Need help with some pub/card type games

[Rootuser]

Hi all,

I've been a DM for over 30 years and have mostly been with the same group for the last 20+.

From time to time I throw in card games to play to add spice to the game or direct the characters in some way.

The quintessential example of the kind of game I am looking for is something like Three-Dragon Ante. All the characters can play, I can involve NPCs, there can be some kind of betting, and the games are not too short or too long.

I would like suggestions of games, that are like Three-Dragon Ante that might be fun for an "interlude" segment of an adventure.

My requirements are:

1. It must be playable by at least 6 people, if not more, so any game that is scalable by adding extra decks or more dice or the like works.

2. It must be themed correctly to the fantasy type setting as you'd find in a pub or gaming parlor if it not a straight card or dice game.

3. The game(s) has to be available for purchase or the rules are readily available.

4. The game(s) have to be easy to learn due to time constraints of a gaming session but not stupidly simplistic please

5. I am not looking for straight drinking games, it must be adaptable to different stakes.

Examples of games I've used in the past are: Three-Dragon Ante, Hearts (and it's many variants), Spades, Poker, The Great Dalmuti, Bullsh*t, god knows how many of the Mensa mind games, etc.

Any help would really be appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

 

[KerlanRayne]

Well there's Poker Dice which can still be played with normal dice. There's also Liar's Dice which I remember seeing on Pirates of the Caribbean. I also found a dice game called Chinchirorin which sounds interesting.

If you want to start browsing there are the Wikipedia categories for Dice Games and Card Games

 

[Rootuser]

Thanks for the reply.

I have run both of those games before (quite a few times for Liars Dice).

I have run through most of the reference I can find on Wikipedia as well but I will give it another search just to be sure.

There are so many games that go unmentioned it's hard to find some and good ones go missed.

 

[Cadence]

Never played it, but Glen Cook's "Black Company" plays Tonk as their go-to game throughout the series: http://www.gamecabinet.com/rules/Tonk.html or http://www.bsfs.org/bsfstonk.htm

I had no idea it was a real game! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonk_(card_game) or http://www.pagat.com/rummy/tonk.html

Just add more decks if you have more players, or maybe have the dealer sit out each hand?

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Can you incorporate money into Chinese Checkers? (Every time you jump someone you get paid, if you knock someone out you get half their remaining money?)

 

[Rootuser]

Never played it, but Glen Cook's "Black Company" plays Tonk as their go-to game throughout the series:

I had no idea it was a real game!

Just add more decks if you have more players, or maybe have the dealer sit out each hand?

---

Can you incorporate money into Chinese Checkers? (Every time you jump someone you get paid, if you knock someone out you get half their remaining money?)

Great suggestion! I will be trying to use Tonk, never tried that one before. I make games "regional" and the characters are in a new region so this will help.

I'll need a few more, but that is a great start.

Thank you much.