What game should my thugs be playing?

[Ira Probst]

So, I am starting a new campaign. I have my adventurers starting in a tavern where a brawl will be breaking out. In the corner will be a table of 6 thugs playing a game at their table. What kind of game should I have them playing?

 

[Redthistle]

DM's Guild has an offering called Tavern Games. It has some rules for gambling in general, plus billiards and darts. In other words, typical bar games.

I suspect that you're just looking to briefly describe what game they're playing, and not looking for actual rules. Just think of the sort of games folks play in bars these days. I'd probably rule out trivia contests; that's too modern.

Checkers. Chess. Go, or any other sort of traditional board-and-pebble game. Marbles would require a clear floor space.

I remember pitching pennies toward a wall in high school (Who, me skip class?), kind of a small scale version of horseshoes.

Outdoors type games would include horseshoes and variations on lawn bowling.

Perhaps arm-wrestling?

 

[Ira Probst]

I like Chess, but may be too sophisticated for some thugs. Checkers may be good. Would they have Doninoes in fantasy times? I am trying to think of a game that will make a mess and be impossible to put back together if the table is knocked over.

 

[Eltab]

Checkers could be the Big Dumb Muscles' "thinking man's game".
Who's going to re-set the overturned checkerboard without generating an argument?

They could be playing cards (Poker? Gin Rummy?).

Maybe they are playing paper-scissors-rock to decide who buys the next round of drinks.

 

[tomBitonti]

Found these:

https://www.mastersofgames.com/misc/faq/faq-games-medieval.htm

http://exarc.net/issue-2012-1/aoam/presenting-medieval-gambling-and-pub-life

For thugs, I'd go with a peg and board game with dice, or maybe just dice. Or, if the feel is right for your game, something with cards.

Dice, especially, should fit into any time period:

http://www.neatorama.com/2014/08/18/Rollin-Bones-The-History-of-Dice/

Depending on the locale, law and religion may interfere. Certainly "games of change" and "gambling" would have a good chance of being forbidden in more lawful / restrictive locales. Not that street thugs would pay that any mind.

Thx!
TomB

 

[cmad1977]

Thugs like a game called 'nosebleed'
The two participants take turns head butting one another. When one falls unconscious the other stands up and yells 'Nosebleed!!' and wins the match.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[amerigoV]

Dwarf Tossing - with real Dwarves!

 

[Ira Probst]

Lots of good ideas (except Dwarf tossing ) got a few days to figure it out still. Thanks everyone.

 

[Lanefan]

Dungeons and Dragons?

 

[Brandegoris]

So, I am starting a new campaign. I have my adventurers starting in a tavern where a brawl will be breaking out. In the corner will be a table of 6 thugs playing a game at their table. What kind of game should I have them playing?

Yahtzee?
Stratego?

Or.....Quarters!