GM: Ok, the outlaws have you pinned down by gunfire. You're safe now, but they're sure to move to flank you. What do you do?

Amalan: Well, I think it's about time I try out this Winchester Rifle. I make sure it's loaded, cocked, and ready to fire while I have cover.Then I pop up and take aim at one of the bandits. I'll duck back behind cover before I shoot again.

GM: You do realize that you have no cliché that covers gunfire?

Amalan: Yes. But it's the offensive move I make at this moment.

GM: Ok, then we'll invoke the rules for "When Somebody Can't Participate". The Outlaws will fire back at you as you emerge from cover. Roll two dice.

Amalan: Two dice, eh? I'll use a Lucky Shot and make it 3. (rolls...) 11.

GM: (Rolls 17 on 6 dice for the Outlaws, 4 from their cliché plus 2 for "When Somebody Can't Participate"). Not good enough. You lose one die from the two dice given to you for the "When Somebody Can't Participate" rule. How does it happen?

Amalan: I stand up, take a shot, and miss completely. I go to fire another shot and realize that I need to cock the gun. Just then, I get hit in my left arm and fall back to the ground. Fortunately, it just grazed me.

GM: It's the Outlaws' turn. Sure enough, their going to send a group of three to flank you on your left while covering them with gunfire. If you happen to popup, they'll certainly try to shoot you. What do you do?

Amalan: I have to try something, but I'm running out of dice with this rifle. I'm going to take a deep breath, concentrate on the mystic forces of the universe, and emerge from cover with my sword drawn. I'll advance toward the flanking party and try to deflect any bullets using my sword and my Warrior-Judge of Iconic Mars cliché.

GM: Is this a purely defensive maneuver?

Amalan: No, if I win the round I'd like to have the jump on the advancing outlaws. Is that reasonable?

GM: Yes. Roll 'em.

Amalan: (Rolls 3d8). Hmm, 13. Hmm, I hope that's good enough.

GM: (Rolls 13 on 4d6). Just. Entering a Zen-like trance, you emerge from cover and your blade whirls as several shots ricochet with blue sparks and sharp metallic sounds. But as you approach the advancing outlaws, you fail to take them totally by surprise and you complete the round with their guns pointed directly at you. Nobody loses a cliché this round.

Amalan: Aha, but now I'm close enough to engage them in melee. I'll high-kick the gun out of one of their hands and slash across the arms of the other two. I'll also be using another Lucky Shot because this really needs to work.

GM: Obviously, the outlaws will try to shoot you before you can disarm them. They do have the jump on you, but your superior reflexes mean that your attack is appropriate. Roll 'em.

Amalan: (Roll 4d8). 23! Awesome!

GM: (Rolls 22 on 4d6). Whew, that was close. Anyway, you kick the gun out of the one's hand and he stumbles back in surprise. The other two both move to fire and one actually gets a shot off before you sever his arm. In the heat of the moment, you don't realize that you've been grazed by another bullet, this time on you left side. Also, the other gunfighters are moving into position to fire at you. (The GM subtracts 1 die from the Outlaws' cliché).

It's their turn. The remaining five outlaws now have you in sight and begin firing. The Outlaw that you kicked, as well as the two that you crippled will dive for cover as their companions open fire on you. What do you do?

Amalan: I don't care about the two that I crippled, but I do care about the one that I kicked. I tumble out of the way of the gunfire and try to get to his gun before he does. I don't have skill in using the darn thing, but if I get their first I might be able to get him to surrender.

GM: Roll vs. Warrior-Judge.

Amalan: (Roll 3d8) Ouch, that's not good. 8.

GM: (Rolls 10 on 3d6) Indeed. They beat you. What happens?

Amalan: I manage to avoid gunfire and tumble towards the lose gun. But amazingly, the Outlaw beats me to it. He comes up with the gun pointed at me and ready to fire, just out of the range of my sword and foot. The cliché loss is due to my unfavorable position and the fact that I'm now starting to feel my wounds.(Amalan subtracts 1 die from her Warrior-Judge cliché).

GM: It's your move.

Amalan: Right. I'm going to try something desperate here. I'm going to let loose with an unfocused bit of telekinetic power in attempt to blow the outlaw and his gun over a ledge. I'm double-pumping by Telekineticist cliché, so it's all or nothing.

