narayan
Explorer
So I recently created a new game of chance for my Dark Days in Sion campaign. I wanted to share it with other players and DM's to use if they so desire. I can picture this game being played in caves, back alleys and shady taverns alike. I also imagine this game being especially popular with the more intelligent evil races.
The Game of Bones
To play all that is needed is a bowl and a bag of knucklebones for each player. Obviously knucklebones of the same species (usually for whatever evil goblinoid race is most common in the area) should be used. The exact number of knucklebones each player holds per game should also be decided in advance. Each player should have already marked their own knucklebones with paint. To start the game players put one knucklebone in the bowl and covers it with a lid or a cloth. Someone reaches into the bowl in such a way they can't see what they're grabbing and removes one knucklebone. Whatever player that knucklebone belongs too can choose who goes first.
Whoever goes first declares a bet, places the coin (or whatever they are playing for) on the table along with a number of knucklebones they are risking for the bet. Other players can either match the bet and place an equal number of coin and bones up, or they can declare a challenge to the bet. Challenges take two forms, either by putting up less bones for the same amount of coin or a larger bet for an equal number of bones. Other players can either accept the challenge or forfeit the round. Each forfeit costs a player one knucklebone that gets put in a discard pile. If everyone forfeits, the player who made the challenge keeps all the bets.
Everyone who accepts the challenge remains in the round and places their bones in the bowl. The players each take a moment to shake the bowl to their liking and each one draws out one bone and places it in the bone pile. Whatever player has the most bones in the bone pile after all the players have drawn wins the round. If there is a tie, more bones can be drawn from the bowl until a winner for the round is chosen. Obviously in the case of a tie, the player who bet more bones to begin with has a significant advantage in a tie-breaker. If there are no bones left in the bowl to decide a tie-breaker, more bones can be added to the bowl but only insofar as the player has more bones left to add.
After the round is over, bones from the bone pile are added to the discard pile. Thus, those who bet lots of bones early may be disadvantaged with less bones available to bet on subsequent rounds. Players are usually not permitted to collect their bones and leave the game before the end of the game, but it is not uncommon for breaks in the action to be permitted between rounds.
Obviously whoever bets the most bones would have the best odds of winning a particular round, but there is no rule that says a player has to show everything they have to bet up front. Smart players may let other players bet more bones for smaller bets until their competition only has a few left before they put up a larger bet that the other players have to challenge to get a chance at. The best position you can have during the game is being challenged by another player willing to put up less bones for the same amount of coin.
After enough rounds are played for the majority of the bones to end up in the discard pile forcing the majority of the players to abstain, a new game can begin. Before the new game begins a player may attempt to banish someone from the game if they put two knucklebones in the discard. That banishment involves a vote. Everyone who agrees to banish that player has to place two bones into discard. If the vote isn't a majority, the one singled out to be banished has the right to banish another player of his choosing by placing two bones in the discard pile. His choice does not require a vote.
Considering how this game is usually played by thieves and thugs in shadowy places there is often a great deal of cheating involved. Sleight of hand obviously comes into play, but having a silent partner at the table can be very helpful as well.
The Game of Bones
To play all that is needed is a bowl and a bag of knucklebones for each player. Obviously knucklebones of the same species (usually for whatever evil goblinoid race is most common in the area) should be used. The exact number of knucklebones each player holds per game should also be decided in advance. Each player should have already marked their own knucklebones with paint. To start the game players put one knucklebone in the bowl and covers it with a lid or a cloth. Someone reaches into the bowl in such a way they can't see what they're grabbing and removes one knucklebone. Whatever player that knucklebone belongs too can choose who goes first.
Whoever goes first declares a bet, places the coin (or whatever they are playing for) on the table along with a number of knucklebones they are risking for the bet. Other players can either match the bet and place an equal number of coin and bones up, or they can declare a challenge to the bet. Challenges take two forms, either by putting up less bones for the same amount of coin or a larger bet for an equal number of bones. Other players can either accept the challenge or forfeit the round. Each forfeit costs a player one knucklebone that gets put in a discard pile. If everyone forfeits, the player who made the challenge keeps all the bets.
Everyone who accepts the challenge remains in the round and places their bones in the bowl. The players each take a moment to shake the bowl to their liking and each one draws out one bone and places it in the bone pile. Whatever player has the most bones in the bone pile after all the players have drawn wins the round. If there is a tie, more bones can be drawn from the bowl until a winner for the round is chosen. Obviously in the case of a tie, the player who bet more bones to begin with has a significant advantage in a tie-breaker. If there are no bones left in the bowl to decide a tie-breaker, more bones can be added to the bowl but only insofar as the player has more bones left to add.
After the round is over, bones from the bone pile are added to the discard pile. Thus, those who bet lots of bones early may be disadvantaged with less bones available to bet on subsequent rounds. Players are usually not permitted to collect their bones and leave the game before the end of the game, but it is not uncommon for breaks in the action to be permitted between rounds.
Obviously whoever bets the most bones would have the best odds of winning a particular round, but there is no rule that says a player has to show everything they have to bet up front. Smart players may let other players bet more bones for smaller bets until their competition only has a few left before they put up a larger bet that the other players have to challenge to get a chance at. The best position you can have during the game is being challenged by another player willing to put up less bones for the same amount of coin.
After enough rounds are played for the majority of the bones to end up in the discard pile forcing the majority of the players to abstain, a new game can begin. Before the new game begins a player may attempt to banish someone from the game if they put two knucklebones in the discard. That banishment involves a vote. Everyone who agrees to banish that player has to place two bones into discard. If the vote isn't a majority, the one singled out to be banished has the right to banish another player of his choosing by placing two bones in the discard pile. His choice does not require a vote.
Considering how this game is usually played by thieves and thugs in shadowy places there is often a great deal of cheating involved. Sleight of hand obviously comes into play, but having a silent partner at the table can be very helpful as well.
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