# Any "fictional" games that are widely played? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 6, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142 "2010-12-06T14:15:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/21 "2010-12-07T00:05:08Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > As I said, I don’t know anyone who’s played it. As a kid I made myself a set, but I don’t think I ever played it, primarily because my parents and siblings had already learned the sorts of games I liked to play and refused. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/22 "2010-12-07T00:20:01Z")
Dragon Poker (From Little Myth Marker by Bob Asprin) was played at cons when I was younger (and might still be today for all I know). > **[オフラインで出会いたい](http://www.card-games-online.com/dragonpoker.html/)** > > I want to meet you offline ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/23 "2010-12-07T00:31:40Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The Hackmaster RPG is largely based on the 1E AD&D rules (and, yes, indeed, there are people who play it). So it’s not _really_ a fictional game, just a new iteration of the real thing that the comic was based on in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/24 "2010-12-07T00:57:00Z")
So Harry Potter first got people that would never read to read, now it’s getting people that sneer at sports to play a sport? I guess that’s good? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/25 "2010-12-07T01:35:05Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > So it’s not _really_ a fictional game, just a new iteration of the real thing that the comic was based on in the first place. Pretty much, though I suspect that there were aspects of Hackmaster (as described in the comic) that didn’t make it into the actual game. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/26 "2010-12-07T01:41:06Z")
> [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](#): > > Quidditch is actually really popular right now. No, seriously, it’s being played in high schools and colleges (recreationally). > > You have to be straddling a broom as you run the whole time. The snitch is represented as some guy runnning around with a gold flag in his pocket. Sensibly, catching the snitch is only 50 points. I don’t know if catching it ends the game or not. You know, I read this, and thought it must be one of the lamest things ever…the video confirmed my suspicions…wow… I mean, I’m sure they’re having fun, but do they _really_ need to stick brooms between their legs and wear capes? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/27 "2010-12-07T01:44:48Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > You know, I read this, and thought it must be one of the lamest things ever…the video confirmed my suspicions…wow… > > I mean, I’m sure they’re having fun, but do they _really_ need to stick brooms between their legs and wear capes? I think they could really lose the brooms for a land based version but I like the capes. Without the brooms, it looks like fun. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/28 "2010-12-07T01:56:30Z")
> [@](#): > > Dragon Poker (From Little Myth Marker by Bob Asprin) was played at cons when I was younger (and might still be today for all I know). I’ve wondered about that one, though really, the game isn’t as complicated as it’s made out to be. It’ll be different each time, of course, but in any given game, the rules aren’t much more complicated than ordinary poker. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/29 "2010-12-07T02:29:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’ve wondered about that one, though really, the game isn’t as complicated as it’s made out to be. It’ll be different each time, of course, but in any given game, the rules aren’t much more complicated than ordinary poker. Depends on how long the list of rules is. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/30 "2010-12-07T02:29:27Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > I mean, I’m sure they’re having fun, but do they _really_ need to stick brooms between their legs and wear capes? It seems to me that the brooms make sense to the extent that they (a) take away one hand, and (b) make direct scuffling for balls awkward. The former surely means that receiving and controlling the quaffle isn’t easy. The latter might favor agility relative to force, though under the Middlebury rules that I linked above, it still sounds like a moderately rough game when played by athletic people. > [@](#): > > Physical Contact within the Rules > > Here is what players ARE allowed to do. > > - Removing the ball from other players’ hands (except the keeper) > - Pushing or shoving other players > - Grabbing with one hand > - Shouldering or body checking > - Slide Tackling from any side > - Tripping > > Important: The Snitch Runner has no restrictions on physical action. He/she may do whatever it takes to avoid capture. > > In the past this has included headlocks, take-downs, and even occasional slapping. Still, the game _effect_ of brooms should be distinguished from the twee affect of actually carrying brooms around (let alone capes). I think I’d want to lose the brooms and try just requiring everybody (except perhaps beaters) to play one-handed. Maybe have players wear one glove each; all valid ball plays must be made with the gloved hand. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/31 "2010-12-07T05:52:39Z")
