Remarkably, Ruthless is just a 2-page game. That's not the quick reference sheet--it is literally the entire game. It's quite impressive how much flavor the authors jammed into those pages. The game is very much built around the poker deck. Your hand doesn't just determine initiative, your cards are also used in fisticuffs, to conduct snap shots, to auto rally lily-livered cowards, and to take special actions. Certain cards, when used for initiative, give you a bonus action or take a dirty "low blow" cheap shot in a brawl. It's all quite thematic, but there's a real element of decision making involved with your hand. Card management is key to survival. A savvy player knows how to time his reaction attempts, when to take advantage of high cards in fisticuffs, and how to save key cards for the following turn (cards not used one turn carry into the next).

Another key component of the game are the character cards. Each character in your posse has his own custom, poker-sized card. You use this card to track his health, abilities, and ammunition. Yes, rounds are crossed off as they are expended in this game, so reloading becomes a pretty valuable action! The character cards are slick and easy to use. Looking at the cards, you can see what separates Wyatt Earp from your run of the mill Joe. The legendary figures of the West have a better Toughness rating (they are less likely to duck and hide) and also have some cool special abilities. But no one in Ruthless is a superhero. A shot to the head is going to kill anyone, even the Earps.