GM: Interesting. The Outlaw doesn't have any way to defend against this, but he is trying to shoot you so there is a chance he'll get his shot off first. So, he'll use his Outlaw Gunfighter cliché and we won't be invoking "When Somebody Can't Participate". Roll 'em.

Amalan: (Rolls 4d6, 2d6 for the cliché plus 2d6 for the Double-Pump). 13. Uh, I hope that's good enough.

GM: (Rolls 12 on 3d6) Yes, it was. Just as he's about to pull the trigger, he gets knocked back by an invisible blast of force. He tumbles back over the ledge and you hear his screams suddenly come to an abrupt stop a few moments later. (The GM subtracts 1 die from the Outlaw's cliché).

It's their turn. The remaining five Outlaws have you in their sights and open fire. What do you do? Don't forget to subtract 1 die from your Telekineticist cliché for the Double-Pump.

Amalan: (Amalan deducts 1 die from her Telekineticist cliché). I have to go defensive at the moment. Any chance I can use Martian Survival to use the terrain to my advantage?

GM: Are you on Mars?

Amalan: Didn't think so. Anyway, I go all Luke Skywalker again and try to deflect the bullets as I close range on them.

GM: This is a purely defensive maneuver and the best you can hope for is not getting hit. Roll 'em.

Amalan: (Rolls 2d8) 11. Come on, miss me.

GM: (Rolls 4 on 2d6) They do miss you as you advance right into their midst. (Nobody loses dice this action).

Amalan: I lash out quickly, to either side, and tumble into their midst. To my right, I slash across a guy's belly. To my left, I cut up towards his chest. I try to maintain a position where they can't use their guns.

GM: The Outlaws are seriously screwed and won't be able to shoot for fear of hitting their friends. Instead, we'll invoke "When Somebody Can't Participate" to allow them to attack you with their hands. Roll you're dice, but add one for the rule.

Amalan: One? I thought you get two for "When Somebody Can't Participate"?

GM: Normally, yes. But you took damage to your two dice in the opening round. You won't be able to get a full two dice until you recover.

Amalan: Oh yeah. (Rolls 3d8, 2d8 plus 1d8 for "When Somebody Can't Participate"). 11. Eke, they still have a chance, though a small one.

GM: (Rolls 7 on 2d6) They don't beat you. The attack proceeds just as you described: you disembowel one and cleave another in two. You're left with three seriously freaked out Outlaws. (The GM subtract 1 die from the Outlaw's 2d6 that were awarded as part of the "When Somebody Can't Participate Rule").

Their turn. One of them retreats and the other two attempt to parry your sword with their rifle and clobber you with the butt. Once again, we'll invoke "When Somebody Can't Participate". What do you do?

Amalan: I won't even bother parrying. I'm too fast for them anyway. As one goes to hit me with the rifle, I swing up to cut off his right arm. In the same motion, I come down on the other's neck and shoulder.

GM: Nasty. Roll 'em.

Amalan: (Rolls 3d8, 2d8 plus 1d8 for "When Somebody Can't Participate"). 8. Unless they roll a 6, I should succeed.

GM: (Rolls 6 on 1d6... then another 6... then a 2) Well, you should have knocked on wood. With Boxcars & Breakthroughs, they rolled a 14. What happens to you?

Amalan: Crap. Well, it went wrong on my first attack. The Outlaw anticipated by cut and parried successfully with his rifle. The other Outlaw took advantage of my surprise and clubbed me over the back of the head with his rifle. I'm dazed. (Amalan deducts 1 die from her Warrior-Judge cliché).

Amalan: Attacking me from the rear is a bad idea. I've got elbow knives that point backwards. I stab the guy who clubbed me, kick out the legs of the one in front of me, and come down on top of him with my sword to his throat.

GM: Both will try to avoid your attacks as best as they are able. If they get lucky again, their going to try to get a gun pointed at you. Roll 'em.

Amalan: I'd also like to use a Lucky Die as well. (Rolls 1d8 for the cliché and 1 for the Lucky Die) 14. No way are they going to beat that.

GM: (Rolls 4 on 1d6) Nope. How does it end?

Amalan: As I said. With my knife to his throat, the Outlaw surrenders. I let the one that fled get away and then will tend to the seriously wounded with my limited abilities in first aid. No doubt I'll have to put a few out of their misery.