TWENTY ONE (GAME)

Twenty One is an Exohuman card game of chance widely played on 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, Twenty One has become a staple of underground gambling culture on the Dark Side, especially in Firetown’s bars. Its illegal gambling variant is officially banned by the Federal Confederation, yet it thrives as players wager using the old currency, Kourou — a currency abolished in the Gamma Age but still widely circulated on the black market.

The game of Twenty One was introduced to the settlers of VOI 700 D as a traditional card game brought from Earth. During the 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, the 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 Communardist restrictions. The Jane Mendoza Gang plays a significant role in sustaining the game’s underground economy.

Twenty One is played with a “Skat hand” of 32 hands of French cards. The object of the game is to get closer to the score of 21 with your cards than your opponent without exceeding the value of 21 points.

The counting values of the cards:

• Ace = 11 points
• King = 4 points
• Queen = 3 points
• Jack = 2 points
• Number cards = according to their printed values

• 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.

In the underground version of Twenty One, the gameplay is intensified with wagering mechanics and a high-stakes bidding phase:

• Base Bet: Each player places an initial Kourou as a base bet before drawing cards.

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.

Any remaining player may propose doubling the stakes. If accepted, all players must double their bets or fold.

Players then decide whether to draw an additional card or stay.

The player with the hand closest to 21 points without exceeding it wins the total pot.

The Jane Mendoza Gang heavily influences the underground gambling scene, including Twenty One:

• Facilitating Matches: Secret games are held in backrooms of establishments like Firetown Billard Saloon and the 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.

Twenty One offers an excellent narrative tool for Dungeon Masters, whether as a casual game or a high-stakes plot device:

• 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.

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

Exohuman Games on VOI 700 D:

• Frostpunkt
• Twenty One
• Trilliards
• Zugzwang