(I'm sorry if this isn't the correct forum for this topic; I'm sort of asking from the perspective of a performer, but this would not be part of any performance, so I felt it might not be appropriate in Performer Topics. Mods, please do move it if you feel it's best!)
Greetings, all!
I perform with a pirate shanty group, and have been pondering different ways to play with patrons in between song sets. I've been wanting to work dice games into my interactions, but wanted to run my idea past some other minds to see if it seems likely to work or be worthwhile (for me and for the patrons!).
I recently play-tested "captain, bosun, mate" (or "ship, captain, crew" as I think it's more commonly called -- check out the Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship,_captain,_and_crew)) on a bunch of friends at a small venue, and it went over quite well -- it's a simple game, very easy to teach and learn, moves quickly without getting confusing, and is more luck-based than skill-based, so there's really no way to have an unfair advantage (so kids have just as much chance of winning as adults). It's also very addicting, and my friends very quickly got into the spirit of things, cheering and whooping when someone got a good roll and dramatically crying "AWWWWW" when someone got an unlucky one. Lots of rowdy, good-natured fun!
My idea for implementing it at a faire is something like this, depending on what the individual venue permits:
I'd set up at a picnic table or other decently-accessible and visible spot, and invite 4-5 people at a time to play with me. I'd give each player (and myself) a set number of plastic gold coins to use for "betting" (maybe 3-5 per game?), and play maybe five rounds per game, with everyone putting one coin in the pot as a "bet" each round. I'd ask for the coins back at the end of the game, but offer little prizes to whomever has the most by then... or to the runner-up, if I happen to be the lucky one. =)
I don't intend to charge people to play this game, and while I may have a tip jar handy for anyone who wants to donate as thanks for some fun, I won't be asking for tips -- we pass hat after our shanty show, and we're a singing group, so that's our main source of tips... this is just a bit of fun!
So, my question to you folks on the forum is... does this sound reasonable? Am I complicating it too much? I think patrons would have more fun with it if there's actually something to be "won", but I don't want real money involved and I also don't want to be giving away too many prizes -- I'd only be handing out little things like the plastic coins and gems we have too many of anyway, but I don't want to end up giving something out at the end of every single round. Do you have any suggested tweaks to my plan? Do my ideas for the number of coins/rounds per game sound fair?
Thanks for any and all feedback!
Sorry so late, I just noticed this.
Liers' Dice is a Pirate game made famous in POTC.
If you want something different-small children can play this one (reprinted from a previous post of mine awhile back):
A wagering game designed for the average illiterate, was a game that even very young children can play. I saw it a few years back...very popular with kids.
There is a cloth 'board' with 4 squares on it-each square is marked with a suit symbol: hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades. The 'board' is made by painting a handkerchief or some other square of fabric or even leather. Easy to fold up and keep in your pocket with a deck of cards, so you can set up anywhere.
You start by providing the players with a couple of doubloons, they 'wager' by placing the doubloons on the suit symbol they think will show when the top card is flipped on the deck. You also wager against them.
Winner takes all the loot on the board (kind of like those wheel of fortune games).
I'm pretty sure that's all there is to it.
Liar's Dice is of course the first game everybody thinks of!! =) It was my first choice too, but after play-testing it with my crew a few years ago, it turned out it's WAY too difficult to explain and learn efficiently... it's the sort of game that, if you don't already know how to play, you won't be able to just sit down and enjoy yourself. Too many variables, too confusing, too frustrating, and not everybody's good at bluffing. =) Hence why I came up with the plan I described in my first post. The game itself has been well-received when I've tested it on my friends, but we haven't had the chance to test the whole "wagering" system yet, so who knows how patrons will respond? Hehe.
I've also recently learned about "shut the box" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shut_the_box), which seems just as accessible as "captain, bosun, mate", except that I need to get the actual box... but that's on my list now, too.
I like the sound of the game you describe, too, Rowen -- do you happen to know the name of it? (I need to find a nice deck of not-so-modern-looking cards now... I feel like my character's turning into a miniature walking casino haha!)
Quote from: Sev on April 09, 2014, 11:58:29 AM
I've also recently learned about "shut the box" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shut_the_box), which seems just as accessible as "captain, bosun, mate", except that I need to get the actual box... but that's on my list now, too.
I like the sound of the game you describe, too, Rowen -- do you happen to know the name of it? (I need to find a nice deck of not-so-modern-looking cards now... I feel like my character's turning into a miniature walking casino haha!)
http://www.historicgames.com (http://www.historicgames.com) -our own groomporter's site-sells the cards you want. I think he also offers 'shut the box'.
