
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,642
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Cowboys: The Way of the Gun
- 2–10 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2007

2020
Rules assistance for Cowboys II: Cowboys & Indians Edition
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cowboys II: Cowboys & Indians Edition is a board game released in 2020 for 1–10 players, 30–90 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Grant Wylie, Mike Wylie, Matt Burchfield, and Kevin Wylie and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Dice Rolling, and Variable Set-up.
In 2007 we published COWBOYS. It was a very popular title and sold out. Now in 2020 we are Kickstarting COWBOYS II - Cowboys and Indians Edition, in all its 6 shooter glory. Cowboys II is a NEW game based on our original Cowboys game. This is an all new game with more Cowboys AND Indians ! COWBOYS II has larger reconfigured 11 x 11 mounted boards, new game boards, SOLITAIRE rules, a wagonload of new episodes, new player mats, new characters, a role playing system (play one character through any number of scenarios). New to the Cowboys game system are Indians. They are numerous and are very skilled at hidden movement. The game has some great episodes with attacks on settlements, outposts, etc. Some episodes with Indians include: Battle of Adobe Walls Circle the Wagons Yellowstone Stagecoach Players take control of between 1 to 10 characters, maneuvering them across the boards trying to complete the objectives for the scenarios. Sometimes its escaping, sometimes it’s finishing off all the other Cowboys, it varies by scenario. The new chit draw mechanic means no two turns or games will ever play the same. The game is playable by 1 to 10 players depending on the episode being played. With a wagonload of scenarios, plus easy design it yourself episodes possible, the action is never ending. —description from the publisher
Cowboys II: Cowboys & Indians Edition supports 1–10 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Cowboys II: Cowboys & Indians Edition is 30–90 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 Cowboys II: Cowboys & Indians Edition for ages 10 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.
Cowboys II: Cowboys & Indians Edition has a complexity rating of 1.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Cowboys II: Cowboys & Indians Edition belongs to these categories: Wargame, Adventure, and American West. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Dice Rolling, and Variable Set-up. 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 Cowboys II: Cowboys & Indians Edition are: Grant Wylie, Mike Wylie, Matt Burchfield, and Kevin Wylie. 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 Cowboys II: Cowboys & Indians Edition as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.