Way out West

Doc Faraday
Welcome to Way out West.
It is the spring of 1884. America’s west coast is slowly being
populated with small towns full of settlers who come to
prospect for precious metals, set up ranches and run dubious
saloons—and now the railroad is coming!
Cactus Gulch is one such small town. Founded twenty years
ago, tonight it has a festive air as the townsfolk get set to start
their 20th anniversary celebrations. However, all is not running
smoothly. Land disputes, disreputable card games, strange folk
from out of town, and quarrels with the Indians all add to a
tense atmosphere.
Join us in the Silver Dollar Saloon as celebrations begin, and
find out how the evening unfolds…
 Doc Faraday—Gambler
You are Doc Faraday, and you have been in Cactus Gulch for some
ten years now. You run a dubious medical practice but make most of
your money by taking Friday night pay from ranch hands in card
games.
A week ago Friday, you and Zeke Calhoun, wealthy prospector and
landowner, got into a late-night card game that went a little too far.
Encouraged by the presence of the ladies, Kalamata Kate and Blaise
Sadler, you and Zeke kept raising the stakes until the old-timer
actually bet you his valuable property Fat Bull Range! As luck
would have it, you were using your marked deck of cards—and
surprise, surprise, you won!
Of course, it ended in a fistfight, and the table and the cards went
everywhere. Which is a pity because you suspect that that old witch
Blaise has pocketed some evidence—three of your special marked
cards are missing.
Anyway, the whole affair has ended up with Judge Paulson. He will
make a judgment about who owns Fat Bull Range tonight. Well, you
wouldn’t normally have held out much hope. You are known for
being ‘creative’ with card games, and Zeke is much loved. Kalamata
Kate has been telling everyone you cheated, although Blaise claims
not to remember anything.
But then you were visited by Clem Parham, the representative of
Mid West Rail, who wants Fat Bull Range to complete the land
needed to bring the railroad here to Cactus Gulch. It seems that
Zeke was about to sell his land to Mel Easton of South West Rail
because they promised to divert around the Indian burial ground.
Clem was accompanied by a character named Slick O’Hare—but
you’ve done a bit of research into Clem and found out that this
regular henchman is actually Saul Jackson, a notorious thug.
Should Judge Paulson find in your favor, Clem wants to buy the
land from you. Clem seems to be your kind of business partner, so
you’re inclined to agree. However, Mel Easton of SWR has also
been to see you, so you must pretend to negotiate with SWR to
avoid suspicion. You don’t want to settle for less than $22,000,
because you need that sum to settle your gambling debts with some
rather nasty people back East.
So, all good fun and very interesting. You’re not sure whether Blaise
has your cards, so you need to be nice to her. You’ve always been
fond of her, but thought she had a thing for Zeke: you’re surprised
she isn’t helping him more.
Now you’re in the Silver Dollar Saloon, trying to get a drink. But it
looks like the Bartender is climbing onto the bar and is about to
make an announcement…

Zeke’s death
You are surprised and a little alarmed at Zeke’s death. While you
rarely saw eye to eye with Zeke, killing him seems a little extreme.
You wonder who might have done it, and why?

Your goals
▪ Make as much money as you can: You want to get at least
$22,000 for the land, plus any extra would be nice. Otherwise, the
people you owe money to will surely catch up with you…
▪ Your cheating: Make sure Judge Paulson doesn’t have any proof
of your cheating.
▪ Your cards: Talk to Blaise and find out if she has your marked
cards—if she has, do what it takes to ensure she doesn’t give
them to the judge.
▪ The judgment: Do what you can to ensure the judgment goes in
your favor.
Other people
Mel Easton: Negotiator for SWR. Very ethical and above-board
person, and keen to see the Indian burial grounds saved. String
Easton along all you like, but let SWR know your minimum asking
price is $22,000.
Elijah Entwhistle: This enigmatic traveling preacher arrived in
town a few weeks ago, preaching damnation and hellfire for sinners.
He makes you uncomfortable (but makes everyone else feel like that
too!) Strangely, he seems vaguely familiar—why is that?
Etta Johnson: Several years ago, Etta Johnson’s fiancé, Mortimer
Sneed, was trampled to death in a barn by some cattle. That was
shortly after Blaise Sadler tried to steal him away from Etta…
Frederick Lloyd: You’ve been playing poker with the wealthy
British investor, Frederick Lloyd. You know two things about him:
one, he’s got a mind for the slippery deal as good as (if not better
than) yours; two, he’s not who he says he is. You don’t know where
his accent comes from, but it ain’t from over the ocean, anyways.
Slick O’Hare: Apparently his real name is Saul Jackson, and he’s
Clem’s sidekick. Clem brought in Slick in case the going gets rough.
Slick seems dangerous—another reason to be wary of Clem.
Clem Parham: You wouldn’t trust Clem further than you could
throw a trussed steer! If Clem can help you get your hands on a
heap of cash, then all well and good—but watch your back.
Blaise Sadler: You are fond of Blaise. Could you and she head out
together when all this is done? At the moment, though, she could
ruin your plans if she has your marked cards. Maybe you can use
your wolfish charm to win her over.

