Card Explanations: Life Point Modifiers (Beer, Whisky, Saloon, Tequila, Canteen)

Beer

Italian Name: Birra.

Symbology:

Translation: Regain 1 life point (up to your maximum life point limit).

Playable: On your turn during phase 2 OR when about to lose your last life point. While this card can still be played when only 2 players remain, it has no effect.

Suit and Value: 6♥, 7♥, 8♥, 9♥, 10♥, J♥ (BANG!), 6♠ (explodes on Dynamite), 6♥ (Dodge City!).

Card color: Brown.

Card family: Life Point Modifier cards.

Included in: BANG!, Dodge City.

Characters greatly enhanced by playing this card: In general 3 life point characters benefit from life point modifiers like Beer more than others to stay alive and maintain their maximal card limit (Paul Regret, Pixie Pete, Vera Custer, Apache Kid), El Gringo (Allows him to steal cards from other players more when they are responsible for making him lose a life point), Bart Cassidy (Allows him to draw more cards from hits), Suzy Lafayette (does not stop her from chain-drawing, a last chance Beer allows her to draw another card if it is the only card in her hand), Tequila Joe (playing a Beer makes him regain 2 life points), Bill Noface (Crucial for adjusting his life points in relation to the amount of cards he draws during phase 1), Sean Mallory (He can easily store Beer in his hand to use as a last chance Beer, making it very difficult to steal/discard the Beer from him), Chuck Wengam (Allows him to regain life points, which he expends to draw more cards), Molly Stark (Last chance Beers played out of turn allow her to draw another card), Big Spencer (unable to play Missed!, obtaining and using life point modifiers is crucial), and Lee Van Kliff (The effect of Beer can be replicated by discarding a BANG!).

Characters less enhanced by playing this card: Sid Ketchum (since any 2 cards may be discarded to regain a life point, Beer has less use; however, Sid Ketchum may still discard Beer with another card to regain a life point once 2 players remain), Teren Kill (he cannot use a last chance Beer if he wants his ability to have effect).

Commentary: Life point modifiers are crucial for surviving as a BANG! Player. They not only keep you alive, but they also allow you to maintain a larger hand out of turn. You card limit, the amount of cards you can keep in your hand out of turn, is determined by the amount of life points you have. You tend to need cards in your hand out of turn to keep you from taking hits (BANG! and Missed! being the most important to have in hand to protect from bang type cards and Indians!/Duel). Of life point modifiers, Beer has a benefit and a detriment that the others do not have. First, Beer made be played in a “last chance” sense. Whenever a player is placed in a situation where he loses his last life point, he may play a Beer to regain 1 life point. This may be done in or out of turn. It is possible to lose a life point on your turn via event cards, Dynamite, or a Duel. The “last chance” Beer does not guarantee survival. In the case of exploding Dynamite, the affected player loses 3 life points no matter what. Thus, if he had 1 life point at the time the Dynamite exploded, he loses 3 life points (now at -2), and the “last chance” Beer would only restore 1 life point (adjusting his life points to -1). The player is still dead. However, if the player had 3 life points at the time of explosion, the “last chance” Beer would restore 1 life point, placing him at 1 life point (3-3+1=1). Beer can also be played even if it has no effect, such as when a player is already at his max health. This is useful for Suzy Lafayette, who can play it even at max health to keep chain-drawing. The downside to Beer is that it has no effect once 2 players are in play. Nonetheless, it can still be played with no effect, which is helpful for dealing with event cards like Miss Susanna. And at 2-player it is still useful for players that can play/discard cards for additional effects (Doc Holyday for BANG!, Sid Ketchum for 1 life point, and Uncle Will for General Store).

Whisky

Symbology:

Translation: Play this card and discard another card to regain 2 life points.

Playable: During phase 2 of your turn only.

Suit and Value: Q♥.

Card color: Brown.

Included in: Dodge City.

