Casino [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Casino [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Egres
10-06-06, 08:18 AM I would like to introduce a casino in my campaign, but I have no idea on how to handle the games.

The only official source about casinò and such is in the Book of Challenges, but it's not enough for what I need.

Have you got any suggestions?
CharlieRock
10-06-06, 09:01 AM Sometimes I use this quickie to represent games of chance.
Cards: Have each player make a CHA check (adding profession:gambler if available). Place ascending amounts of bets on each (like ,1cp,2sp,3gp,5gp,1pp). Or a variant (of a variant) each round won adds a one time bonus equal to that rounds number,1-5.
VrecknidjX
10-06-06, 09:16 AM Bluff, Diplomacy, etc. all work pretty well. Sometimes it's not a bad idea to let a high Int modifier have an effect, after all, some games can be played better by smart people than by dumb people.

Dave
CharlieRock
10-06-06, 09:28 AM I used CHA just because ...... well, to allow for bluffing,sense motive, and good ol' "knowing when to fold" :)
oh, I like also - Throwing Daggers
make five ranged attacks per participant. house daggers may be well worn and present -1 ,unless you have your own. each attack is against AC 10 (but keep note of actual modified attack number). Above AC10 is a hit for 1 point. AC 15 = 2, and AC20=4(bulls-eye).
You can make up different card games for INT,WIS, or CHA. Come up with neat names ;)
(like, Blackjack seems more INT-based since you can keeps odds in your head and your always playing vs. "the house". Poker would be CHA, or WIS.
metalmorphosis
10-06-06, 09:30 AM Why do a casino when you can do an arena? Pit fighting seems like it'd be a bit more appropriate and we already have rules in place to cover the combat. You don't have to limit the battles to be between two NPCs, you can have several NPCs battling an ettin, or something else just as nasty (don't want to get too powerful, or you won't be able to contain it and it'll rampage through your city). Whole adventures can be based around the arena and great gambling can go on there too. The PCs don't have to content themselves with just watching... throw your fighters into the pit... they can do some bloodletting and win fame among the people (and make some hard currency along the way).

Oh... Pit fighting is a glorious thing. :D
Tyveil
10-06-06, 09:50 AM Or.. a carnivale with skill-based competitions. You could throw in Casino-type games into such a setting. I think Int/Bluff checks for a poker-type game (vs the other contestants) is a good idea. Perhaps each round of checks the lowest roll losses all their chips, while the highest takes 10% of all remaining contestants chips. Course you may not want to be the player with the highest roll who takes out the quick-tempered Barbarian. :)
RobbyPants
10-06-06, 11:42 AM I guess it depends on the kind of game you have. Remember, that if you're playing against the house (as in most games) they have an advantage, and statistically, you should lose over time. When playing against other people (such as in poker), the house will take a rake (frequently 10% of the pot, perhaps to a maximum), so again, you should lose over time (unless you do better than the average players there).

As for table games and the like, you could do something simple like:
Allow the PCs to post a bet (within certain limitations), then roll 1d6. On a 1-5 their bet is lost, but on a 6 they win 3-4 times their bet. A few lucky rolls, and they come out a head, but in the long run, they lose.

You could also give them options:

Bet. Roll 1d6. On a 6, win 4x your bet.
Bet. Roll 1d8. On a 8, win 5x your bet.
Bet. Roll 1d10. On a 10, win 7x your bet.
Bet. Roll 1d12. On a 12, win 8x your bet.

Those are just some simple examples, that could be tweaked. The idea is that there is some chance, and the d6 (or whatever) roll represents them rolling some dice, drawing some cards, spinning a wheel, or something else.

You could also work up some simple rules for each hour they spend. Roll a die, and assign certain wins or losses to each number, based on the "bet amount" the PC chooses. Just make sure to skew it slightly in the direction of the casino.
Label
10-06-06, 11:51 AM If we follow the rules of d20 Modern and even d20 Starwars, Gambling is a skill that uses Wisdom. With synergy bonuses if you have enough Bluff.
Just do a roll-vs-roll to determine who wins.

