FROSTPUNKT

Frostpunkt is a straightforward and dynamic dice game originating on the Ralar Region, where it remains especially popular in Firetown’s Entertainment District and at the Halfway Inn. Created by two miners from the Copper Mine during the Beta Age, Frostpunkt was initially developed as a gambling game to pass the time and increase camaraderie among workers.

Today, it stands alongside the card game Twenty One as one of the most popular gambling games on the Dark Side.

Frostpunkt emerged in the Beta Age during long breaks at the Copper Mine. The game quickly spread beyond the mining community, becoming a favorite pastime in Firetown’s saloons and recreational venues. Its simplicity and flexibility made it accessible to a wide range of participants, from miners to adventurers.

After the Great War, Frostpunkt adapted to the socio-political realities of the Gamma Age, with formal gambling banned under principles of the Communards. Despite this restriction, the game persists in its traditional form through underground gambling rings operated by the Jane Mendoza Gang.

Objective: Players compete by betting whether the result of a dice roll will land above or below a predetermined value known as the Frostpunkt.

Rules

• Betting Round: All players, including the thrower, place their bets into a shared pot.
• Setting the Frostpunkt: The thrower selects a Frostpunkt between 2 and 5, which becomes the reference point for the round.
• Placing Bets: Players bet whether the dice roll will result in a value higher or lower than the Frostpunkt.
• Rolling and Resolution: The thrower rolls a single die.Players who correctly guessed the result (above or below) win and share the pot with the thrower.
• Passing the Dice: The dice pass to the next player for a new round, and the process repeats.

• No-Pot Frostpunkt: To align with Gamma Age regulations, some groups play without monetary stakes, focusing on reputation or friendly rivalry.
• High-Stakes Frostpunkt: In underground gambling settings, higher risks and larger pots are common, often drawing an audience of spectators.

Following the Great War, the Federal Confederation instituted a ban on formal gambling, including Frostpunkt, as part of the Peace Treaty reforms. The game is now officially tolerated only in versions that exclude monetary betting.

Despite the prohibition, Frostpunkt remains a cornerstone of underground gambling culture, particularly in Firetown and other Dark Side settlements. The Jane Mendoza Gang facilitates and profits from these illegal activities, ensuring the game’s continued popularity among thrill-seekers and opportunists.

While legal Frostpunkt games are played without monetary stakes, the Jane Mendoza Gang operates underground Frostpunkt matches where betting is unrestricted.

• High-Stakes Matches: Illegal Frostpunkt games attract players willing to risk significant sums, with pots sometimes reaching thousands of Kourou.

• Secret Locations: Matches are typically held in hidden backrooms of venues such as the Firetown Billard Saloon or Firetown Darts Club.

• Gang Control: The Jane Mendoza Gang oversees betting operations, collects a portion of the pot as a fee, and ensures security during games.

Frostpunkt offers Dungeon Masters a flexible and engaging element to incorporate into their campaigns.

• Social Encounters: Use the game as a tool for players to interact with NPCs, gather information, or build alliances.
• High-Stakes Drama: Create tension by involving players in underground gambling rings, where the stakes include more than just money—such as reputations, debts, or alliances.
• Skill Challenges: Incorporate deception, persuasion, or sleight-of-hand checks during Frostpunkt games to enhance gameplay dynamics.
• Plot Hooks: Use Frostpunkt matches to introduce players to the Jane Mendoza Gang or to uncover secrets about Firetown’s underground culture.

• Jane Mendoza Gang
• Firetown
• Firetown Billiards Saloon
• Firetown Darts Club
• Exohuman Culture in the Gamma Age

Exohuman Games on VOI 700 D:

• Frostpunkt
• Trilliards
• Twenty One
• Zugzwang