Even Odds

[Nolan Kodd]

Stacked Deck Pazaak Club
Nar Shaddaa District 2244

Nolan had taken a liking to Pazaak long before he became his own man and got his ship. Sure, there was a lot of chance about the game where you pulled random cards in turns, hoping to score 20 points as a result. But then again, you had 4 cards on hand to alter the course of the game, and the strategy revolved around keeping those cards until they mattered most, then using them at the right time.

The young man had already been to the Stacked Deck before and found it to be a fantastic place for making acquaintances, striking deals, or simply passing time. This time he was up for any of that. The club hadn't changed: it was still dimly-lit, with a bar in the middle. The walls had alcoves with the tables specifically tailored for Pazaak games. Each table had 18 slots for cards from the main deck (9 slots for each player), and 8 slots for side deck cards (4 slots for each player). Of course, the tables offered room for food and drinks as well.

As usual, Nolan occupied a free table. By now, he had already learned the establishment's rules:

1. Players were using the club's decks instead of their own. It prevented any sort of cheating related to stacked decks. Nolan couldn't but find it ironic, especially given the establishment's name.

2. The players could see the 4 modifier cards that their opponents had on hand. This rule prevented any possible machinations over the course of the game, and any quarrels over cheating.

3. All modifier cards were always +/- cards. So, assuming Nolan had a "6" card in his hand, he'd be able to use it as +6 or -6 (his choice). This rule made things simpler.

While waiting for an opponent, Nolan decided to draw the 4 modifier cards for his hand. These cards were the only way for Nolan to affect the course of the game (except for calling a stand during the set), and he wouldn't be able to replenish them. That's why he had to be careful that he wouldn't spend them all quickly: he needed to win 3 sets, after all.

[dice]4d6[/dice]

 

[Nolan Kodd]

Now that the modifiers were drawn, it was time for drawing the first card from the main deck and starting the game. Nolan put the drawn card into one of the 9 free slots on his side of the table. The goal was to take turns in drawing cards from the main deck, until the total score of the cards was 20 for one of the participants. After each card drawn, the players could also use one of the modifier cards on hand, although that occasion would be pretty rare.

[dice]1d10[/dice]

Now Nolan was just sitting there and waiting for an opponent. This time he hadn't ordered any drinks yet, thinking that he might do it later.

@Algarus

 

[Arial Calvin]

Arial had just grabbed her glass of Corellian Red and headed to the Pizaak table. Lady Luck didn't tend to favor her in these games, but a little fun never killed anyone. She spots a young man sitting at the table, seemed he had just been dealt a hand. Perfect. Clad in her orange flight jacket and black jeans, Arial slide into a chair across from the man and sipped for her glass.
"Deal me in if you would." She says, setting the glass down and taking up her cards.
[dice]4d6[/dice]

 

[Arial Calvin]

Arial looks up from her cards and glances at the man across from her. "Haven't seen you before, have I?" She asks with curiosity, as a card was revealed.
[dice]1d10[/dice]

 

[Nolan Kodd]

As the woman approached and occupied the free seat, the young man only nodded and tilted his head with an elusive smile: "Be my guest." Then he added a question, just to make sure: "Are we placing any bets?"

Nar Shaddaa had many archetypes of people, from commoners to thugs, from smugglers to bounty hunters, from Jedi to Sith. The man that Arial faced was no commoner; if anything, he looked like a pilot or a smuggler, wearing a black leather jacket and a blue T-shirt underneath, along with dark-blue jeans.

In the meantime, the man drew another card; there was no risk of going over 20 just yet, so at best he'd get a 9 and would be able to play +2 from his hand and end the first set overwhelmingly fast. There were other potential outcomes, but it was too early to judge how the first set would end.

Spoiler: Previous Rolls

9

[dice]1d10[/dice]

"I guess we haven't met, I would've remembered otherwise," the young man nodded. "Nolan Kodd," he introduced himself casually, without any posing or any extra information.

@Algarus

 

[Arial Calvin]

Arial's face contorted in thought before she replied. She wasn't against placing bets, but then again should see trust anyone trying to gamble on Nar Shaddaa? Well, the man seemed harmless enough, and if he dared to cheat she'd make sure he regretted. She relaxes her face and smiles. "I don't see the harm in it. You have a limit you want to start at?" She asks. "Nolan Kodd? Gotcha. Arial Calvin, nice to meet you." She smiles before a second card is revealed. [dice]1d10[/dice]

 

[Nolan Kodd]

Nolan shrugged, as he was unsure about the size of the bets either. "I guess 50 credits would do it for a start. We can up the stakes as the game goes, and whoever wins 3 sets first takes it all," with that, Nolan put the credit chips on the table and pushed them towards the middle, expecting his opponent to do the same.

