2009-04-04 11:43:50

I actually wrote this several days ago, but I’m finally getting around to posting it. This is not part IV of the story. This takes place later. In fact, it introduces a new member of the team that i haven’t planned to introduce for quite some time.

This scene was inspired by a few things. Most immediately by Sting’s “Shape of My Heart.” Those who have listened to this song (from the album Ten Summoner’s Tales) will recognize this character. Other inspirations include Alexander Pope’s “The Rape of the Lock,” specifically part III, and The Levellers “The Game.” I also thought a lot about the Brisco County scene where he cheats his opponent “fair and square,” but I don’t think I included it.

Clearly, there’s more to this scene, but until I have more high level details at least outlined, I can’t write the game.

Which is the other issue. I wanted to use the game Ombre as the game they play. It’s the game from Pope’s poem, and it feels more appropriate to the setting. However, I’m having a very difficult time understanding the bidding — or at least learning sufficiently what the bids mean. If anyone can make it easier to understand, that’d be great. It sounds more like the game The Man of Cards would play than, say, poker — especially with the tokens, which contextually make more sense than chips. However, it’s also got the problem that it’s only for three people, maybe four. And there are five in this scene. Perhaps someone can suggest an Ombre-like game suitable for varying amounts of people. Bidding should be involved, and tricks, and it should be playable with one or two decks of standard playing cards (though removing cards from decks are OK.

tags: Dink, fantasy, Frost, Linella, Man of Cards, Vrash
categories: S.N.E.A.K.S., Writing