The Serpent's Gambit

A postal game for 2-4 players by John Walker 2025.

Overview

You are a cunning merchant attempting to amass a fortune by dealing in certain goods. To win, you must collect a set amount of gold before your rivals. The cards represent the type of goods you acquire, while a dice roll determines the success of your ventures.

Game components

Players: 2 to 4 competitors.

3 decks of cards, which are:

• Common Goods: 12 cards with values from 1 to 3.
• Rare goods 3 cards with the value from 4 to 6.
• Skill Cards: 2 x number of players, cards detailing a special ability.

Standard six-sided dice (d6).

Game setup

Starting wealth: Each player begins with 10 Gold.

Set up: The GM shuffles the common goods deck and deals each player one random card.

The game turn

The GM rolls a D6, this roll applies to all players for that turn.

Player actions: Each turn, players submit one of three orders

• 1 Acquire: You attempt to acquire a common or rare, good.
  • Example Order: "ACQUIRE Common."
  • GM Action: The GM draws a new card for you.
  • Result: If the GM roll is equal or higher than the value of the good the player gains the good.
• 2 Sell Goods: You attempt to sell one or more cards from your inventory.
  • Order: "SELL for x"
  • You must choose one card to sell. You can choose to bluff and say the card's value is higher than it is. The GM announces your intention to the other players, revealing only the bluff value.
  • Bluffing: Other players can challenge your value. If no one challenges you, you get your declared gold. If you are challenged, the GM reveals the card's real value. Challenges do not count as an order.
  • If your value was false: You get nothing for the sale and pay a penalty of 3 gold to the challenging player.
  • If your value was true: You receive the full value, and the challenging player pays you a penalty of 3 gold.
• 3 Gain Skill Card:
  • Order: "Gain Skill."
  • If the GM roll is 2 or higher, you gain the skill card.
  • Some skill cards will be revealed once they have been used.

Winning the game

The first player to accumulate 25 or more gold wins the game.

If 2 or more players achieve this on the same turn any player with the most gold will win.