The Gunslinger Chronicles
back to the basics
by Tom Cundiff

First off, always look to keeping your weapon cocked. You'd be amazed at how
   many times I have seen other people in situations where suddenly they were
   facing an opponent only to have to try to cock their weapon before firing.

   Two, don't waste time on lots of low yield shots. While you are standing around
   furiously firing, and also dangerously emptying your weapon to no effect, your
   opponent is taking his time making certain of your death with but one shot. If
   you have a rifle make certain to take advantage of the range divisor (meaning
   you HAVE to have a minimum of 4 Aim Points on your target before you fire in
   most cases). At no time take a shot with less than 4 Aim total. The game ranges
   from 0 Aim to 9 Aim maximum, so simple math suggests that a shot with 4 Aim
   time is only 40% effective maximum. This goes down quite a bit if your enemy
   has target status.

   Movement, use cover wisely. Hide behind things. BUT DON'T BECOME FIXATED
   ON STAYING IN ONE PLACE. This is especially true in a blind game. It's the
   enemy you don't see who gets you. If you stay in one place odds are someone
   will slip up behind you. This game doesn't have such niceties as the "Code of
   the West". We find someone with their back to us, we shoot. No questions
   asked, no tears shed. Also, don't go to ground without good reason. This limits
   your mobility. Being able to move is almost as important to staying alive as is
   keeping your weapon cocked. This is perhaps the second most important thing
   to keep in mind. Stay mobile.

   Pay attention to the specific actions you can execute with your action cards.
   Know them by heart if you can. Many players make mistakes like trying to play
   Card 8 Load to move a weapon from their Gun Hand Box to their Both Hands
   Box and load a round. Load means just that, Load, not "Move Your Weapon &
   Load". This is just one example. Others include things like using B2 and B3
   bonus cards to cock rifles or move them. These are but a few of the common
   mistakes made with actions in this game.

   Pay attention to the High Ground. Positions on roof tops or in windows in upper
   floors give you commanding views of large segments of the terrain you are
   fighting in. This allows someone with a rifle to "reach out and touch someone".

   If you have spare time, then load rounds into your weapons. A less than
   optimum ammunition load can be just as deadly as wasting ammunition with
   poorly aimed shots. This is not so critical with a rifle. But a pistol has only 6
   rounds, 5 if you are smart and take into consideration the possibilities of
   shooting yourself in the foot with a Wild Shot and a fully loaded & holstered
   pistol. Remember, keep your hammer on an empty chamber if your pistol is
   holstered (Uncock it).

   If your character is wounded, continue to make attempts to play actions. Many
   players just give up and stop sending turns. You may be badly wounded, but
   wounded animals should be shot not to put them out of their misery, but
   because they are dangerous. The same goes for gunfighters. Thus, take
   advantage of the fact that you aren't quite dead YET!