Discordian Pocket Poker

[Dimocritus]

I'm trying to make a game that can be played, more or less, at any time, any place and with any number of people using only what you have in your pockets. No cards, dice etc. needed. This is what I've come up with so far:

Discordian Pocket Poker (note: this is still a work in progress, rules will be refined based on feedback/playtesting)

Setup:
Each player reveals any number of items from their pockets (not everything you have needs to be revealed. If you have any real valuables, probably keep them in your pockets). For every item you have in common with any other player, you get a point (ex. if you and any number of other players reveal a cellphone, you each get a point. If you and only one other person reveals a phone, only the two of you get a point and so on). The player that has more of a specific item earns an additional point (ex. If you and any number of other players reveals a key ring, and you have the most keys on your keyring, you gain an additional point). Any single item that you have in common with any number of other players that is in better condition/higher quality than any of your opponents earns you an additional point (ex. If you have a fancy smart phone, and another player(s) have a brick from the eighties, you gain an additional point). Once points are totalled, you can begin the game.

Gameplay:
Going counter clockwise around the group of players, each player takes a turn betting any other player one point that they won't do something. For instance, player one may bet player three that he won't sing the entire opening theme from "Full House," or maybe he/she would bet another player that they won't do a head-spin in the middle of the room. If the challenged player refuses to do said act, they give up one point to the challenger. If they succeed in the action, they receive one point from the challenger. If they fully attempted the act, but failed, no points change hands. You cannot challenge someone to do something impossible (challenging them to sing a song they don't know, for instance) or illegal (unless, of course, you are playing with recreational drugs or alcohol or something). Furthermore, you can't immediately challenge someone to do something very extreme right from the jump. There are different levels of actions. The level goes up after every player has made a challenge.

Levels:
Level one:      Simple verbal (admit an embarrassing episode in your life, bark like a dog, etc.)
Level two:      Advanced verbal (sing a song, repeat an elaborate speech, etc.)
Level three:     Interactive verbal (any of the above, in the presence of/in front of a stranger(s))
Level four:      Simple physical (Hand actions, funny faces, etc.)
Level five:       Physical (funny dancing, elaborate pantomiming, etc.)
Level six:        Advanced physical (athletic based activities, lifting, feats of strength,etc.)
Level seven:   Interactive physical (any of the above physical activities, in the presence of/in front of a stranger(s))
Level eight:     NO HOLDS BARRED!!!!

Any completed level my be used in addition to the current level. For instance, at level two, you may challenge someone to sing a song in dog barks. If you are at level five, you can challenge someone to dance while singing a song etc.. The maximum bet increases by one when you reach a new level.

The Winner:
The winner is the player with the most points by the end of the predetermined play time, or the only remaining player with points.

The Stakes:
This game should not be played for money (that would kind of defeat the purpose) but each player should put something in the pot of equal value. Maybe an item from your pockets, or maybe each player brings a specific trinket/doodad for the pot. But, I encourage you to be creative, maybe the winner of the game doesn't have to pay his share of the bar tab, or anything else you can think of, really.

Judgement:
Any disagreements (ex: you can't decide on who's phone is better for the additional point, or if it is unclear if a particular action was completed properly) are to be decided on by any non-player(s) present. If there are no non-players present, disputes should be handled democratically by the group of players.

This game should be played in public, (though, is also good for parties or whatever) to maximize potential mind-fuckery.

Please to be leaving thoughts and/or suggestions.

[Triple Zero]

I like it! But the rules are complicated, in the sense that if I were to try to explain this to my group of friends, they would either lose attention or start bickering about details in the rules, like the keyring example, combine with phone. Cheap ass good old indestructible Nokia has more of a specific item (buttons!) than an iPhone, but iPhone is "higher quality" WHAT NOW

Unfortunately one of the guys is really into rules-lawyering and will want to push the discussion to the point of "ask others" every time, I guess.

And that's before the game is started, even?

I know from trying to play 1000 BWC with them. But the rules lawyering guy, well he's a good friend of mine, and on one hand this is really annoying, but OTOH he also helped out clear some rough edges in the rules. So it's useful but also results in a  lot of arguments.

Additionally, I'm not sure if I could convince my friends to play what basically comes down to a game of dare?

[Dimocritus]

I like it! But the rules are complicated, in the sense that if I were to try to explain this to my group of friends, they would either lose attention or start bickering about details in the rules, like the keyring example, combine with phone. Cheap ass good old indestructible Nokia has more of a specific item (buttons!) than an iPhone, but iPhone is "higher quality" WHAT NOW

Unfortunately one of the guys is really into rules-lawyering and will want to push the discussion to the point of "ask others" every time, I guess.

