Chapter 3 - Austin Shooting Contest Fast Draw Event

[jemmus]

This event will take more player interaction and posting time, so giving it its own thread to progress on its own. Important note: After rolling the NPCs’ matchups and seeing how they worked out, I made two revisions to the rules.
-Contestants fire three times, rather than five. (Actually stating five was a typing error, I meant three).
-Scoring is revised to this:
Faster bullseye – 6 points
Faster hit on target – 4 points
Slower bullseye - 2 points
Slower hit on target – 1 points
Missed the Target – 0 points
Fired before Signal to Fire – negative 3 points.

The judge calls out, “Last event, Fast Draw. We have six contestants, grouped into three pairs opposed to each other by a random draw of cards. We have a rules clarification to make. Contestants must shoot at the target within one second of the announcement to fire. That is, within one second of the drop of the judge’s hat. A contestant can’t wait for spinnin target to slow down, then fire. A shot taken after one full second will be judged a miss.”
This event is at Shootout Turn pace (1 second per turn), rather than the Pistols and Rifles events’ Combat Turn pace (6 seconds per turn). Actions happen in Counts, the lower the Count, the sooner in the turn. Fast draw actions are at count zero, but if they fail vs. the char’s score at the skill, a second attempt is on count 2. Or on 3, if going with a non-risky normal draw instead.
Action’s Count (p.34)
Fanned shot 1
Hip hot 2
Steady shot 3
Careful shot 6
Fast draw, successful 0
Fast draw, 2nd attempt 2
Normal draw 3
Cock a gun 1
Fire a cocked gun 1 less than normal
Movement -

“First pair of contestants: Mr. Marcus Reed and Mr. Karl Schauss. Mr. Reed, yer target is on the left. Mr. Schauss, yers of course is on the right. Please approach the firin line.” Two tall men step up and stop. Reed is a freed man, Schauss has the look of a German immigrant. The judge steps to between the two men and facing them, a yard and a half on the other side of the firing line. He takes his hat off. “You may fire when the hat drops and I say ‘draw and fire.’" He takes his hat off and holds it before him. Schauss takes the usual fast draw posture: legs bent in a crouch, right hand hovering over holstered pistol’s grip. Reed instead stands full upright, leaning slightly to the left, right hand ready to pull a cocked revolver from his waistband.

“Ready.” The hat drops. “Draw and fire!”
The two men draw their firearms, Schauss a shaved instant before Reed.
The Fast Draw actions are both Count 0. Both have Fast Draw Revolvers (Very Fast Speed, no differential modifiers). Both pistols are already cocked, so that reduces the count by 1 to -1.
Fast draw rolls: Reed 6, Schauss 2. Both succeed. Reed's Speed is 6 (his roll), Schauss's 2 (also his roll). Reed will fire first.
Both take the time to raise their pistols to eye level, take quick aim, and fire.
Steady shots – Count 3, (Coordination + Pistol skill)/2, round up).
The targets mounted on the wagon wheel don’t move.
Reed pistol roll – 11 (fails). Schauss – 12 (fails).
The judge looks over at the two other judges, who nod. “Reed, miss. 0 points. Schauss, miss. 0 points.”

The shooters replace their guns to holster or belt and draw the hammers back. The judge picks up his hat and extends his arm again. “Second shot of three. Ready.” The hat drops, “Draw and fire!”
Reed draws his weapon. But Schauss was too hasty on his draw, the grip slips his fingers and the firearm stays in the holster.
Fast Draw skill rolls – Reed 4, Schauss 20.
Schauss snatches at the grip again, and this time the pistol clears the holster.
Fast draw, 7. Per the rules, a second fast draw attempt is on Count 2.
Reed levels his arm at the target and quickly fires.
Another Steady shot. Those happen on Count 3. Rolls a 10, misses.
Schauss aims at his target, holds the aim for half a beat, and fires. The target spins away from him, the wagon wheel creaking with each full rotation.
Schauss does a Careful shot (uses his full Coordination + Pistol score, rolls a 10). Hits the Very Small target (-4 to hit) bullseye. But... Careful shots happen on the last count of the turn, Count 6. In other words, they take six counts. Schauss got his gun out on Count 2, 2+6=8. That's into the next turn and more than one second.
The judges gather and confer. The lead judge returns to his spot. “Bullseye, but took longer than a second. No score, 0 points. Reed, miss, 0 points.” There's a little murmur among the crowd. Somebody says, "How'd they know it was longer than a second?" And old cowboy observing the event from the back of his horse spits tobacco juice and says, "That fella thar got a Swiss watch in his head. It's a requirement for bein a shootin match judge.

