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Deadlands: Doomtown
1998
Rules assistance for Deadlands: Doomtown
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 3.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Deadlands: Doomtown
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Deadlands: Doomtown is a board game released in 1998 for 2–6 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Dave Williams (II) and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Modular Board.
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About the game
One of the more unusual collectible card games on the market, Doomtown has players taking the part of gangs, called 'outfits,' trying to gain control of the California boomtown known as Gomorrah, in the same Weird West setting as the popular Deadlands RPG. A player wins at the end of a turn if he or she has more victory points + control points than any other player. Doomtown is set apart from other games in CCG market by its unique poker-based combat resolution, as well as by the way in which the town is built up through the game by the use of Deed cards. Outfits range from the good-guy Law Dogs to the mysterious Sioux Union to the nefarious Whateley clan. A turn is played out over one "day". In the gambling phase players play a hand of "Lowball" ( Unlike other Doomtown poker hands, the lowest hand wins.), to determine who will go first for the rest of the turn. Next in the upkeep phase, income is collected and upkeep for Dudes from another outfit are paid for. The next phase is "High Noon", during this phase, shopping and trading, moving, acting and calling out (all specific actions related to the game play) are taken. Finally, there is the Nightfall phase, during this phase, the events of the day are discarded, players hands are replenished and cards are returned to their "ready" state.
Designers
Publishers
- Wizards of the Coast
- Alderac Entertainment Group
- Five Rings Publishing Group
- Pinnacle Entertainment Group
Questions and answers
Deadlands: Doomtown supports 2–6 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 Deadlands: Doomtown is 45 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 Deadlands: Doomtown 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.
Deadlands: Doomtown has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Deadlands: Doomtown belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Fighting. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Modular Board. 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 Deadlands: Doomtown are: Dave Williams (II). 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 Deadlands: Doomtown 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.