I'm trying to wrap my head around the rules for Sabacc. My character had the chance to sit down and play a few hands against a skilled NPC in a one on one game today. I won the roll, and had several extra successes. But since it was a one on one game and just the two of us, I simply won what the NPC had wagered. None of the extra successes meant anything. Realistically it made sense, but it makes my Up the Ante talent seem a little useless and it doesn't really follow the rules for Sabacc in the book.
I understand that if there was a table of people playing then there would be more people paying in and a bigger pot to win, but how do I describe a one-on-one game so that the rules match the narrative and the winner does earn more than the basic wager? Any suggestions or tips would be appreciated.
Sabacc question
How many hands of Sabacc got played in the narrative? If it was just one hand then there isn't much beyond the initial wager, maybe there could be a round of raises. If more than one hand got played then the PC might lose or win a lot more.
It's kinda like blackjack and hold 'em poker combined, but in spaaace.
Just learn the suits and names of some of the special cards, and you can narrate some fun hands. Don't forget to use the randomizer in your narration!
11 hours ago, mcellis said:How many hands of Sabacc got played in the narrative? If it was just one hand then there isn't much beyond the initial wager, maybe there could be a round of raises. If more than one hand got played then the PC might lose or win a lot more.
We only did 3 hands. The NPC and I sat down at the table, wagered 200 credits and then rolled. I came up with 4 successes so should have won my original wager plus 3 more for a gain of 600 credits. The GM ruled that since it was only 200 credits, I only gained the 200 credits. I'm not upset, it just doesn't follow the rules, and both of us are rules sort of people. So I'm looking for a narrative way to describe a single game like that that works within the rules. Neither of us thought about the possibility of raising and such, so I think that is going to be route I'll take.
10 hours ago, awayputurwpn said:It's kinda like blackjack and hold 'em poker combined, but in spaaace.
Just learn the suits and names of some of the special cards, and you can narrate some fun hands. Don't forget to use the randomizer in your narration!
I was thinking about that. I might have to ask him to consider that there are multiple rounds of betting in each hand and that the pot can go above the initial hand. I think I want to describe it very similar to the buy in (to set a limit if he is concerned) and the wager (the ante) from poker. It may start at 200 credits, but the failures and successes allow more to be won or lost.
What randomizer?
1 hour ago, Ahrimon said:What randomizer?
37 minutes ago, awayputurwpn said:
Ah yes, we used the force die as our randomizer. I wasn't quite tracking what you meant, but I do now. And definitely thank you for the link, that helped me understand Sabacc a little better and plan for future games.
My favorite thing about sabaac is the idiots array
Edited by EliasWindriderThere is also a possibility of some side bets going on behind the scene... the npcs posse knows how good he is so they throw some credits on the table to boost their pockets but turns out that you are having a lucky streak and take their add ons as well as your winnings.