Differences

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--- twenty_one [2023/06/14 04:28] – [The illegal gambling variant] admin
+++ twenty_one [2025/08/05 04:50] (current) – [Related Pages and Further Information] admin
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+=== Races | Culture | Cultural Products, Festivals and Games ===
 ====== TWENTY ONE (GAME) ======
-Twenty One is a card game of chance of the people on [[the_planet_voi_700_d|VOI 700 D]]. It is derived from the French card game "Vingt un", which was very popular at the court of the then King Louis XV. Twenty One is also related to the casino game "Black Jack" known from the USA.
+===== Overview =====
+Twenty One is an [[the_humans|Exohuman]] card game of chance widely played on [[the_planet_voi_700_d|VOI 700 D]], originating from the French card game Vingt-Un, which gained popularity during the reign of King Louis XV. The game also shares similarities with the American casino game Blackjack.
+Since the [[great_war|Great War]], Twenty One has become a staple of underground gambling culture on the [[dark_side|Dark Side]], especially in [[Firetown|Firetown’s]] bars. Its illegal gambling variant is officially banned by the [[federal_confederation|Federal Confederation]], yet it thrives as players wager using the old currency, [[kourou|Kourou]] — a currency abolished in the [[the_gamma_age|Gamma Age]] but still widely circulated on the black market.
+===== Historical Background =====
+The game of Twenty One was introduced to the settlers of VOI 700 D as a traditional card game brought from [[the_earth|Earth]]. During the [[beta_age|Beta Age]], it was a popular pastime among miners, soldiers of fortune, and settlers seeking entertainment in saloons and recreational venues.
+Following the [[great_war|Great War]], the [[peace_treaty|Peace Treaty]] reforms outlawed gambling, making Twenty One an underground game. Despite the prohibition, it remains prevalent in Firetown and beyond, serving as a symbol of resistance to the[[communardism| Communardist]] restrictions. The [[jane_bold_gang|Jane Mendoza Gang]] plays a significant role in sustaining the game’s underground economy.
-Since the end of the [[great_war|Great War]], Twenty One has been played on the [[dark_side|Dark Side]] and especially in the bars of [[firetown|Firetown]] in an illegal gambling variant officially banned by the [[federal_confederation|Federal Confederation]], where players usually play for "black market money". That is, for the old currency Kourou , which was abolished in the [[the_gamma_age|Gamma Age]], but of which many bills and coins are still in circulation.
 ===== Rules of the Game =====
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 ===== Gameplay =====
-The game is played from left to right. The oldest player at the table starts.
+  * **Initial Draw:** Each player draws two cards from a standard Skat deck of 32 cards.
+  * **Turn Order:** Starting with the oldest player, participants decide whether to draw an additional card or stay. Play proceeds clockwise.
+  * **Comparison Phase:** Once all players are ready, they reveal their cards. Players exceeding 21 points are eliminated. The player closest to 21 points wins.
+===== Illegal Gambling Variant =====
+In the underground version of Twenty One, the gameplay is intensified with wagering mechanics and a high-stakes bidding phase:
+==== Betting Process ====
+  * **Base Bet:** Each player places an initial Kourou as a base bet before drawing cards.
+==== Bidding Phase ====
+After examining their initial cards, players can either:
+  * **Fold:** Withdraw from the round, forfeiting their base bet.
+  * **Bid:** Announce a wager amount.
+This phase continues clockwise until all players have either folded or placed their bets.
+==== Doubling Stakes ====
+Any remaining player may propose doubling the stakes. If accepted, all players must double their bets or fold.
+==== Third Card Draw ====
+Players then decide whether to draw an additional card or stay.
+==== Winning ====
+The player with the hand closest to 21 points without exceeding it wins the total pot.
+===== llegal Betting and Role of the Jane Mendoza Gang =====
-At the beginning, each player draws two cards from the deck.
+The Jane Mendoza Gang heavily influences the underground gambling scene, including Twenty One:
-The oldest player at the table is now the first to declare whether he wants to draw another card or not. If he thinks he is close enough to 21 points, he ends his turn and declares himself "ready for comparison".  All the other players at the table now proceed in the same way.  The order is such that it goes from left to right. Thus, whoever sits to the left of the oldest player is second, and so on.
+  * **Facilitating Matches:** Secret games are held in backrooms of establishments like [[firetown_billard_saloon|Firetown Billard Saloon]] and the [[firetown_darts_club|Firetown Darts Club]].
+  * **Black Market Economy:** Bets are made exclusively in Kourou, which the gang also circulates and controls.
+  * **Security and Oversight:** The gang oversees these games to maintain order and ensure fairness—at least by their standards. They take a cut from the pot as a fee.
-When all players are "ready to compare", each player lays his cards face up on the table. The player whose cards exceed 21 points is eliminated. The player whose cards are closest to 21 points wins the game.
+===== Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters =====
-===== The illegal gambling variant =====
+Twenty One offers an excellent narrative tool for Dungeon Masters, whether as a casual game or a high-stakes plot device:
-In the illegal gambling variant, the basic gameplay is similar. However, at the beginning of the game each player must place a Kourou as a "base bet" and there is an  additional "bidding phase".
+  * **Social Dynamics:** Use Twenty One as an opportunity for players to build alliances, gather information, or establish their presence in Firetown’s underground.
+  * **Tension and Risk:** High-stakes games can add drama and moral complexity, especially when debts or reputations are on the line.
+  * **Skill Challenges:** Incorporate checks for bluffing, sleight-of-hand, or intimidation to create dynamic gameplay moments.
+  * **Plot Hooks:** Illegal matches can lead to encounters with the Jane Mendoza Gang or uncover secrets about Firetown’s shadow economy.
-The bidding phase starts after the players have drawn their first two cards at the beginning. After examining his cards in his hand, the oldest player at the table informs his teammates whether he is "folding" or "bidding". If he bids, he names his bet. Now it is the player to his left's turn to decide whether to "fold" or "bid". This continues until all players from left to right have folded or continue bidding.
+===== Related Pages and Further Information =====
-Then the oldest player asks if any of the remaining players who continue to bid would like to double their stake. If such a player is found, all other players at the table must also double their bet or fold. In that case, they lose their previous bet.
+  * [[jane_bold_gang|Jane Mendoza Gang]]
+  * [[firetown|Firetown]]
+  * [[firetown_billard_saloon|Firetown Billard Saloon]]
+  * [[firetown_darts_club|Firetown Darts Club]]
+  * [[the_human_culture_in_the_gamma_age|Exohuman Culture in the Gamma Age]]
-Once this is settled, the phase in which players decide whether or not to draw a third card begins.
+**Exohuman Games on VOI 700 D:**
-At the end of the game, the player whose cards are closest to 21 points without exceeding the number 21 receives the entire bet.
+  * [[frostpunkt|Frostpunkt]]
+  * [[twenty_one|Twenty One]]
+  * [[trilliards|Trilliards]]
+  * [[zugzwang|Zugzwang]]