Luther Patenge
The Village
The Village is a card game for four players; it is a gambling game that makes use of an 80 card original deck that I created solely for this game. The deck itself draws from medieval woodblock prints but the cultural context of the game is universal. The game can serve as a metaphor for small town or small organization politics, in that the players control both public and private assets in order to achieve their goals. The game is both a zero sum game and a non-zero sum game in that there can be both single and multiple winners at a time and that if the players squabbling lasts for too long, then everyone loses.
Why is it Fun?
- Players have to manage two sets of conflicting resources.
- Careful observation of the other players is very important.
- Strategically open-ended.
- Can be played with actual money on the line.
- Re-enact a continuous and timeless conflict.
I still have a few copies of the 80 card deck that are for sale. If you are interested please contact me via email. You can find a link to my contact information in the navigation bar on the right.