That's what I do when my players want to gamble... (which happens at least once in a campaign)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Egres 10-06-06, 08:18 AM	I would like to introduce a casino in my campaign, but I have no idea on how to handle the games. The only official source about casinò and such is in the Book of Challenges, but it's not enough for what I need. Have you got any suggestions?
CharlieRock 10-06-06, 09:01 AM	Sometimes I use this quickie to represent games of chance. Cards: Have each player make a CHA check (adding profession:gambler if available). Place ascending amounts of bets on each (like ,1cp,2sp,3gp,5gp,1pp). Or a variant (of a variant) each round won adds a one time bonus equal to that rounds number,1-5.
VrecknidjX 10-06-06, 09:16 AM	Bluff, Diplomacy, etc. all work pretty well. Sometimes it's not a bad idea to let a high Int modifier have an effect, after all, some games can be played better by smart people than by dumb people. Dave
CharlieRock 10-06-06, 09:28 AM	I used CHA just because ...... well, to allow for bluffing,sense motive, and good ol' "knowing when to fold" :) oh, I like also - Throwing Daggers make five ranged attacks per participant. house daggers may be well worn and present -1 ,unless you have your own. each attack is against AC 10 (but keep note of actual modified attack number). Above AC10 is a hit for 1 point. AC 15 = 2, and AC20=4(bulls-eye). You can make up different card games for INT,WIS, or CHA. Come up with neat names ;) (like, Blackjack seems more INT-based since you can keeps odds in your head and your always playing vs. "the house". Poker would be CHA, or WIS.
metalmorphosis 10-06-06, 09:30 AM	Why do a casino when you can do an arena? Pit fighting seems like it'd be a bit more appropriate and we already have rules in place to cover the combat. You don't have to limit the battles to be between two NPCs, you can have several NPCs battling an ettin, or something else just as nasty (don't want to get too powerful, or you won't be able to contain it and it'll rampage through your city). Whole adventures can be based around the arena and great gambling can go on there too. The PCs don't have to content themselves with just watching... throw your fighters into the pit... they can do some bloodletting and win fame among the people (and make some hard currency along the way). Oh... Pit fighting is a glorious thing. :D
Tyveil 10-06-06, 09:50 AM	Or.. a carnivale with skill-based competitions. You could throw in Casino-type games into such a setting. I think Int/Bluff checks for a poker-type game (vs the other contestants) is a good idea. Perhaps each round of checks the lowest roll losses all their chips, while the highest takes 10% of all remaining contestants chips. Course you may not want to be the player with the highest roll who takes out the quick-tempered Barbarian. :)
RobbyPants 10-06-06, 11:42 AM	I guess it depends on the kind of game you have. Remember, that if you're playing against the house (as in most games) they have an advantage, and statistically, you should lose over time. When playing against other people (such as in poker), the house will take a rake (frequently 10% of the pot, perhaps to a maximum), so again, you should lose over time (unless you do better than the average players there). As for table games and the like, you could do something simple like: Allow the PCs to post a bet (within certain limitations), then roll 1d6. On a 1-5 their bet is lost, but on a 6 they win 3-4 times their bet. A few lucky rolls, and they come out a head, but in the long run, they lose. You could also give them options: Bet. Roll 1d6. On a 6, win 4x your bet. Bet. Roll 1d8. On a 8, win 5x your bet. Bet. Roll 1d10. On a 10, win 7x your bet. Bet. Roll 1d12. On a 12, win 8x your bet. Those are just some simple examples, that could be tweaked. The idea is that there is some chance, and the d6 (or whatever) roll represents them rolling some dice, drawing some cards, spinning a wheel, or something else. You could also work up some simple rules for each hour they spend. Roll a die, and assign certain wins or losses to each number, based on the "bet amount" the PC chooses. Just make sure to skew it slightly in the direction of the casino.
Label 10-06-06, 11:51 AM	If we follow the rules of d20 Modern and even d20 Starwars, Gambling is a skill that uses Wisdom. With synergy bonuses if you have enough Bluff. Just do a roll-vs-roll to determine who wins. That's what I do when my players want to gamble... (which happens at least once in a campaign)