 Cardback to the original Deadlands card game. | |
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| Players | 2–6 |
| Playing time | Approx 45 min |
| Chance | Some |
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Doomtown (originally Deadlands: Doomtown, later rereleased as Deadlands: Reloaded) is an expandable card game based on the Deadlands role-playing game. It was originally a collectible card game (Deadlands: Doomtown) that ran from 1998 through 2001, published by Wizards of the Coast (WotC) under license to Pinnacle Entertainment Group until January 2000, when WotC quit production and the license transferred to Alderac Entertainment Group; its last expansion for many years was Do unto Others from 2001. In 2014 the game was revived (as Deadlands: Reloaded) with updated rules and sold in non-randomized expansions.
During the game, each player builds locations in the town and fights for overall control. Doomtown sets itself apart from other card games in that each card doubles as a playing card, which impacts both deck building and gameplay. Players resolve certain in-game situations (such as combat) with a hand of poker, accentuating the Old West atmosphere of the game. The game's movement rules are also noteworthy, often being compared to chess.[not verified in body]
Doomtown is also a heavily story-driven game, with many tie-ins to the events of Deadlands at-large. In both its iterations, players are given opportunities to affect the story line, such as through tournaments where players vote on characters getting to live or die.[not verified in body]