The judge returns to his spot and picks up his hat. Reed and Schauss take sidelong glances at each other, trying to size each other up or second-guess the other contestant’s next actions. “Third of three shots. Ready.” Reed takes his upright, loose and leaning slightly left stance, Schauss his crouched and tense one. The hat drops. “Draw and fire!” Reed again draws his revolver from the waist and starts extending and raising his arm to level. Schauss again grabs at his pistol’s grip, and this time catches the barrel tip’s sight on the holster’s lip.
Fast draw: 6, 17. Schauss fails again.
He snatches at it again, and this time frees it. Reed fires-- and his target and the wheel remain stationary.
Steady shot, 13.
Schauss fires at the target this time with more haste. The shot goes very wide and the slug strikes the wagon wheel’s axle.
Steady shot: 20. Misfire, the roll on the misfire table says a miss, not a dud round.
“Reed, miss, 0 points, Schauss, miss, 0 points. Schauss ends with five points, proceeds. Reed total score 0 points. Schauss total score 0 points.”

There’s another pair of NPCs in the event, in addition to Paladin and his opponent. I’ll post the NPC pair’s contest in a second post. (With less detailed discussion of the rules).

[jemmus]

The judge calls out, The next contestants will be Seamus “Lemme” O’Phelan and “Little” Porter Wagner. Mr. O’Phelan’s target will be on the left, Mr. Wagner’s on the right. The two shooters take their positions and cock their guns. O’Phelan movements are quick, as if he has a kind of constant nervous energy. He wears his gunbelt with the holster slung down on his thigh. Wagner’s movements are more slow and relaxed, in the manner of a laid-back Texan. A cheek bulges with a chaw of tobacco. Both men are slight of build, and both wear the hats of men who don’t work with their hands. Card players, maybe.

The judge takes his position before them and gives them the same instruction about firing when the hat falls. And about shots having to be done within one second. But after what happened with Schauss, that probably isn’t necessary. The holds his hat out before him. Draw and fire!

The men quickly and smoothly pull their guns from their holsters, Wagner’s noticeably ahead of O’Phelan’s. They level their arms and pull the triggers. Wagner’s target spins away from him, the wagon giving its creak with each full rotation. The assistant judges reset its position and the lead judges says, O’Phelan, miss, 0 points. Wagner, bullseye, 6 points.
Fast draw: O’Phelan – 1, Wagner – 14. Wagner’s Speed is higher.
Pistol, Steady shots: 12, 4.

The spectators applaud. Wagner smiles and raises his hand a little to acknowledge and show his thanks. O’Phelan looks a little perturbed. Beaten both speed and accuracy. He stares at the ground before him, breathes in and out, and shakes his loose gun hand. Then gazes at his target, turning his head left and right, looking at it with first one eye then the other. The judge extends his arm and hat before him. Draw and fire!

The shooters snatch out their guns, this time O’Phelan’s a whit ahead of Wagner’s. Both level their arms and quickly fire at their targets. Again Wagner’s spins away toward O’Phelan, without any answering jerk back around the other way. The judge announces, O’Phelan, miss, 0 points. Wagner, hit on target, 4 points.
Fast draw: 9, 8.
Pistol, Steady shots: 12, 7.

