[Basic] Skill of the week: Gambling and Games

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by RogerBW

I've seen long arguments about whether something like poker, which most definitely has a strong skill component, should come under Gambling or its own Games specialty; on balance I'd probably go with the latter, though if a player had assumed the opposite I'd let him shift the points on the spot.

There's an article explaining how to run Poker (or similar vying games) in GURPS with extra detail. It says to use the better of Gambling or Games (Poker), with a situational modifier of +1 to the higher of the two if you have points in both, or if you're using Games (Poker) as the higher of the two and have Math (Statistics).

Originally Posted by RogerBW

I think I'd probably use either Games (something appropriate) or Gambling as a proxy for Savoir-Faire (Casino), a skill otherwise so narrow in scope as not to exist. This is simply behaving in such a way as to blend in with other patrons, knowing how you go about getting chips, the conventions of the game you're playing, and so on. (All right, you could probably base it off SF (High Society) too, though a lot of casinos these days have nothing to do with High Society.)

I'm not sure SF (Casino) is a thing. Is there a special skill of Influencing gamblers in a casino-like sub-society? Because I feel that at most SF(Casino) can be used to encourage gamblers into gambling, but not other Influences.
If anything, Games might be a stand-in for a subcultural familiarity or something.

[RogerBW]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

I'm not sure SF (Casino) is a thing. Is there a special skill of Influencing gamblers in a casino-like sub-society? Because I feel that at most SF(Casino) can be used to encourage gamblers into gambling, but not other Influences.
If anything, Games might be a stand-in for a subcultural familiarity or something.

What I jokingly called "SF (Casino)", and I agree is far too small for an actual skill, is basically just how to get on in a casino, how to blend in and not look out of place:

Originally Posted by p. B218

interact without embarrassing yourself, detect pretenders to high standing, and so on

Anyone can go into a casino and start gambling: they're designed to be easy to use. But if you have the relevant skills, you can look like an old hand rather than a tourist.

Influencing people is a matter for more conventional influence skills.

[Not]

Originally Posted by RogerBW

What I jokingly called "SF (Casino)", and I agree is far too small for an actual skill, is basically just how to get on in a casino, how to blend in and not look out of place:



Anyone can go into a casino and start gambling: they're designed to be easy to use. But if you have the relevant skills, you can look like an old hand rather than a tourist.

Influencing people is a matter for more conventional influence skills.

The Gambling skill includes the ability to spot gamblers.

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by RogerBW

Anyone can go into a casino and start gambling: they're designed to be easy to use. But if you have the relevant skills, you can look like an old hand rather than a tourist.

"Cultural Familiarity (Casino}"?

[RogerBW]

Originally Posted by whswhs

"Cultural Familiarity (Casino}"?

Yeah, but we don't have fractional points any more and given the size of other CFs it wouldn't be worth anything like a whole one. So I'm happy gluing it onto the side of another skill.

[Michele]

Gambling can be useful in a wider range of circumstances than Games - or at least that has been the case in my campaigns. Also note that many types of games include the need to assess odds - which is done through Gambling.

[Critical]

Originally Posted by RogerBW

I note with interest that Business Acumen boosts Gambling, but Mathematical Ability doesn't.

In my experience, this should be the other way around.

The trait you want for winning at games of chance like roulette or slot machines is Serendipity, I think. (Let's be generous and assume an "honest" game which merely favours the house by a lot, rather than an actually rigged one.) I've seen long arguments about whether something like poker, which most definitely has a strong skill component, should come under Gambling or its own Games specialty; on balance I'd probably go with the latter, though if a player had assumed the opposite I'd let him shift the points on the spot.

Let me preface this by saying that slots and roulette can be beaten via skill. So can anything else in a casino. I would let the gambling skill come into play in any games like this. That said, if you found a game that truly was all luck, then either the Luck or Serendipity advantages could work.

[Emerikol]

The reality is you can't beat the house unless you cheat long term. You can have a good day but if you gamble and infinite number of times you will always lose.

This is why I think serious rich gamblers never play against the house.

So what is gambling skill? Well it's the ability to spot a house that has made the odds too favorable to itself. It's the ability to spot cheating in other players. It's the ability to play optimally in games where decision making matters. Playing optimally minimizes loses and increases the chances of a good day. You still lose though long term. Just slower than someone who is clueless. Blackjack is a good example of this sort of game.

If you are playing roulette though, you really can't increase your chances of winning. They are what they are. You have one (hopefully) or two green numbers, a red number, and a black number. When people bet on red or black, the margin of profit for the house is the green numbers. Because you lose on green or the color you didn't bet.

I would say any gambling skill beyond 16 is probably overkill unless you want to play competitive poker. Then you could use a contest of skills. In poker other skills might be useful. Psychology for example.