Dice & Board Games Of The World | 1st Edition

[Norgeth 1894]

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DICE & BOARD GAMES OF THE WORLD | 2059, 1st Edition

Written by Mirion-Angbar Zimrabâr, High Jeweller of Idunia

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[!] An old painting of Highlandic Humans playing Chess.

 

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Games are an important thing; they pass the time, they give joy to those who play them, they train the mind and encourage tactical thinking.  Games are also useful in the pursuit of historical knowledge, for knowing what people did for fun or challenge can be vital in uncovering how they lived as a whole. This document details brief descriptions of various well-known and lesser-known dice and board games, though it is not exhaustive or wholly complete, instead being a compilation of my own research as the writer. This book is not intended to act as a guide for playing any of the games, but rather acts as a historical document describing their purpose and origins. I may write another book detailing the games of cards, or perhaps sports and athletics, though that is for another time and tome. 

 

— Mirion-Angbar of House Zimrabâr

 

CHESS - THE GAME OF KINGS

Chess is a truly ancient game whose exact origins are lost to history, with various groups claiming different, conflicting stories on its original makers. The Children of Krug claim that the Orcfather himself invented the game with the aid of pagan spirits, in an effort to teach his people tactics. Likewise, the Sons of Urguan tell a tale of their creator deity using the game to train his lesser divine creations in the way of orderly thought. However, despite its murky origins, Chess, also known as the Game of Kings, is a popular mainstay amongst board game enthusiasts and all those with a tactical mind.

 

WALDENIC/REINMAREN UR

A popular game with Waldenians and, in particular, Reinmaren Tribesmen. The Game of Ur is a race game that focuses on moving a piece to the end of the board successfully, with the winner being the first to complete the movements. Ur has been compared to chariot racing in the past, and certainly, this is a potential origin of the game, with it being designed to simulate chariot races on the ancient Reinmaren Steppe.

 

HAESENI CHESS

Haeseni Chess, though wholly unrelated to traditional chess, was a popular game in the former Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska before its fall in living memory. The game is also a race game, similar to Reinmaren Ur, though with greatly differing rules. By all historical accounts, the game is solely a Ruskan invention, perhaps devised to add a fun competition to the lives of busy courtiers, and certainly, it is well known that the Haeseni hosted vast tournaments for their people, encouraging betting and the addition of prize money.

 

LUDODAIN

A game suspiciously similar to Haeseni Chess with slightly altered rules and differing playstyles. Ludodain is popular modernly in the High Kingdom of Idunia and seems to have been introduced sometime during the predecessor-state of Numendil. I suspect that the game originates from Haeseni immigration to the city of Numenost, though no written accounts seem to prove or disprove this theory. The name Ludodain is also a misnomer, meaning nothing coherent in the Ancient or Low Adunic tongues, certainly a mystery.

 

ATEMU’S GAMBIT

Atemu’s Gambit is another race game, though with greatly differing rules from the former three mentioned. Apparently originating with a former follower of Atemu-Ta, a Rahtuman Pharaoh, the game focuses on the movement of the God-King into the afterlife, traversing obstacles in pursuit of undying glory. The gameboard has multiple tiles that directly mention or allude to pagan Rahtuman spiritual practices or beliefs, though the game is slowly growing in popularity with other cultures and peoples, particularly with altered rulesets and the removal of religious wordings.

 

KAEDRENI DICE POKER

A dice game once popular with Kaedreni mercenaries. Dice Poker was often used for betting, and it seems to be designed specifically for such, rarely played for mere contests alone. Kaedreni Dice Poker is a simplified version of proper Table Poker, a game that utilizes chips, representing assets, and cards instead of dice. This game was briefly revived into popularity by the Lectorate of Owyn, though it returned to the sidelines after that organization dissolved.

 

CRETZER CRAPS

In a similar manner to Kaedreni Dice Poker, Cretzer Craps was invented by mercenaries, specifically a Waldenic Free Company, sometime during the time of Axios. The dice game, though often used for gambling, also saw prolific casual use in the Imperial Capital of Johannesburg before its utter and infamous destruction. The game seems to be unpopular today, though old manuals and guidebooks still circulate in bookshops and libraries.

 

TIU TIU TIGIR

Tui Tui Tigir is a Dwarven dice game whose name means One Thousand, with the goal of the dice game being to reach a thousand points, overcoming various obstacles related to specific number combinations found on the dice. The game seemed to be popular in the Grand Kingdom of Urguan for some time, though it is apparently no longer played actively.  Tui Tui Tigir is also known as the Game of Greed in honour of the pagan Dwarvish deity Grimdugan.

 

THE DEATH ROLL

Apparently, an elder game of dice, nearly on par with Chess for age and venerability. The Death Roll was said to be played between Owyn and Harren in the court of the latter. A simple game where betting is encouraged, though not specifically necessary, wagers are traditionally often outlandish and nearly impossible to fulfill, adding true risk to the aptly named game. The Death Roll is growing in popularity within the High Kingdom of Idunia, being reintroduced to Adunic society by way of ancient manuscripts and tablets.

 

CONNECT FOUR

A truly unique game with a vertical board and colourful pieces. Connect Four seemingly originated in the former City State of Du Loc and became almost iconic of the settlement due to its sheer popularity amongst the denizens. Connect Four remains popular in many places, seemingly following eccentric individuals around like a plague; they play for both fun and wager.

 

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[Ardory 2978]

7 hours ago, Norgeth said:

Tui Tui Tigir is a Dwarven dice game whose name means One Thousand, with the goal of the dice game being to reach a thousand points, overcoming various obstacles related to specific number combinations found on the dice. The game seemed to be popular in the Grand Kingdom of Urguan for some time, though it is apparently no longer played actively.  Tui Tui Tigir is also known as the Game of Greed in honour of the pagan Dwarvish deity Grimdugan

 

Spoiler

This unlocked a core memory in me, I forgot I even made this.

 

[littyfam 790]

[!] A letter was delivered to the High Jeweller.

 

Of Mirion-Angbar

 

I write in correction of that section concerning the Harrenite Ludodain, as pertains to its particular origins. As I recall, it was during my son's youth, when he found companionship in some youthful Haeseni king or prince - when that polity was yet in existence - that he took to the gathering of a number of a number of signatures from the denizens of the White City in support of the implementation of an iteration of Haeseni Chess within the city walls, in part as a diplomatic venture. This was submitted to his grandmother, who yet reigned as Queen. Thus was a board set nearabouts the mountain-keep, where, no doubt, it took to a life of its own.

 

If you should need any further explanation, do send word. 

 

Aeneth Ilia de Ekain

Queen-Mother of Idunia

[Toffee 2843]

Two letters arrived to the writer, one written by Erika Kortrevich and the other by Illynora Sylvaeri. More boardgames to add to the compendium!

 

 

 

[Norgeth 1894]

2 hours ago, Toffee said:

Two letters arrived to the writer, one written by Erika Kortrevich and the other by Illynora Sylvaeri. More boardgames to add to the compendium!

 

 

 

[!] A return-letter is sent to both, thanking them for the information and stating that both of these will be included in the next edition.