The crowd applauds again, a little more lightly this time. Wagner politely raises his palm just a little and doesn’t smile, acknowledging that this one was a lesser accomplishment. O’Phelan again stares at the ground before him, takes some breaths, and shakes his gun hand. He grimly stares at the circles on his paper target as if they are an enemy, a fierce powerful almost invincible enemy that must somehow be overcome. He checks the rounds in his revolver’s chamber, and for some apparently mystical or superstition reason known only to himself, rotates it to the third round over.

The judge says, [/dialog]Third and final round.[/dialog] He again extends his arm and hat before him. Draw and fire! The two pistols come out like lightning, two arms are leveled, and two shots are fired. The reports are a hair breadth’s space apart, like one huge sound slightly separated into two. O’Phelan’s briefly spins toward him, then there’s a loud and violent sound of wood at the verge of splitting. The slowly rotates O’Phelan’s target toward Wagner, the wheel and its axle shuddering. It hits the spot where it creaks.

The judges convene to examine the targets. They discuss among themselves for a moment. The lead judge announces, O’Phelan hit on the target’s mounting board. Through its edge, not through the paper target itself. He places a finger to indicate a splintered hole going diagonally through the two-inch thick plank’s edge. O’Phelan, miss, 0 points. Wagner, first strike bullseye, 6 points.
Fast draw: 14, 16
Steady shots: 7 (-4 vs. running/galloping target (the spinning target), 4

O’Phelan, three misses, total points, 0. Wagner, Bullseye, hit, bullseye, total points 16.

The crowd applauds, and some of its more countrified elements hoot congratulatory WOOTs. O’Phelan looks glum, as if he’s doubting his ability to perform under pressure when the chips are down and it really counts. The contestants around the firing line area see “Little” Porter Wagner offer him his hand for a handshake and clap him on the shoulder. Good shootin, Lemme. Them’s the breaks this time. Ya still got that 20 dollars ya snaked from me at Faro last night? How about a rematch over cards tonight, while yer in town. Cards, not pistols! O’Phelan smiles and shakes Wagner’s hand. You’re on, Little. First bottle of whiskey is on you or me. We’ll cut the cards for it.

Gideon says, Ten ta one there’ll be another fast draw shootin contest tonight. With no judges announcin rules and droppin hats. With all kinda wild bets and sidebets goin on. Mr. Paladin, I would like to be excused from night watch duty at the camp tonight. I won’t claim any a tha railroad’s pay, ya could write me off. Er not write me off. He winks and grins.

The judge says, Mr. Paladin, Mr. Edward “Lefty” Morgan, third and final pair for the Fast Draw Event. Please step to the shooting line. Mr. Paladin for the left target, Mr. Morgan for the right.

For a PC vs. NPC match, we'll use Initiative rules. Each side rolls 1d6 before each shot. Paladin has the Tactics skill, so if his skill roll succeeds, the adds 1 to his 1d6 roll.
Each fast draw shot will be treated as a separate combat turn. So three separate initiative rolls as we go along.

[jemmus]

Paladin vs. Edward "Left" Morgan
Lefty's initiative roll for shot #1: [1d6]=1

[Grognardsw]

Paladin eyed Morgan, trying to gain a measure of the man’s capability and style.

Tactics (14) in Fast Draw Contest [1d20]=14 +1 to Initiative

Fast Draw Contest Initiative, 1st shot [1d6]=2 So 3 total.

[jemmus]

Edward "Lefty" Morgan is rather tall, quite thin, and rather stooped at the shoulders. The young man is quiet and seems to be a rather shy. He wears a fast draw pistol in a plain cowhide holster looped through and ordinary belt for holding pants up. Paladin guesses he's a ranch hand or maybe the son of a rancher.

Paladin wins Initiative, Lefty has to declare his action. He'll take a Steady shot.
Fast draw roll: [1d20]=4

[Grognardsw]

Being the first shot, Paladin took a steady aim after whipping out the pistol.

1st shot Fast Draw (14) [1d20]=9

[Grognardsw]

Paladin’s steady shot hit true.