Apparently people in several countries play versions of [Jugger](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jugger), the brutal post-apocalyptic sport from the Rutger Hauer film _[The Blood of Heroes](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094764)_ (AKA _Salute of the Jugger_). The weapons are padded and they don’t use actual dog skulls, but they do still keep time by throwing stones against a gong. Carrying the dog boy is, of course, strongly discouraged. ---
**Author:** ![SavageBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@SavageBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SavageBob)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/32 "2010-12-07T17:02:56Z")
In their book _Crisis on Cloud City_, West End Games created a deck and rules for the “sabacc” card game mentioned in an early draft of _The Empire Strikes Back_ and elaborated upon in the Timothy Zahn _Star Wars_ novels of the 1990s. I have no idea if their version of the game ever caught on, but a Google search for “sabacc” brings up plenty of variant rules, computer-game interpretations, and guides. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/33 "2010-12-07T17:16:36Z")
It’s about time a network produces _The Running Man_. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/34 "2010-12-07T17:33:12Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > It’s about time a network produces _The Running Man_. That movie seems more and more prescient every day. ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/35 "2010-12-07T17:36:00Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > I honestly like Three-Cornered Pitney more than 43-Man Squamish. > > “I now roll my whirtling toward the kitchen.” This made me laugh—glad I’m not the only Mad magazine fan here. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/36 "2010-12-07T19:26:08Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > _Jetan_ – Martian Chess from Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Mars novels, has been played by enthiusiasts (although I’ve never known any). ERB gave the rules in, appropriately enough, _The Chessmen of Mars_ > > [Jetan - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jetan) > The Wiki page gives similar “invented” games This is what I would have said. I’ve never played it, but once knew some folks who did, at a sci-fi convention. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/37 "2010-12-07T19:35:33Z")
How about Star Trek’s Tri-D Chess? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/38 "2010-12-07T20:56:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The difference between the Warlord and the King is that any piece, even a lowly pawn, can attack a King with the same effect, but if any piece other than the enemy Warlord captures your Warlord, that’s a draw. You can’t massacre your enemy’s pawns with your king because the pawns are likely to be protecting each other, and you’re not allowed to move into check (and even if you were allowed, it’d be suicidally foolish to do so). You _are_, however, allowed to move your Warlord into a threatened space, and if your opponent is playing for a win, there’s nothing he can do about it. > > Nor do I claim to have a killer strategem, just that I can force draws. I certainly couldn’t win against someone else attempting to force a draw, and I probably couldn’t even win against someone who was also trying for a win. Understood, and you may well be right as to the drawish nature of Jetan, but what I meant was that one player’s Warlord would be an effective screen against the other: If my Warlord is within three spaces of any of my pieces your Warlord can reach, your Warlord’s potential for causing trouble is much reduced. That’s all. As to discussions of chess endings, I refer you to my signature. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/39 "2010-12-07T23:08:55Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > I mean, I’m sure they’re having fun, but do they _really_ need to stick brooms between their legs and wear capes? The actual brooms serve two purposes. First, it simulates the challenges of real quidditch, where they have to actually ride the brooms. That means focusing some element of attention to something other than running and the other players and oncoming bludgers, etc. As well as the aforementioned taking one hand out of play - they can hold it with their thighs, but it is hard to run that way, so they can either run holding with one hand or stop to use both hands for shooting. The second purpose is shared with the capes, that of the aesthetics matching the Potterverse game. If it doesn’t involve broomsticks, then it isn’t quidditch. And capes because they are wizards. Though using Potter style plastic brooms does look a bit… er… dweeby. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142/40 "2010-12-08T01:07:02Z")
I’m still waiting for Interstellar Pig to get popular… > [@bouv](#): > > I mean, I’m sure they’re having fun, but do they _really_ need to stick brooms between their legs and wear capes? Yeah I’m imagining Segues… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-fictional-games-that-are-widely-played/563142.md?page=3)