Suggested firs moves

▪ Find out if Blaise has your marked cards and if so, use all your
charm to persuade her not to reveal them to others.
▪ Let Clem Parham and Mel Easton know what your minimum
demands are and work on the best deal you can get.
 Abilities
You have three abilities. Each ability explains how often it may be
used—check a circle each time you use it. Once they are all
checked, you may no longer use that ability.

S ucc ess!
You can make a failed or tied rock-paper-
Abi li ty

scissors challenge succeed. It need not be a

challenge you are involved in.
Three uses: O O O.

Y ou’ve r evealed m or e th an y ou intend ed

Abi li ty

Another player has revealed more than they

intended and must reveal their Secret to you.
Three uses: O O O

P ick pock et
Tell the Bartender which item you want to
pickpocket from another player. If that
Abi li ty

player does not have what you seek, the

Bartender will take something else at
random.
Three uses: O O O
 Secret and Clue
Your Secret contains your guilty secret, while your Clue contains
one or more items of information you know. Both may be affected
by abilities.
While you can show your Secret and Clue to whomever you like,
you will probably not want to reveal your Secret too often.
(You can’t solve the mystery by looking at everyone’s Secret and
Clue—it’s not that easy!)

You used marked cards to

S ecr et

win Fat Bull Range away

from Zeke.

You are keen to get

Clue

$22,000 for Fat Bull Range.

 Rules for Way out West
The Bartender’s Word is Law: The Bartender is impartial. If you
have a problem or want to do something unusual, see the Bartender.
The Bartender’s power is absolute—and cannot be affected by
abilities!
Winning and Losing: You can achieve most of your goals simply by
talking to people. The Bartender will announce when the game is
over. If you haven’t succeeded by that point—you’re too late! Be
warned—not everyone here will want you to succeed!
Doing Stuff: Ordinary actions are resolved by carrying them out—
but see the Bartender to try something unusual. The Bartender will
tell you the outcome of whatever you are trying to do.
Fighting: 1884 was a rough, tough time in Cactus Gulch! Your
character may wish to come to blows with, or shoot another
character. Please see the Bartender before fighting another
character.
Leaving the town: Cactus Gulch is in the middle of nowhere and
the surrounding territories can be hostile. You are advised not to
leave town during the course of the evening.
Item Cards: Items of importance within the game are represented
as item cards—and the only items that can affect the game are those
detailed on the cards. If you do not have an item card, you do not
have that item with you.
Time: Way out West is played over three hours, with extra time for
reading your character etc. There will be breaks to get drinks and
food! The Bartender will keep track of the time for you.
Money: Your character may start with money. Use this as you would
“real” money—to pay for goods, services, bribes and blackmail…
Dying: There is no guarantee that your character will survive Way
out West. You may have enemies, and those enemies may try to kill
you. However, nobody can die until the judgment has been made.
Until that point, you are safe. After that? That’s up to you…
 Way out West—Cast List
L oc als
▪ Maxwell Jebediah Adams: Town drunkard and ne’er-do-well
▪ Minnie May Adams: Former Sunday School teacher
▪ Robert Barnaby: Young legal clerk
▪ Ol’ Barr: Reclusive fur trapper and Indian friend
▪ Able Blane: The town’s reliable sheriff
▪ Lucy Calhoun: Zeke Calhoun’s daughter, a tomboy
▪ Dan Fairweather: Honest deputy sheriff
▪ Doc Faraday: Notorious gambler
▪ Widder James: Grande Dame of the ladies in Cactus Gulch
▪ Etta Johnson: Local schoolmarm
▪ Kalamata Kate: Young waitress
▪ John Paulson: Town’s much-revered judge
▪ Blaise Sadler: Aging saloonkeeper
Nati ves
▪ Three Feathers: Revered Indian shaman
▪ Runs Like a Deer: Indian woman
O ut- of- tow ner s
▪ Mel Easton: South West Rail rep
▪ Elijah Entwhistle: Traveling preacher
▪ Soon Li: Chinese migrant worker
▪ Frederick Lloyd: Wealthy English mining investor
▪ Marco the Mesmerizing: Traveling stage magician
▪ Christy Martin: Storekeeper from out of town
▪ Slick O’Hare: Scruffy ranch hand for hire
▪ Clem Parham: Mid West Rail rep
▪ Ruby Sapphire: Flame-haired singer

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