"Likewise," he replied as the woman introduced herself and said it was nice to meet him. Nolan then looked at the situation on the table and his own hand. He could work with some risk, so he played a +2 from his hand, leaving his score at 19. "Stand," the young man declared with a slightly confident smirk.

Now it was up to Arial: she had to get 19 with her consecutive turns to tie that set; if she scored 20 somehow, Nolan would lose the first set.

Spoiler: Nolan's First Set

9+8+2=19

"So, you're into games of chance, huh?" he asked, leaning slightly forward. If anything, he did that to maintain the conversation.

@Algarus

 

[Arial Calvin]

Arial smiled as the man laid his cards out, then went back to concentrating on her own hand. "Nicely done." She complimented, mentally thinking of different patterns to victory. "I guess you could say it comes with my line of work, guess there's a part of me that likes taking risks." She paused to give a wink, before drawing another card.
[dice]1d10[/dice]

 

[Arial Calvin]

Arial bit her lip for a moment as she stared hard at her card, thinking. She shrugged and looked to Kodd. "You got me." She admitted. It was only match one, she still had a 2 matches to go. She grabbed her drink and sipped it once more. "You need a drink?" She offers, setting her glass down. "Might help tilt the scales in my favor." She grins at her little joke.

 

[Nolan Kodd]

Arial could've used her +2 modifier to tie the set, but apparently she didn't want to. Nolan shrugged, nodding graciously as she commended his play.

"I wouldn't mind," he replied to an offer of drink with a smile. "Though getting me drunk is probably a terrible idea in the long run. I'll do something crazy, like offering a game by Nar Shaddaa rules, and that'd be... inappropriate," he grinned himself, hoping that the reply matched up to the joke Arial had made.

Anyway, the first set was apparently concluded, so Nolan didn't hesitate to draw another card from the deck to kick off the second set:

[dice]1d10[/dice]

"So what is your line of work?" he asked curiously. "You look like a pilot to me."

@Algarus

 

[Arial Calvin]

Arial hums to herself and draws a card from the deck. Maybe she was a little out of practice, though this game was just for fun, so what the hell. "Well, it'd certainly be entertaining to say the least. And I think that might get us tossed out of here if we start following that line of thinking." She smirks back, glancing down at the card she drew. Well, even if she lost, at least she would have company for the day; and that was certainly hard to find.
[dice]1d10[/dice]
"Oh, well I am a pilot of sorts, but....I'm a bounty hunter. Pays the bills, and gives me someone to take my anger issues out on." Arial giggles, sitting back in her chair. "Kidding. I have a tendency to being professional."

 

[Nolan Kodd]

Nolan chuckled at the woman's reply; he was enjoying this casual game so far. He nodded to her comment about the risk of getting tossed out; that was one of the reasons why he had called the Nar Shaddaa rules inappropriate anyway.

"A bottle of Tarisian ale and a glass," he addressed one of the waiter droids that were roaming the club. After that he drew another card:

Spoiler: Previous Rolls

6

[dice]1d10[/dice]

The woman's joke made him chuckle yet again: "Anger issues, huh? That makes me wonder if I want to win now." As Arial became more serious, so did Nolan: "Right. Me too, actually. Oh, and so that we're even, I'm a pilot and a mechanic."

@Algarus

 

[Arial Calvin]

Arial snatched another card from the deck and put it down. She smirked at Nolan. "Well, only one way to find out Flyboy." She teased, "I'm teasing. There's no need to worry, unless you're cheating me of course. But you wouldn't do that, right?" She snickered, raising her glass to her lips and drinking from it once again. "Are you now? Well then, I happen to be an amateur slicer and mechanic as well. Not surprising, who else can you depend on now in this day and age?" She mutters, looking down at her cards. This was an interesting turn of events.
[dice]1d10[/dice]

 

[Nolan Kodd]

Nolan tilted his head slightly, replying to Arial's remark with a chuckle: "Wouldn't dream of it, gungirl." Hopefully, the reply was on the level. Even though Nolan haven't had his ale so far (and the droid wasn't hurrying to bring it back), he felt at ease and enjoyed the chitchat.

