Frankly, this game reads as pretty repetitive and dumb, with little opportunity for strategy or gamesmanship. Did it play better at your table? Did you change the game to something else?
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rogurouge, I am surprised I never posted this.
Personally, not only did I have trouble understanding Odds and Evens (perhaps because it was too simple) but I couldn't fathom why anyone would even play the game. I actually used Odds and Evens as backdrop in a seedy gambling hall the PCs visited when making contact with Giveni Henge.
I replaced the game with a game I named Blackfinger (obviously named after Norgorber). Here are the rules:
Blackfinger.
Players agree stakes.
In the most mundane games, even amounts of currency are paid by all players. However, it is not unheard of for players of “Blackfinger” to wager, the lives of loved ones, limbs, or even higher stakes.
Determine the initial rolling order.
Each player rolls one die; play starts to the left of the person with the lowest roll.
Each player, in turn, rolls four dice up to three times building whats called “A Reputation.”
The lead player for the round determines how many times the other players may roll by the number of times he or she rolls the dice. The other players may roll fewer times than the lead player, but not more times. The player may keep any number of dice rolled.
The results are ranked, high to low, according to the following system:
A roll of 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 is called “Blackfinger,” from which the game takes its name.
A roll of sets, ranked downward from 6-6-6-6 to 4-4-2-1. Suits are ranked in descending order. Note that sets of 3s, 2s, and 1s have no value. (Example 4-4-4-2 beats 6-6-2-1.)
Order of suits: 4-3-2-1, 6-6-6-6, 5-5-5-5, 4-4-4-4, 6-6-6-#, 5-5-5-#, 4-4-4-#, 6-6-#-#, 5-5-#-#, 4-4-#-#
Any combination, other than “Blackfinger,” without at least a scoring pair is referred to as “Filth.” These are all considered the lowest possible “Reputation”.
If “Blackfinger” is rolled by any player, all other players re-ante and play continues as normal until all players build a “Reputation”.
Additional rolls of “Blackfinger” during a round further increase the stakes.
(It is possible for Player 1 to roll “Blackfinger” (causing all other players to re-ante) and then Player 2 to roll “Blackfinger” causing all other players (including Player 1) to re-ante.
If there is a tie, rounds are played between the winning players until one person wins.
Paying Up: The lowest ranking set, or all “Filth”, pay into the pot.
Pass the dice to the player next to the lead roller.
Unfortunately I played it as written, and it did not go down well with my players. If I would run this again I would replace it.
My players had no problems with odds and evens only because they decided to make it ridiculous and would wager 20+ rolls against Lorelu. Rolling and counting that many dice was the only "fun" of the game.
BornofHate, Blackfinger looks awesome and I might add it during the final book when they're relaxing at the Oakrib Inn.
My group really liked devilpins, though we only played it one time. My plan was always to use these games when players can't make it or are showing up late and I need to kill time, and thankfully I haven't needed to do that.
I just realized: How does the damn ghost roll dice? It can't manipulate physical objects!
I was trying to figure out why someone would bother to play Odds & Evens having completely forgotten about Lorelu!
I just realized: How does the damn ghost roll dice? It can't manipulate physical objects!
GM fiat! Lol
I just ruled that those dice are her personal dice and she has a very strong tie to them which allows her to manipulate them from beyond the grave.
Thanks for the feedback on Blackfinger. It was definitely fun to play and being that my group forced a combat with Lorellu, I’m excited to play it again. ;)
Ghost dice?