POKNA
CREDITS
Designer: Asmenedas
THE HUTTESE GAME OF POKNA
Pokna
Pokna is said to be based on ancient Hutt divinaton practises, whereby diviners of the Hutt clans composed natal charts for the children of powerful Hutt clans and forecast the fortunes of the individual, creating a board on which were noted key moments in their fate. Over time, the occurance of these events would be noted, marking the fulfilment of the Hutt's destiny. Charts were often updated and noted at key points in a Hutt's life - at annual festivities, origin days and major life events. These charts could also be dangerous for the diviners, if the chart was never fulfilled - there is more than one story of ill-starred diviners who were punished for an unfulfilled chart.
Over time, the concept of the Pokna was abosrbed into the general gambling culture. It started with games which aped the divining tradition, which diviners making charts for specific seasons and festivals and days. They became attached to fights and arena events.
RULES FOR POKNA
Vigo's Favor is a game where fortune favors the feared. In the criminal underworld, the fickle attention of a Vigo is a blessing and a curse, and fortunes are made and lost on the rattle of chance cubes across backroom tables in darkened cantinas.
SETUP
Chance Cubes x Players - One chance cube per player. A six sided dice with three blue and three red sides. Alternatively, players can use a coin with differing faces.
Prize Pot - One chance cube per player. A six sided dice with three blue and three red sides.
GAMEPLAY
1. THE STAKE
Choose one player to be Vigo. The Vigo sets the stake for the game.
2. SET THE FAVOR
The Vigo rolls their chance cube to determine the colour of the favor for the round.
3. PLAYER ANTE
Each player matches the stake in the pot.
4. SEEKING FAVOR
Starting clockwise from the Vigo, each player will roll their Chance Cube.
If they match the Vigo's colour, the player remains in the Vigo's favor.
If they do not match the Vigo's favor, they are eliminated.
WINNING THE GAME
If no players remain, the Vigo takes the Pot.
If one player remains, the player may:
(A) Claim the pot and end the round
(B) Challenge fate by rolling again
If the player Challenges, the Vigo increases the stake and the player must match. The Vigo then rolls again. If the player loses the roll, the Vigo claims the whole pot. If the player wins, they take the whole pot.
If multiple players remain:
The Vigo pays one stake per surviving player into the pot.
The survivors decide to either roll again, or split the pot.
Play continues until the Vigo wins, a single player wins, or the pot is split. In friendly games, it is customary to allow each player the chance to play a round as the Vigo.
EXAMPLE OF PLAY
Five players gather at the table. The Vigo sets the stake at 1 credit and rolls red. Each player antes 1 credit, for a pot of 4 credits.
Player 1 rolls red — still in favor
Player 2 rolls blue — eliminated
Player 3 rolls blue — eliminated
Player 4 rolls red — still in favor
Two remain in favor. The Vigo pays 2 credits into the pot, raising the total to 6.
Player 1 offers to split, but Player 4 refuses. The roll again.
Player 1 rolls red — still in favor
Player 4 rolls blue — eliminated
The last one standing, Player 1 may claim the 6 credits. Instead, they choose to Challenge the Vigo, hoping for more. The Vigo adds another 1 credit to the pot, and the player matches, bringing the total to 8.
Player 1 rolls blue — eliminated
The Vigo wins the pot of 8 credits. The tite of Vigo passes to the Player 1 for the next round.
