Y’s gang model has a defence of 1. Player Y’s ganger model is not wearing any padded clothing to increase their defence.

Player X uses a J of Spades, which adds a value of 11 to the strength value of 3 to make 14. Because the Sheriff player used the favoured Jack of Spades, it adds another 1 to the strength test, which makes it a 15.

Player Y uses a 7 of diamonds. Outlawmen prefer diamonds, but because this isn’t a score draw using non-face cards, it doesn’t break a tie, so the value of 7 gets added to the defence of 1, which is 8.

A difference between 15 strength and 8 defence is 7.

0 difference is strength vs defence  = 0 damage and do not move onto damage step.

1 – 5 difference in strength vs defence = 1 damage

6 – 10 difference in strength vs defence = 2 damage

11+ difference in strength vs defence = 3 damage.

The damage

The outlawmen ganger model has a toughness of 1. 2 damage from the strength vs defence test, minus 1 toughness from the ganger is one wound.

Player X’s leader is using a hunting knife which gives +1 damage.

1 wound from the combat test + the hunting knife damage of +1 equals 2 wounds.

Example 2 –

The attack –

Player X wants to use deputy model in sheriff gang to attack player Y’s outlawmen deputy model.

Player X deputy model has a strength value of 2. Player Y’s outlawmen deputy model has a defence of 2. Player Y’s deputy model is wearing light padded armour to increase their defence by 1 to 3.

Player X uses a 6 of Spades. Numerical cards do not add extra bonuses like face cards, but the Sheriff gang player used a favoured suit in case of a tie.

Player Y uses a 5 of Clubs. Outlawmen prefer diamonds as a favoured suit. Numerical cards do not add extra bonuses like face cards.

Player X’s total is 2 + 6 = 8.

Player Y’s total is 3 + 5 = 8.

Player X used a favoured suit of Spades. A favoured suit use breaks ties, which means Player X scores 9 vs Player Y’s score of 8.

A difference between 9 and 8 is 1.

0 difference is strength vs defence  = 0 damage and do not move onto damage step.

 1 – 5 difference in strength vs defence = 1 damage

6 – 10 difference in strength vs defence = 2 damage

11+ difference in strength vs defence = 3 damage.

The damage

The outlawmen deputy model used by Player Y has a toughness of 2. 1 damage from the strength vs defence test, but the deputy model has 2 toughness so no damage is done at this stage.

Player X’s deputy is using a hunting knife which gives +1 damage.

1 wound from the strength test + the hunting knife damage of +1 equals 2 wounds, but Player Y’s deputy outlawmen is toughness 2, so the extra hunting knife damage is not enough to do damage to the deputy.

The damage stage was still moved on to because the attack was a success, but it was a weak attack not affecting the toughness of the deputy. Could be described as ‘winging’ the model.

Example 3

The attack

Player X wants to use leader model in Townsfolk gang to attack player Y’s bootlegger ganger model. Townsfolk prefer Hearts cards; bootleggers prefer club cards.

Player X leader model has a strength value of 3, Player Y’s gang model has a defence of 1. Player Y’s ganger model is not wearing any padded clothing to increase their defence above 1.

Player X uses the Ace of Hearts which adds a value of 14 to the attack value of 3 which equals 17. Player X used the favoured suit, and an Ace favoured suit card adds 2 to the attack, which takes the 17 up to 19 in total.

Player Y uses the J of Clubs. Clubs is a favoured suit. The Jack of Clubs adds 11 to the defence of 1 which is a score of 12. Using the Jack of Clubs as a favoured suit card adds another 1 to the defence score which is a total of 13.

The score of 19 to 13 is a difference of 6.

0 difference is strength vs defence  = 0 damage and do not move onto damage step.

1 – 5 difference in strength vs defence = 1 damage

6 – 10 difference in strength vs defence = 2 damage

11+ difference in strength vs defence = 3 damage.

The Damage

The bootlegger ganger has a toughness of 1. 2 damage from the strength vs defence test, minus 1 toughness from the ganger is 1 wound.

Player X’s leader is using a hatchet, which is +2 damage.

Player X also used the Ace of Hearts, which contributes another 2 damage from using a favoured suit.

