I just posted the updated rules to my upcoming Kickstarter game, Smoking Aces! Due to hit Kickstarter September 9th!
If you are interested in a "Take That Hybrid Strategy Poker" game then please take a look!
http://media.wix.com/ugd/016444_e19e50dd48f94cf4b71f386811a84af3.pdf
Also, proofreading assistance would be of great help. I could use some feedback in terms of wording and such. I intend to make the rules look "pretty" but that is a task I've never done before so it will take some time and confidence building.... and practice which will no doubt come with a handful and more of failure, such is life.
Thanks!
twitter.com/pawnjokergames
1 - I wouldn't put the variations at the beginning. Put them at the end. Honestly, I wouldn't include the drinking/strip variation at all.
As I still need to format this is a "pretty" manner I think I can take these specific variants (with the exception gambling) and place a much smaller emphasis on them by placing them in some sort of small note section. I still want to include them as they are a fun addition to the game.
2 - Does hold 'em usually work this way? It seems like a good card counter could figure out exactly which cards are or aren't on the table.
Hold 'em usually doesnt. The draft aspect of Smoking Aces adds more strategy to the game. Card counters can certainly know what cards arnt available but who has them?
3 - "Prior to each of the first players turns, or the next player to the left if the first player is eliminated." This is a sentence fragment. Also, "players" should have an apostrophe.
Needs to be reworded. Noted.
4 - Am I correct that if a player has no cards in hand, their continuous abilities from the Pocket do not happen?
Continuous ablitities that activate at the start of the turn do not happen. Other continuous effects that are always active (like wilds and "cannot be destroyed" are always active even when its not your turn. I'll try to reword that so it is clearer.
5 - Pocket Aces - can the player choose to draw a card themselves?
I don't have the rules with me at the moment (on my phone) but I think it says any player meaning any player including yourself.
6 - Dead Man's Hand - this is the first mention of wild cards. Again, I would cut out the variations. If people want to drink or strip, they can figure out how to do that themselves.
I intend to add card images to the "pretty" rules document. I'll be sure to include an image of the wild cards.
7 - High/low rules - I would say "fewer" rather than "Less." Wouldn't hurt to have a term that means "cards combined between their hand and their pocket" so you don't have to keep using that whole word salad.
Less word salad. Noted.
8 - Why is it called "Bottom Dealing." Doesn't that mean drawing cards off the bottom (as a way to cheat)?
Bottom dealing is a poker term(really a card gane term.) Smoking Aces is very similar to poker so I chose poker terms to define most things in the game, including reshuffling the deck. But since this is kind of a common thing, does it need to be stated so boldly?
Are all the card effects very straightforward? You don't explain or mention any of them.
I'll be adding images in the prettyfication.
As you approach your next KS, have you been cultivating interest in this game among Poker circles? It seems like that might be a fruitful avenue to pursue.
I tried that first time around and picked up some backers. I'm sure I'll post something somewhere in early September.
Thanks for the feedback, it is appreciated.
Sorry for the long post....