Trouble recalling a fantasy series

Cafe Society
1

Years ago, my college roommate had a fantasy series that I read. It had an interesting premise, yet I cannot recall the author or series title.

the premise was the protagonist, a young man, finds a bag of game pieces that imbue him with a set of abilities; these abilities are unknown to the young man, but as he progresses through the story, he uses different pieces for different results. The abilities change with each piece, and he is unable to use the same piece twice. I want to say he found the bag of pieces in the cellar of a tower or something.

Spoiler (if I am remembering the story correctly): It turns out that the world had been colonized by scientists who had these abilities for different people.

I think everyone on the world had abilities except the protagonist - but only he could use the pieces. He may have had a discolored spot on the palm of his hand, which activated the pieces.

Thanks in advance for any help in finding this series - again I have no recollection of the author, book titles, or any other distinguishing clue other that what I have laid out here.

2

You are looking for Sheri S. Tepper’s True Game series: King’s Blood Four, Necromancer Nine, Wizard’s Eleven.

The prequel trilogy about Mavin Manyshaped, and sequel trilogy about Jinian Star-Eye were also quite good. Fortunately written well before Tepper went off the deep end with her shrill, thinly-disguised diatribe books (e.g., The Fresco).

3

< Googles The Fresco >

My . . . goodness. No, the True Game books aren’t like that at all.

4

Thanks, Lightray!