on the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Got introduced to this addictive card game "Bang!" during the church camp. It's set during the period of western cowboys in the 19th century. For those who played "Murderer" or "Polar Bear" before, they should have no problem picking up this game.

The Good:

1) Up to 7 players can play this game. There are lotsa character cards, with interesting names (like "Willy the Kid", "Suzie Lafette", "Rose Doulan" and "Slab the Killer") with unique powers.

2) It's a good party game as people get to interact and talk to one another. Also brings out the inner psyche and personality of people as they get into character. I've been deemed as a permanent psychotic player who only watches out for his own interests by my friends only playing a few games... :D

The Bad:

3) Conversely, when people don't know the rules that well, it can become quite a long game. Also, you can have funny things happening inside when you don;t know your rules. For examples, I managed to send the Sheriff into his own jail TWICE, before we discovered that was not allowed by the rules. Sure is funny (for me) when I sent my friend (who's playing the character) into jail... TWICE.

4) Also, this is a game which strains friendships and familial bonds. I kid you not, as we played the game, we saw good friends turn on each other, husband and wife scheming against each other*. man, you won't believe the amount of politicking that went on as the game progresses...

The Ugly:

Things you can do to irk your friends during the playing of this game -

5) Hum or whistle the main theme from "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" every 2-3 round in the game.

6) Gloat when you successfully shot someone, like making the sound from the Casio handheld game "Western Bar", when the villian loses a life in the shoot-out.

See http://www.handheld.remakes.org/online/westernbar.htm

7) Play out of character ie the Vice-deputy starts taking pot shots at the Sheriff, or the Renegade pretends to be a Vice-Deputy.

8) Spout quotes from "The Good, the Bd and the Ugly" every turn.

For quotes, see  http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Good%2C_the_Bad_and_the_Ugly

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For more about the game, see

http://www.rainydaygames.ca/Product.asp?Product=MFG4701

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/3955

3rd pic taken from http://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/43708

*of course, we also have husband and wife team playing as a single character together.