Meanwhile the set has reached the stage when Nolan could lose it if he drew a card with too high a score. A +7 would be perfect; anything higher would absolutely require using modifiers, which could go either way.

Spoiler: Previous Rolls

6+7

[dice]1d10[/dice]

The young man nodded understandingly to the bounty hunter's comment about having to be self-reliant: "Yeah, you nailed it. I'm more than amateur when it comes to mechanics, but slicing? That's something I've never done." Nolan shrugged, tilting his head: "Not that I ever had the need to do it, but it would be a useful skill to have, no doubt."

@Algarus

 

[Arial Calvin]

Arial raised a brow as she lifted another card. "Gungirl, huh? That's a new one." She smirked. Arial did the math in her head, anything higher than a 5 would be all she wanted, still she had alot of room to work with. "Slicing isn't that hard really, just cross the right lines, check the feeds, make sure you have a solid connection, and it's as easy as turning a hydrospinner." She chimed, having finished her thoughts. "So, you bounty hunt too you said? Been on any interesting hunts lately?" She asked, her eyes falling back onto Nolan.
[dice]1d10[/dice]

 

[Nolan Kodd]

"Well, I needed a good reply to flyboy, eh?" Nolan chuckled, but then listened to what Arial had to say about slicing. "I suppose it can be easy with practice, I just haven't had any," to his surprise, the young man was talking even more than he normally would, somewhat breaking his own rule of not showing any weaknesses to strangers.

In the meantime, the situation on the table was surprisingly in Nolan's favor: although he had scored 22, he had a +/-2 modifier that would do exactly what he needed. Nolan put it on the table with an apologetic smile: "I'm getting kind of lucky."

Spoiler: Nolan's Second Set

6+7+9-2=20

The question about bounty hunting made Nolan raise an eyebrow: "Me? I don't think I said that. I'm just a freighter pilot." The man shrugged before tilting his head to the right slightly, with a grin: "So, unlike you, I don't get an excuse to vent, especially with a blaster pistol."

@Algarus

 

[Arial Calvin]

Arial scowled at seeing Nolan grab his card. Seems luck was with him today. Her scowl melted into a smile soon after though. This was fun, she enjoyed being herself when not in her 'hunter' persona. "You should try it sometime, nothing beats the kick of a blaster in the palm of your hand."
Arial drew a card from the deck and hummed to herself.
[Dice]1d10[/dice]

 

[Arial Calvin]

Arial looked up at Nolan and smiled. "Huh, who would've thought. Guess luck went both ways this match."
Maybe she wasn't completely terrible at this game after all.

 

[Nolan Kodd]

At first Nolan was fairly content with the results of the game: he had used the second modifier to secure himself what he believed would be a victorious set. As he saw the scowl on the face of his opponent, he tried to console her in a joking manner: "Well, try to look at it from another angle: you're lucky we're not playing Pazaak by Nar Shaddaa rules." Hopefully, it wasn't too pushy and would at least cheer the woman up; she didn't seem too arrogant for this kind of joke.

However, when she drew another card, it was Nolan's turn to be surprised: the woman had managed to score a 20 without using a modifier! That meant the entire set they had played was essentially for nothing: Nolan had to win 2 more sets, and Arial still had to win 3 sets. The girl, however, had all her modifier cards on hand, and Nolan only had two: a +/-4 and a +/-6. Still, those would probably be enough for the two or three remaining sets.

"Yeah, it certainly seems like it," Nolan smiled in return to Arial's comment about luck going both ways; he then started the next set by drawing another card:

[dice]1d10[/dice]

In the meantime the droid brought a tray with a bottle of Tarisian ale and a bottle. Nolan took it off the tray and put some credit chips in return. Pouring the ale into his glass, he looked at the woman's own glass that she had brought to the table: "Want some ale, Arial?"

@Algarus

 

[Arial Calvin]

Arial waves down a server droid as she finished her drink. The game was in her favor, she had 4 cards to his 2.
"Oh no, I'm fine. Ale makes my memory get fuzzy, but thank you."
She pulls a card from the deck to start another match. [dice]1d10[/dice]

"So, you just in for a stop on Nar Shaddaa, or waiting for work?"