I have 2 of his games-Pope Joan and Morris.
He may also know the name of the game I mentioned; but actually, I think the pirate group made it up. I know the kids love it, because it's so easy. One of the lady pirates had her precocious 9 year old running the game off and on, and kids were lined up to play her. The parents would watch the show, since the kids wanted to play all the time.
Oooh!! Thank you very much for that link, I'm already building a wishlist... (Yes, they have "shut the box", and it is GORGEOUS.)
Just saw this--it looks great! Have you got any ideas for the prizes for the winners?
At the moment, I'll probably just get a whole ton of those cheap little trinket bags (like this (http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Organza-Drawstring-Bags-50/dp/B0047QQKGG)) and fill 'em up with the surplus plastic gems and jeweled rings my crew has accumulated over the years, maybe throw in some beaded necklaces in our crew colors, or even some of the nicer plastic coins, depending on how many we have left. Down the road I may look into something fancier, but I want to wait until I have an idea of how patrons really react to this sort of thing. So for now I'm sticking with inexpensive stuff, or stuff we already have lying around anyway.
That said, I am definitely open to ideas! =D
You can get those bags at Hobby Lobby and Micheal's in the wedding aisle cheaper than Amazon. I use them to make sachets and to hold herbs for the bath.
IMHO, kids don't need a bag full of loot, one pretty per person is enough.
In the floral section you can find fake, jewel faceted gemstones by the bagfull, for use in vases (I'm talking about real jewel faceted pieces, not the flat glass ones handed out by the fairies. They take some looking for; but they are there.)
You can buy fake jewels, plastic rings and other prize trinkets very cheaply in bulk online. You can also get them at places like Nobbies (an outlet of the Oriental Trading Company). Nobbies sell bead necklaces by the 500-1000 count bagfull to throw in parades.
In my pirate days, we were able to fill a decent sized 'treasure chest' with with a lot of loot for about $20.00-$30.00; depends on what you like to include.
I just grabbed the first decent link I could find that showed what I was talking about for the purposes of this thread. =) I know the Amazon link isn't anywhere near as well-priced as what I'd find locally. (Plus, throw in a good 40-50%-off coupon, and the prices in-store can't be beat!)
The faceted jewels you describe are what we've already got by the chestful. Maybe you know of larger ones, though; ours are fairly small, so I had wanted to bag 2-4 of them up so the prizes felt a little more special. I'm really not worried about running out anytime soon!
I'm not currently lacking in stuff to give out; I just was pondering variety beyond the plastic coins/gems/jewelry route. =)
I know I'm really late to this party, but at my home faire in PA, we play captain, boson, mate with a combination of playtrons, patrons and cast. We bring our own gold or gems to wager. The bets get crazier as the season goes on, usually ending with an "all in" the last day.
Anyway, point is, you basically have a similar setup as us. It should work well!
I know I'm late too, but the game that all the "miscreants" at our adult pub play is Perudo (or "Liars Dice"). I've played the game for years and years and was stoked when it became a big plot device in POTC and popularized it. It's very simple, very easy to learn, very fast moving. Kids would love it. The whole point of the game is to lie and call people out on lying. You can find the rules online for free. It's more fun with a group of adults when drinking as well.
We have done it as a drinking game where anytime you lose a die you take a shot. It gets interesting.
Not a dice game, but we play a simplified version of "3 card Loo" a historical card game that involves betting at our Pirate festival. We have a treasure chest with plastic pirate coins, glass gems, etc, and a set of "historical" french cards. We print a copy of the rules and keep it in the chest. We start patrons out by telling them to help themselves to 27 pieces of loot, and it costs 3 to play each round.
The game is showy, and quick - with only 3 cards dealt, you can play with lots of people - I think we've played with about 15 people before. The loot is cool to look at, and we play up "cheating". People can join or leave whenever, and it's fun for people to watch as well. We've never done prizes, because as a card game, it's all about the prize of bragging rights. So far no one has walked away expecting to keep their winnings, since they had to pull it out of the communal chest. Of course, we always ensure a cast memeber is there to enforce things as well, but it is quite popular after hours as well!
Also, check out One and Thirty. It's a card game that's played simliarly to Blackjack, just start with three cards and go to 31 instead of 21.
http://jducoeur.org/game-hist/game-recon-boneace.html (http://jducoeur.org/game-hist/game-recon-boneace.html)