Fast Draw Contest 1st Shot - 19 Pistol 4 (23) [1d20]=8 12 or under for Steady

[jemmus]

The two men's pistols clear their holsters in a flash, Paladin's slighty ahead of Morgan's. The first quick shots almost simultaneously. Paladin's target jolts back, then an instant later forward toward him. Morgan's bullet is just a hair outside the bullseye. Paladin's slug striking his own target first had moved Morgan's bullseye away. The judge says, Paladin, first hit bullseye, 6 points. Morgan, second hit hit on target, 1 point.

Steady [1d20]=3 (-4, running/galloping target, -4 Very Small target).

2nd shot - Morgan initiative [1d6]=5

[Grognardsw]

Paladin holstered, nodded respectfully to Morgan, looking the man in the eyes to read him.

2nd shot Tactics (14) [1d20]=10

2nd shot Initiative [1d6]=2 Lost. Will do steady shot.

2nd shot Fast Draw (14) [1d20]=15 Fail

2nd attempt fast Draw (14) [1d20]=19 Fail.

Paladin’s hand slipped on the fast draws. He reverted to a late normal draw. His flow disrupted, he fired and missed.

2nd steady shot 19 Pistol 4 (23) [1d20]=16

[jemmus]

Lefty Morgan looks at the chalk board with the current tally of points. Reed, Schauss, O'Phelan: 0 points. Little Porter Wagner: 16 points. Paladin: 6 points, with two shots left. Himself, 0 points, also two shots left. He glances over at Paladin, wondering what the older and more experienced man will do this this time. He murmurs to himself, Nah, not yet, and seems to make up his mind about something. When the hat drops he draws quick, levels his arm and fires quickly. Paladin's shot comes almost half a second after his. The judge announces, Paladin, no points. Morgan, first and only bullseye, 6 points.

Fast draw [1d20]=2
Steady shot [1d20]=6

[jemmus]

Fast draw, 3rd shot
Morgan initiative - [1d6]=1

I initially posted Morgan's action and fast draw roll as well. But realized that Paladin can end up rolling a 1 for initiative, and a tie-breaker roll could be needed. Not likely, but possible.

[Grognardsw]

Paladin shook his head at his second shot performance. He focused on the third shot.

Fast Draw Contest 3rd shot Tactics (14) [1d20]=16

3rd shot Initiative [1d6]=2

[jemmus]

Lefty will fire a steady shot.
Fast draw [1d20]=14 Succeeds.

[Grognardsw]

Paladin, realizing this is the last shot, goes for broke and comes out broken.

3rd shot Fast Draw (14) [1d20]=19 No

3rd shot Fast Draw (14) [1d20]=12 Yes

3rd shot hip (23) [1d20]=20 No

Misfire [1d20]=17

!?#^%?! dice roller

[jemmus]

Lefty Morgan steady shot [1d20]=11 Miss

[jemmus]

The judge announces, Paladin, miss, 0 points. Morgan, miss, 0 points. Final scores. Marcus Reed, no points. Karl Schauss, no points. Seamus "Lemme" O'Phelan, 0 points.
"Little" Porter Wagner, 16 points. Paladin, 6 points. Edward "Lefty" Morgan, 7 points. First prize Wagner, second prize Morgan, third prize Paladin. Good drawin and shootin, gentlemen. Prizes will be awarded in a little ceremony shortly.

Young Lefty Morgan shyly approaches Paladin and offers to shake his hand. I believe yer a better shot than me, Mr. Paladin. I was just lucky that things didn't go well for you on the second and third shots. To be honest, I was planning on goin fer broke on the third shot and taking a long, careful aim. I figured that just hittin the target at all might be worth something. But after the second shots I was ahead a little, so I played it less risky. I appreciate you shootin with me, Mr. Paladin. I bet if we shot again two times outa three you'd win.

[Grognardsw]

Paladin returned the handshake. "Not today apparently. Good shooting yourself, Mr. Morgan. Whereabouts are you from?"