Characters greatly enhanced by playing this card: In general 3 life point characters benefit from life point modifiers like Whisky more than others to stay alive and maintain their maximal card limit (Paul Regret, Pixie Pete, Vera Custer, Apache Kid; although admittedly the need to expend 2 cards to regain the 2 life points can leave 3 life point characters open), El Gringo (Allows him to steal cards from other players more when they are responsible for making him lose a life point), Bart Cassidy (Allows him to draw more cards from hits), Bill Noface (Helpful for adjusting his life points in relation to the amount of cards he draws during phase 1), Sean Mallory (He can easily store Whisky in his hand to use at an opportune moment, as well as discard a card likely less crucial to his strategy), Chuck Wengam (Allows him to regain life points, which he expends to draw more cards), Big Spencer (unable to play Missed!, obtaining and using life point modifiers is crucial), and Lee Van Kliff (The effect of Whisky can be replicated by discarding a BANG!; he does not have to discard another card to replicate the effect).

Special Consideration for Suzy Lafayette: While drawing Whisky while chain-drawing ends the chain (a negative), having Whisky in your hand before chain-drawing can help initiate the chain by discarding a card getting in the way (such as Missed!/Draw, an unplayable BANG!; a positive).

Commentary: The purpose of life point modifiers was discussed with Beer. Whisky allows a player to regain 2 life points during his turn, versus the 1 regained through Beer. Another card must be discarded for Whisky to be played, so you will want to discard a card not crucial to your defensive/offensive strategy if possible. You will also have to be careful with event cards that require you play a certain number of cards on your turn since the discarded card is not considered to have been played. Besides this, since you can only gain life points up to your max health, Whisky is only fully effective when you are missing at least 2 life points. While Whisky cannot be played in a “last chance” sense like Beer, playing it still has effect while 2 players remain in play only.

Tequila

Symbology:

Translation: Play this card and discard another card to select any player who will immediately regain 1 life point.

Playable: On your turn, during phase 2, only.

Suit and Value: 9♣.

Card color: Brown.

Included in: Dodge City.

Characters greatly enhanced by playing this card: Bart Cassidy (Allows him to draw more cards from hits), Bill Noface (Helpful for adjusting his life points in relation to the amount of cards he draws during phase 1), Sean Mallory (He can easily store Tequila in his hand to use at an opportune moment, as well as discard a card likely less crucial to his strategy), Chuck Wengam (Allows him to regain life points, which he expends to draw more cards; but since he must expend another card to play Tequila, this is of marginal benefit), Big Spencer (unable to play Missed!, obtaining and using life point modifiers is crucial), and Lee Van Kliff (The effect of Tequila can be replicated by discarding a BANG!; he does not have to discard another card to replicate the effect. NOTE: the target of the replicated effect does not need to be same, so he could regain a life point and then grant a life point to an ally).

Special Consideration for Suzy Lafayette: While drawing Tequila while chain-drawing ends the chain (a negative), having Tequila in your hand before chain-drawing can help initiate the chain by discarding a card getting in the way (such as Missed!/Draw, an unplayable BANG!; a positive).

Characters less enhanced by playing (and then using) this card: In general 3 life point characters benefit from life point modifiers more than others to stay alive and maintain their maximal card limit, but since Tequila requires expending 2 cards to regain 1 life point, it is rarely worth it for them (Paul Regret, Pixie Pete, Vera Custer, Apache Kid, El Gringo), Sid Ketchum (since any 2 cards may be discarded to regain a life point, Tequila has no especial use when he needs to regain his own health; however, Sid Ketchum may still play Tequila to help another player regain a life point)

Characters enhanced by others playing this card: All the above characters in the enhanced by playing section are likewise enhanced when others play this card on them, and the 3 life point characters listed above in the less enhanced by playing section are enhanced when other players play this card on them since their own cards are not expended to get the benefit.

Commentary: The purpose of life point modifiers was discussed with Beer. Tequila allows a player to select any player to regain 1 life point. Thus, while Tequila might be used to regain a player’s own health, it also has a significant supportive function. In other words, you can play Tequila to increase the life points of an ally to help you achieve your goal. As with Whisky, another card must be discarded for Tequila to be played, so you will want to discard a card not crucial to your defensive/offensive strategy if possible. You will also have to be careful with event cards that require you play a certain number of cards on your turn since the discarded card is not considered to have been played. While Tequila cannot be played in a “last chance” sense like Beer, playing it still has effect while 2 players remain in play only.

