Six-Gun Friday (Issue 13 adventure)

[The Editor (Alex B)]

Discuss here!

[champskees]

Aha, my prayers have been answered! Six Gun Friday is an outstanding adventure and probably my favourite to date (in terms of mini adventures in Fighting Fantazine); in stark contrast to the previous issues’ offering. The design allows for freedom of choice throughout and provides a challenge for a Skill 12 character whilst making it very possible for a minimum stats player to make it through in one piece. The writing is excellent, with colourful characters, an interesting and engaging plot and several entertaining encounters along the way. The author is also commended for their brave choice of setting – it actually makes me wonder why there was never a wild-westesque FF adventure, so much rich material to draw from. Also the omission of the Luck Stat and the damage dealt with gunshots were handled seamlessly. And guess what – no errors! Gamebook designers take note – an excellent example of what can be done with 200 paragraphs. Highly recommended.

This solution is designed for a minimum stats character. Interestingly both of the prescribed paths have almost the exact same chance of success.

You start with:

- 4 First Aid Kits (restore 3 Stamina when used; 5 if you possess the First Aid skill).
- Colt .45 Peacemaker (-1 to rolls when Testing Aim)

Skills:
- Spontaneity.
- Fast Draw or Detection.

- Ride to the sagebrush hotel.
- If Fast Draw:
        o Ask what room he’s staying in so you can investigate yourself.
        o You have the Fast Draw skill.
        o Add codeword: Asp.
- If Detection:
        o Instruct Robert to send someone for the man in question.
        o You have the Detection skill.
- Tie him up here in the hotel.
- You don’t have either codewords.
- Investigate the crowd gathering around a man standing outside a dentist’s office.
- Come to the man’s aid.
- You have the Spontaneity skill.
- Take Bottle of Sarsaparilla Bitters.
- Add codeword: Nest.
- If Fast Draw:
        o Head for The Blind Pig.
        o Join the revellers by the piano.
        o Have a few more words with Zeke.
        o You have the Fast Draw skill.
        o Add codeword: Anaconda.
        o You do not have the Tracking skill.
- If Detection:
        o Walk to the barber.
        o Stay in the shop to question Owen.
        o You have the Detection skill.
        o Add codeword: Cobra.
        o You have a Bottle of Sarsaparilla Bitters.
        o Wait.
        o You have the Detection skill.
        o Add codeword: Sidewinder.
- Head directly up to your room and consume your own provisions.
- Decide not to bother, he’ll figure it out soon enough.
- You have the codeword Nest.
- Do either.
- You have two of these codewords.
- If Detection: You have the Detection skill.
- Go to the train station.
- Look for an open cab near the rear.
- Your current Stamina is 7+.
- Wait quietly on the platform until someone comes out.
- Wait a while longer before taking any action.
- Add note: If you have five X’s, turn to Para 191 immediately.
- X.
- Wait for one of the Fridays to make a move.
- Test Aim. Success = X.
- If Fast Draw (chance of being hit by both enemies: 4.22%):
        o Test Aim. Success = X. Fail = Test Aim 8. Success = 4-9 Damage.
        o Test Aim. Success = X. Fail = Test Aim 7. Success = 4-9 Damage.
- If Detection (chance of being hit by both enemies: 4.63%):
        o Test Aim 8 (+2 to roll). Success = 4-9 Damage.
        o Test Aim 7 (+2 to roll). Success = 4-9 Damage.
        o Test Aim. Success = X.
        o Test Aim. Success = X.
- If you have exactly 3 X’s:
        o Move to a better defensive position.
- Otherwise:
        o Remain here.
        o X.
- If you now have 5 X’s: Turn to Para 191.
- If you now have 2-3 X’s:
        o Dive across the aisle and tackle him.
        o You have the Spontaneity skill.
        o XX.
- If you now have 5 X’s: Turn to Para 191.
- If you now have 4 X’s (7.2% chance with a Sk 7 character):
        o Distract him by firing at the adjacent wall.
        o Test Aim. Fail = Test Aim 8. Success = 4-9 Damage.

        o X.
- You now have 5 X’s. Turn to Para 191.

Para 191

- Try to physically apprehend him.
- You have the Spontaneity skill.
- Word of your exploits has spread quickly and you’ve become something of a national celebrity.

[vagsancho]

Hi Champskees. I would like to thank you for posting the Bloodbones Solution (somewhere nearby). I never played that book. I do not have the book. I intend to feel it in Android. Two questions: Do you feel i will lose some of the "magic" by playing it only in Android? And is it difficult? (I do not love difficult books).

[hynreck]

I believed you posted this in the right section already, no need to spam or feel your android. Please keep such activities in private, for the love of Cthulhu.

[sztamas]

Hi all, I hope someone can help me out with this. The Afterword section of the adventure mentions that a painting referred to in the adventure ("a rather provocative painting titled The Cowboy's Dream" in section 8) is a real painting that was displayed in the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, Kansas. It also provides a URL for it for curious people to check it out (http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/HomesiteRoom/6664). Unfortunately it seems that this site has been down at least since August 2016, and try as I might, I cannot find the original picture. Is there any chance someone has it hidden somewhere? On the FF FB group it was suggested that i.pinimg.com/originals/89/11/6e/89116ec8775c1f1af0ec1650eb276d06.jpg might be the image in question, and it seems to fit, but it's still just a best guess. I would really appreciate it if someone knows the answer here for sure.

[Gaetano Abbondanza]

To Sztamas: 

Yes! The link you posted is exactly the painting that I had linked to originally. I was a little crestfallen when I saw that the original link in the Afterword was no longer working. I'm glad that there is another way to find the image of the painting. 

Gaetano Abbondanza (Author of Six-Gun Friday) 

[a moderator]

I'd rate around half of the first dozen Fantazine mini-adventures as good, one or two of the others as bad, and one as ugly. I've now covered Six-Gun Friday at my blog, and if you want to know if it brings the number of mini-adventures I like up to a magnificent seven, check out this and the following post.