And that's before the game is started, even?

I know from trying to play 1000 BWC with them. But the rules lawyering guy, well he's a good friend of mine, and on one hand this is really annoying, but OTOH he also helped out clear some rough edges in the rules. So it's useful but also results in a  lot of arguments.

Additionally, I'm not sure if I could convince my friends to play what basically comes down to a game of dare?

All of which are reasonable concerns. If there's ways around them, let's find them, if not, we can trash the whole thing and start all over. I just want to make a game that can be spontaneously played without restriction. As far as the "game of dare" goes, I normally wouldn't play a "truth or dare" style game either, but I think by doing crazy things in public makes this very "discordian" in the sense that you provide a mind-fuck just by playing.

EDIT: Also, the rules are going to be interpreted differently by different groups of people, and there's nothing wrong with spawning different versions of the same game.

[Triple Zero]

Well, I think that the levels you put into the "dare" part might make it easier for people to participate. Especially if the levels don't go up too quickly, they might be loose enough to dare stuff they otherwise wouldnt.

I like the game, I forgot to say that I think playtesting will prove whether it is actually good

Maybe the game isn't for the rules-lawyering guy anyway. He likes to play games to win, using the rules to his advantage. Not bending them, but he wants to play as hard as possible and therefore needs the rules to be laid out like crystal.

Although it sounds reasonably clear. I will try and see if next wednesday I can get some people to play.

[Dimocritus]

Well, I think that the levels you put into the "dare" part might make it easier for people to participate. Especially if the levels don't go up too quickly, they might be loose enough to dare stuff they otherwise wouldnt.

I like the game, I forgot to say that I think playtesting will prove whether it is actually good

Maybe the game isn't for the rules-lawyering guy anyway. He likes to play games to win, using the rules to his advantage. Not bending them, but he wants to play as hard as possible and therefore needs the rules to be laid out like crystal.

Although it sounds reasonably clear. I will try and see if next wednesday I can get some people to play.

That would be cool! Let me know how it works out. The game isn't really for the "rules lawyering" type, anyhow. The fun is in playing, not necesarily winning. And, of course, for the reactions of any bystanders that may witness you or a friend doing cartwheels down the strip while reciting the ten commandments.

[the last yatto]

there should be an out at all levels except the final one

ie level two, you dont know the lyrics of their song, you may sing POKER FACE instead

[Dimocritus]

Hrmm. I'm wondering if, when tallying points, instead of revealing items, you just announce what you have so that way you can bluff for extra points somehow. I'm not really sure how it would work, though.

[Richter]

Still reading up.  I love the concept, since I usually have a lot of random shit in my pockets. 

Suggestions:
-With the "Higher quality" ruling, maybe slant it the other way, and lower quality scores higher?  (Ex: a few nails or a new bolt is trumped by the beaten, rusty lug nut someone found.  Older, crappier phones trump iPhones. )

-Expand the scope to bags / purses too?

-Add a wild card provision?  Unique items begining with a certain, arbitrary letter?

[Dimocritus]

Still reading up.  I love the concept, since I usually have a lot of random shit in my pockets. 

Suggestions:
-With the "Higher quality" ruling, maybe slant it the other way, and lower quality scores higher?  (Ex: a few nails or a new bolt is trumped by the beaten, rusty lug nut someone found.  Older, crappier phones trump iPhones. )

-Expand the scope to bags / purses too?

-Add a wild card provision?  Unique items begining with a certain, arbitrary letter?

I liike the opposite slant on the quality/quantity rule. I think that may level the playing feild a bit. I also like the "wild card" idea, but what method to use to determine an items "wild card" status,I'm not so sure of. As far as purses/bags, I think that might be a little much. Maybe just all pockets, including jacket pockets etc...

[Richter]

Anything with a name that starts with the 1st letter of the name of wherever you are?
(Ex: If you're at the Abbey, then Altoids, apples etc. are wild.)

They'd be interesting in play though, because technically they'd give you AND the ohter player a point.  If you restricted it to copying an item ONLY for that round and only in that round, you'd have some interesting choice about who you want to use you wild to copy and when.

Good point about the bags.  I carry one with everything and then some, would not be fair. 
Maybe offer a point for an item of SHAME or DISCOMFORT?  For those who could reveal fungal / hemoirhoid cream, rubber gloves, or anything that you would not want to offer to a stranger?  (I can see lots of things working as house rules, or whims of whoever is "Dealer" for that round.)

[the last yatto]

or a max of x items used for y of players...