Gunslinger: Bret Beauville
A coward by nature, Bret hides behind
his hostages to get what he wants
Illustration by Steven Lambert
Bret is kind of a jerk.
Recently featured in the wonderful Ashford Arnold’s Authentic Tales of the West, Bret is a threat not to be underestimated. Steven’s illustration reveals an intimidating man with dual pistols in a black duster with a wide brim hat and dark eyes. Standing in a pose that is both aggressive and shifty, it is easy to see Bret standing behind some poor bystander as he barters their life for his greed. This Cajun menace further stands out in orange, while the gaze of those soulless eyes captivates and slows your reactions.
When playing Life Out West, you have choices on the style and strategy you want to play. Do you want to constantly beat on the leader? Have a specific rival that must lose at all costs (like those no-good dirty cheats from Dodge City!)? Or maybe you like to deal out chaos fairly amongst opponents. No matter the strategy, there are Outlaws designed to suit your needs.
But if all you care about is winning, and winning at all costs, Bret Beauville is your perfect choice. Instead of taking your chances in what Card you get from a Raid, Bret calls for what he wants and gets it. Even better, if the Rancher doesn’t have what he wants in their hand, Bret just steals it from the Homestead. Like a jerk. This combination of moving up while setting someone back is the annoying small cut strategy of a winner. Pair Bret with the right Building such as a Counterfeit Shack (play an extra Resource), Smokehouse (all Buildings cost 1 less Cattle), or Grain Silo (Farmers can play a second Wheat); and you have a nice little strategy for success.
In Life Out West, Shootouts are always fun. But getting exactly what you need from a Shootout, well that is even better! Keep an eye out for Bret the next time you play and remind your opponents that one way or another, you’ll get what you want.
Card: Outlaw
Ability: After a successful Shootout pick a card from the Lawman’s Homestead. They must give you the same card from their hand; if they cannot, take it from the Homestead and place it in your hand.