Re: Family/Kids dice game 'Skunk' study

'Skunk' is played with two 6 sided dice. Each player in turn rolls the dice adding the points to their score. A player may continue rolling as long as they want, provided that they don't get 'Skunked'. If a player rolls a 1, they are 'Single Skunked'; their turn is over and any points earned during this turn are forfeited. If a player rolls two 1's, they are 'Double Skunked'; their turn is over and all points earned during the game are forfeited. The first player to 100 points wins the game.

Ideas for computer player behavior:

player rolls three times unless skunked sooner
player rolls until it receives a turn score of 25 or is skunked
player rolls until it reaches 100 points or is skunked

Comment on Re: Family/Kids dice game 'Skunk' study

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Re: Re: Family/Kids dice game 'Skunk' study by John M. Dlugosz (Monsignor) on Jun 21, 2003 at 00:51 UTC
Thanks for the summary. Let me add to that that this is just one "hand" or "round", and the outer level involves poker chips or pennies. Every player antes up. I don't remember how much from the branded game set I had as a kid, but 5 seems to work well. Upon getting a skunk, put in 1. Upon getting a double-skunk, put in 10. I think it was 10, but I set it to 5 too since it seems to make a good game. Upon reaching (or passing) a committed score of 100 (that is, points accumulated this roll don't count until you "stand"), all other players get one last turn. They may exceed your score, and thus win! Winner is the highest score (earliest to play last wins a tie; you have to exceed to overthrow the winner), and takes the pot. So, you may want to minimize how many times you have to put in a chip, even if that doesn't affect your loosing status. That is, should someone already way behind just roll once each turn, to not lose any more cash? My sample players provided with the framework include (1)always roll N times or until skunked; (2) roll until reaching N points or untill skunked. —John	[reply]

Replies are listed 'Best First'.

Re: Re: Family/Kids dice game 'Skunk' study
by John M. Dlugosz (Monsignor) on Jun 21, 2003 at 00:51 UTC

Let me add to that that this is just one "hand" or "round", and the outer level involves poker chips or pennies.

Every player antes up. I don't remember how much from the branded game set I had as a kid, but 5 seems to work well.

Upon getting a skunk, put in 1.

Upon getting a double-skunk, put in 10. I think it was 10, but I set it to 5 too since it seems to make a good game.

Upon reaching (or passing) a committed score of 100 (that is, points accumulated this roll don't count until you "stand"), all other players get one last turn. They may exceed your score, and thus win!

Winner is the highest score (earliest to play last wins a tie; you have to exceed to overthrow the winner), and takes the pot.

So, you may want to minimize how many times you have to put in a chip, even if that doesn't affect your loosing status. That is, should someone already way behind just roll once each turn, to not lose any more cash?

My sample players provided with the framework include (1)always roll N times or until skunked; (2) roll until reaching N points or untill skunked.

—John

[reply]