Colt Express

Overview

Colt Express is a programmed-action game set on a train in the Old West. Players are bandits robbing the Union Pacific Express on July 11, 1899. Over 5 rounds, players simultaneously program actions by playing cards into a common deck, then execute them in order. The richest bandit at game end wins.

Components

1 locomotive and 6 train car tiles (3D cardboard construction)
6 bandit character cards and 6 bandit figures
6 decks of 10 action cards per bandit (Move, Floor Change, Fire, Punch, Rob, Marshal)
13 Round cards
17 Neutral Bullet cards
36 loot tokens (purses $250-$500, jewels $500, strongbox $1000)
1 Marshal figure
1 cactus token (first player marker)

Setup

Assemble train cars in a line with the locomotive at front.
Each player chooses a bandit and takes their 10 action cards, bandit figure, and character card.
Place loot tokens in train cars: each car gets a number of purses equal to the number of players; place jewels and the strongbox in specific cars per the rules.
Place the Marshal in the locomotive.
Shuffle the Round cards and deal 4 (or 5 for 2-3 players). Place them face down as the round pile.
Bandits start in the last cars of the train (not the locomotive).
The player who last traveled by train goes first and takes the cactus.

Turn Structure

Each round has two phases:

Phase 1: Schemin’

Reveal the top Round card, which shows the number of card plays and any special conditions (tunnel, speed, etc.).
Starting from the first player and going clockwise, each player plays one action card face up onto a common deck (or face down during tunnel turns).
Repeat for the number of plays indicated by the Round card.
Players may play a card from their hand OR draw 3 cards from their personal draw pile instead of playing.

Phase 2: Stealin’

Flip the common deck over and resolve cards one by one from bottom to top.
Each card’s action is executed by the owning bandit, based on current positions (which may have changed since the card was played).

Round End

Played cards go to each player’s discard pile.
Players draw their hand back up to 6 cards from their personal draw pile.
Pass the cactus (first player marker) clockwise.

Actions

Action	Effect
Move	Move your bandit 1-3 cars in either direction (inside the train)
Floor Change	Move between the roof and inside of the current car
Fire	Shoot a visible bandit in an adjacent car (or anywhere on the roof); target receives a bullet card in their deck
Punch	Punch a bandit in the same car; target drops a loot token and moves 1 car in the puncher’s choice of direction
Rob	Pick up one loot token in your current location
Marshal	Move the Marshal 1 car; any bandit in the Marshal’s car flees to the roof and receives a Neutral Bullet card

Scoring / Victory Conditions

After 5 rounds, count loot:

Purses: $250 or $500
Jewels: $500
Strongbox: $1000

Gunslinger bonus: The player who shot the most bullets (played the most Fire cards) receives a $1000 bonus.

The richest bandit wins. Ties broken by bullets fired (most wins).

Special Rules & Edge Cases

Bullet cards clog your deck. When drawn, they have no effect and waste a card play.
Tunnel turns: Cards are played face down; you don’t know what others are planning.
Roof movement: When moving on the roof, you may move any number of cars (not limited to 3).
Shooting on roof vs. inside: On the roof, you can shoot any bandit visible on the roof. Inside, you can only shoot into adjacent cars.
Marshal: The Marshal is not a player. He moves when a Marshal card is resolved. Bandits flee the Marshal.
Each bandit has a unique special ability printed on their character card.
If a bandit has no loot when punched, no loot is dropped but the bandit still moves.
Drawing 3 cards instead of playing counts as your action for that play.

Player Reference

Loot Type	Value
Small purse	$250
Large purse	$500
Jewel	$500
Strongbox	$1000
Gunslinger bonus	$1000

Round Structure
1. Schemin’ - Play cards to common deck
2. Stealin’ - Resolve cards in order
3. Draw up to 6, pass first player