Bang! facts for kids
Bang! is an exciting card game that takes you back to the Wild West! It was created by an Italian designer named Emiliano Sciarra. This game is all about cowboys, outlaws, and sheriffs. You can play it with up to eight players, especially when you add the fun expansion packs.
How to Start the Game
At the beginning of a game of Bang!, each player gets to choose a special character. You pick two random character cards and choose one. Each character has a unique ability that can help you in the game. Your character also tells you how many lives you have, usually between three and five. The sheriff always gets one extra life!
You also get a secret role. There are four different roles in the game. Only the sheriff's role is known to everyone. Your role depends on how many players are in the game:
- 4 players: One sheriff, two bandits, and one renegade.
- 5 players: One sheriff, two bandits, one vice (deputy), and one renegade.
- 6 players: One sheriff, three bandits, one vice, and one renegade.
- 7 players: One sheriff, three bandits, two vices, and one renegade.
Understanding the Roles
Each role has a different goal to win the game:
- The sheriff is the most important player. They start the game and their mission is to defeat all the bandits and renegades. If the sheriff accidentally defeats their own deputy (vice), they lose all their cards. If the sheriff is defeated, the game ends.
- The vice (or deputy) helps the sheriff. Their job is to protect the sheriff and help defeat the bandits and renegades.
- The bandit wants to defeat the sheriff. There are always at least two bandits in the game.
- The renegade has the trickiest role. They need to be the last player standing. This means they have to defeat the bandits, the vice (if there is one), and finally, the sheriff.
Playing the Game
Once everyone has chosen their character and knows their secret role, the game begins! Each player starts with a number of cards equal to their lives. So, if you have three lives, you get three cards.
At the start of your turn, you draw two new cards. There are three main types of cards in Bang!:
- Brown cards: These cards can be played right away. They usually have immediate effects.
- Blue cards: You place these cards in front of you on the table. They stay in play and give you special abilities or items.
- Green cards: Like blue cards, you place these on the table. However, you have to wait for one full round of play before you can use their effect.