Canteen

Italian Name: Borraccia.

Symbology:

Translation: Regain 1 life point, but since this a green card it means “Play this card, and on your subsequent turn, you may use this card to regain 1 life point.”

Playable: On your turn, during phase 2, only.

Usable: Your next turn after you played it, during phase 2, only.

Suit and Value: 7♥.

Card color: Green.

Included in: Dodge City.

Characters greatly enhanced by playing (and then using) this card: In general 3 life point characters benefit from life point modifiers like Canteen more than others to stay alive and maintain their maximal card limit, and Canteen beneficially once played does not take up space in the 3 life point characters’ hands (Paul Regret, Pixie Pete, Vera Custer, Apache Kid), El Gringo (Allows him to steal cards from other players more when they are responsible for making him lose a life point), Bart Cassidy (Allows him to draw more cards from hits), Suzy Lafayette (does not stop her from chain-drawing), Bill Noface (Crucial for adjusting his life points in relation to the amount of cards he draws during phase 1), Chuck Wengam (Allows him to regain life points, which he expends to draw more cards), and Big Spencer (unable to play Missed!, obtaining and using life point modifiers is crucial).

Characters less enhanced by playing (and then using) this card: Sid Ketchum (since any 2 cards may be discarded to regain a life point, Canteen has less use; however, since Canteen can be played in front of Sid Ketchum, it can be stored up for later use to be used in a “last chance” sense).

Characters enhanced by others playing this card: Pat Brennan (Easy card for him to steal from other players to use).

Commentary: The purpose of life point modifiers was discussed with Beer. Canteen is like Beer in providing its user with an additional life point, but it must be played during 1 turn, and then may be used during the player’s subsequent turns. Despite the wait, Canteen conveniently no longer takes any room in your hand as it is in play. However, it is also easier to steal/discard because of its being in plain sight. Unlike Beer, it cannot be used in a “last chance” sense. However, using it still has effect while 2 players remain in play only.

Saloon

Symbology:

Translation: All other players regain 1 life point, and you also regain 1 life point.

Playable: On your turn, during phase 2, only.

Suit and Value: 5♥.

Card Color: Brown.

Included in: BANG!.

Characters greatly enhanced by playing this card: In general 3 life point characters benefit from life point modifiers like Saloon more than others to stay alive and maintain their maximal card limit, but Saloon must be tactfully used while considering how it impacts other players’ life points (Paul Regret, Pixie Pete, Vera Custer, Apache Kid), El Gringo (Allows him to steal cards from other players more when they are responsible for making him lose a life point), Bart Cassidy (Allows him to draw more cards from hits), Suzy Lafayette (does not stop her from chain-drawing), Bill Noface (Crucial for adjusting his life points in relation to the amount of cards he draws during phase 1), Chuck Wengam (Allows him to regain life points, which he expends to draw more cards), and Big Spencer (unable to play Missed!, obtaining and using life point modifiers is crucial).

Characters less enhanced by this card: Sid Ketchum (since any 2 cards may be discarded to regain a life point, Saloon has less value; however, Sid Ketchum may still play Saloon to help other players regain a life point).

Characters enhanced by others playing this card: All the above characters in the enhanced by playing section are likewise enhanced when others play this card.

Commentary: The purpose of life point modifiers was discussed with Beer. Saloon makes all players (yourself, rivals, and allies) regain 1 life point. Due to its application on all players, you should consider when the most opportune time to play Saloon is. Often you will want to play it when you and/or your allies have missing life points while your rivals on the whole are either at max health. Since no life point modifier can give others life points above their max health, Saloon will be of little use to them. Unlike Beer, Saloon cannot be used in a “last chance” sense. However, using it still has effect while 2 players remain in play only.

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