1 damage from strength vs defence test, 2 damage from the hatchet, 2 damage from Ace of Hearts, minus 1 toughness = 4 damage

Using a favourite suit in an opposed test would break any draws in an opposed contest by adding one to the total value of the player who played the favoured suit. If both players played favoured suit and it’s a draw, then it’s a score draw. 

Each gang theme prefers one suit to another, using the JKQA of that suit in any given opposed test would give a bonus in some way to the duel. 

J of favoured suit is an additional + 1 in shot/combat or to defence test

Q of favoured suit is an additional +1 damage in shot/combat test or to toughness test. 

K of favoured suit is an additional +1 in shot/combat and +1 damage test and +1 to defence and toughness. 

A of favoured suit is an additional +2 in shot/combat and +2damage test and +2 in defence/toughness. 

jokers are equal to A of favoured suit card when used on their own in an opposed test, or as another face value card in a paired eighth card action. Can’t use two jokers in an eighth card paired action, it’s too powerful. 

For the purposes of making the best 5 of 7 suite of cards to determine initiative, jokers can count as any value/suit of card, but only one Joker can be nominated in the 5 of 7 suite, can’t use both jokers, too overpowered. 

Leaders get an ‘eighth card’ action, could be based upon using a number pair of cards on the leader’s activation as a part of their go. Pair could be a true pair or a card and a joker. 

Eighth Card action for leaders 

Sheriff leader rule – Dead Eyed Aim, Dead Eyed Spirit – Play a pair of matching cards in a shot vs defence/combat vs defence action – your leaders action adds an additional 1 to shot/strength or defence on top of any other bonuses you may receive from cards used in this action. 

Outlawmen leader – Dirt In the Wound, Whiskey in the Wound – Play a pair of matching cards in a shot vs defence/combat vs defence action – add an additional 1 to damage/toughness results, on top of any bonuses you may receive from cards used in this action. The additional 1 to damage calculation/toughness calculation will only apply if the initial shot/combat vs defence test is successful and the action has moved into the damage step. 

Townsfolk leader – Heart of the town – Play a pair of matching cards in a shot vs defence/combat vs defence action – your leader gain 2 wounds back before calculating for damage. These two wounds cannot take you above your maximum hit point total. 

Bootlegger leader – Slippery Paws – Play a pair of matching cards in a shot vs defence/combat vs defence action – your leader steals an item worth less than $10 off the opposing model. 

Sheriffs – Badge of Honour rule – 

Outlawmen – Twist The Knife rule – 

Bootleggers – Risky Business rule – 

Townsfolk – Merchant Lines rule – 

Four fan themes – 

Sheriffs, outlawmen, bootleggers, townsfolk. 

Sheriffs love spades, outlawmen love diamonds, bootleggers love clubs and townsfolk love hearts. 

Each faction gets an overall bonus.

Scenery heavy game. Lots of walls/cover

Half covered models (horizontally covered or vertically covered) give +1 to defense total. 

3/4 covered models (horizontally covered or vertically covered) give +2 to defense total. 

Determining first turn play would be high card draw, aces high, jokers auto go first. Any draws pulled, favoured suit breaks ties. Drawn with both favoured suits equals a redraw. 

Players have eight cards in hand (some tactical mitigation) on a players turn. Have to play cards in opposing tests in a ‘I go/ you go’ fashion. 

seven cards minimum have to be spent in a turn. Being first player on a turn means you can conduct first movement, first shooting or combat and other actions in priority. This does mean that making a choice as to who to shoot/combat with needs to be made. 

Each phase of a round is ‘i go/ you go’ play method, model by model to represent the chaos of a shoot out situation 

End of turn, each player will have played seven cards and the player with the best hand of five cards out of the seven played (ascending order of priority in poker) will then get priority next turn, so even a hand of low value cards could get priority (ie, a pair of 2’s beats an ace high). Players can choose to ditch the eighth card in hand and draw eight or keep it and draw seven. If players use their ‘eighth card’ leader action, one of the two cards goes into the discard pile after being used and cannot be used in determining initiative. Eight cards are drawn to form new hand of cards.