Game Designed by: James Ernest – Art by: Brian Snoddy – Published by: Cheap Ass Games
Players: 3-5 – Ages: 10 and up – Time: 20 minutes, ‘less you got a cheatin’ cur at the table!
The Old West. Poker. The Undead. That there is the making for one fine afternoon of good times, and Dead Money delivers on all accounts. The premise behind Dead Money is simple. Poker is the newest game sweeping the Zombie world. To help fill the seats, the local saloon owner needs some Zombies to fill the seats and get folks to play, but you ain’t allowed to win. Gotta’ convince the locals to keep coming back. Only one problem, turns out the Undead are pretty dang good at poker and by the time last call rolls around, Zombies are the only bums left at the table. You ain’t gonna’ get your eternal rest till you lose the game. Time to lose that hand and curse your fellow Zombie to a fate worse than death. Do you, as a player, need to know all this “back story” to enjoy Dead Money? Heck no, but James Ernest took the time to create the story, the least we can do is write know it.
Based on the award-winning Give Me The Brain (also by James Ernest), the game is pretty simple. You want to be the first Zombie to empty their hand of cards. But, everyone else at the table has the same plan in mind and they sure as Hades ain’t gonna’ make it easy for you. To get rid of your cards, you get to play a card for every hand you have; and since none of you Undead dogs are mutants, you only got two hands. Each sturdy card displays how many hands it takes to play. The weaker cards only take one, while stronger cards take both hands, and the big guns in the deck take both hands and some brains! What, this is a game with Zombies, did you really think brains weren’t gonna’ figure into the play? (Seriously, if you did, turn in your George Romero card, you don’t deserve it). For the rest of you, the fun has just begun. With only a few Brain cards in the deck, the gooey Grey Matter is in high demand and everyone at the table will do whatever it takes to find or steal yours. (Even cheat, don’t worry, no one gets plugged fer cheatin’ in this game… Some of the cards make ya’). Now, remember them “big gun” cards I told you about? The ones that take both hands and your precious brains? Good, cause this is where Poker comes in Dead Money. See, Zombies ain’t know for their dexterity and playing a card that takes both hands and a brain is a mighty tough feat. So tough that you might lose your brain!
Take a gander at that card up above there. See the suit value? Well, that be the number you gotta’ roll on a single six-sided die to keep your brains on your person. If you don’t make the roll, everyone else at the table gets to partake in a brain showdown. Put on your Poker face, it is time to take a trip down the river. Starting on the left of the player that done lost their brains, each player may use up to five cards to make a traditional Poker hand. (You can also elect to “pass” and not partake in the brain showdown). The player with the best Poker hand gets the brain. But, getting that brain gonna’ cost you. Take another look at that card up there. See them coins? The showdown winner needs to draw that many cards per pictured coins in their winning Poker hand. But wait, you ask, isn’t the point of the game to empty my hand of cards? You bet it is, but you ain’t gonna’ do it if you never get a Brain…But you ain’t ever get a Brain unless yer’ willing to work for it! (Oh, and the lowly dog that dropped their brain in the first place? That dandy don’t get to bet, tha’ price they pay for dropping the Brain).
That about sums up Dead Money. A fast-paced Undead themed Poker game that mixes the best parts of Poker, Screw-Your-Neighbor, and Return of the Living Dead. The game lends itself to friendly trash-talking and banter between your fellow players. It didn’t take long for our test group to learn the very well-written rules and dive in. Within minutes they were dealing cards, dropping brains, and cursing the fates that they don’t draw that strong a hand in “real” Poker. The game plays best with 4 or 5 players, but out test group was able to make it work with 6. (One higher than the games suggested players, primarily because the discard pile is not meant to shuffle back into the deck). The cards are very strong and suggest years of play without any tearing or fraying. (Hell, they even withstood a puddle of Amber Ale from your friendly neighborhood Geek). The art is a whimsical mix of Tales From the Crypt style horror and Old West icons. Hard to not chuckle at the Undead Can-Can dancer or the Zombie With No Name! Dead Money is a great way to spend an evening if you’re looking for a game that appeals to both the hard-core card player and the relaxed gamer.
You can pick up your copy of Dead Money at Guardian Games (and look for demos this Saturday, May 30 at the May of the Dead Event). If you live outside Portland, check out Cheap Ass Games for ordering information.
Game of the Month is brought to you by Guardian Games.