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Washerwoman 3:390:00/3:39
Holmgang Rules v2.2
2 players
8 D6 dice (Swords)
2 D20 countdown dice and 6 wooden discs(Shields)
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You are two Vikings in an epic dispute after trading insults. By the old Norse laws, you have agreed to settle the matter by Holmgang. Grab your three shields and your best sword, step onto the sacred elk hide, and fight to first blood. May your honor bind and follow you, win or lose.
Choosing first player
Both players trade an insult. Whoever is more aggrieved goes first, whoever has the better insult goes second. Alternatively, they each roll 1D6 and high roll goes first.
Order of play
Each turn the attacking player rolls 4D6. This is the Swing.
Next the defending player chooses any one of their opponent’s dice to be rerolled. This is the Parry.
For any pair of numbers left after the Parry, the defending player takes that number in damage
For example, two 3’s would mean 3 damage. Two 4’s and two 1’s would mean 5 damage.
For three of a kind, double the damage. So, three 5’s would mean 10 damage.
For four of a kind, triple the damage. So, four 6’s would mean 18 damage.
Also, for a straight of 4 or more, add middle two or three numbers together for damage(ie 1234=5, 23456=12).
If any damage is done, subtract that number from the defender’s active shield (D20CD).
Now it is the next player’s turn to Swing.
Shields
Each player has 3 shields (discs), which are used as counters. They start the game by placing a D20CD on only one of the shields. At the start of each round, the defending player may discard a broken shield for a new one, resetting the D20CD on a new shield; however, once discarded, that shield cannot be used again for the rest of the game. All damage received in a round can only be applied to the active shield.
Galen’s Wager - If a player’s shield is at 5 or less and they agree to keep the shield through their opponents next turn, the player may take one of their opponents D6 and roll 5D6 for their next Swing.
Winning the game
The first player to cause more damage than their opponent’s active shield has drawn first blood, and wins the game.
Copyright 2016 Jeremy Rodgers