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- BGG #7,432
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- 6.5
Pentaquark
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- 2016
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Rules assistance for Circle the Wagons: Lone Cowboy (for Second Shot)
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1 player
- 15 min
- 8+
Rules assistant for Circle the Wagons: Lone Cowboy (for Second Shot)
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Circle the Wagons: Lone Cowboy (for Second Shot) is an expansion for Circle the Wagons: Second Shot released in 2025 for 1 player, 15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Mike Mullins and its main mechanics are Solo / Solitaire Game.
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About the game
Put your skills to the test against a wily opponent in the solo expansion for Circle the Wagons. Lone Cowboy is a series of solo expansions for Circle the Wagons and Second Shot. Each set introduces new scenario cards. These tell the player which scoring conditions to use in the game as well as adding specific rules to determine the behavior of the non-human opponent. The solo game is played over two rounds but otherwise follows standard gameplay. To setup a game using any of the Lone Cowboy sets, choose 1 scenario card and place it in the center. Find the two scoring conditions listed on the scenario and add them to the center. Deal out 8 cards in a circle. The player drafts and places cards on their turn as normal, with any skipped cards going to the opponent’s pile. The opponent follows specific drafting criteria to determine which card they take. Skipped cards go to the player as normal. Once all 8 cards have been taken, deal the remaining 8 cards in a circle and repeat the process. After all 16 cards are gone, the opponent scores based on the scenario card as well as for the three most common territories in their pile. The player scores their town as normal. If the player’s score is higher, they win!
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Button Shy
Questions and answers
Circle the Wagons: Lone Cowboy (for Second Shot) supports 1 player according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Circle the Wagons: Lone Cowboy (for Second Shot) is 15 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Circle the Wagons: Lone Cowboy (for Second Shot) for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Circle the Wagons: Lone Cowboy (for Second Shot) belongs to these categories: Card Game, Print & Play, and American West. Its main mechanics are Solo / Solitaire Game. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Circle the Wagons: Lone Cowboy (for Second Shot) are: Mike Mullins. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Circle the Wagons: Lone Cowboy (for Second Shot) as an expansion for Circle the Wagons: Second Shot. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Circle the Wagons: Second Shot to use it. Check that your edition of Circle the Wagons: Second Shot is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.