Mindbridge Foundation

Great Dalmuti
Wizards of the Coast, 1995

I’ve got to admit, this is one of my family’s “Go To” games. This classic card game is awesome for several reasons. Rounds run quickly, but you can continue playing for hours having great fun. The game is for 4-8 players. You could have a few more, but it really plays best in the 4-8 range.

The deck consists of 80 cards, 12- 12’s, 11-11’s, 10-10’s… down to 1-1 and 2 wild “jester” cards. All the cards get dealt out. Each player has a position. The lead player is the “Great Dalmuti”, followed by the “Lesser Dalmuti”. On the tail end, you have the “Greater Peon” and the “Lesser Peon”. If you have more than 4 players, the rest of the players will fall into the middle, and be “merchants”.  Once all the players have their cards, there is a “taxation” phase, where the Greater Peon and Greater Dalmuti exchange 2 cards. The Greater Peon gives up their two lowest numbered cards in exchange for 2 cards of the Greater Dalmuti’s choice from their hand. The “Lessers” do the same exchange with only 1 card. Merchants may trade 1 card with permission from the Greater Dalmuti. Then play begins. The Greater Dalmuti leads in trick taking rounds. The lead player will play out any number of matching numbered cards. (for example, 4-12’s). Each player must follow with the same number of matched cards, of a lesser value (for example, player 2 could follow with 4-11’s) and so on until all players pass. The last person to play on the trick leads the next trick. The goal is to be the first to get rid of all your cards. The first person to divest themselves of cards becomes the Great Dalmuti for the next round. Play continues until all players are out of cards. The second player out becoming the Lesser Dalmuti then through Merchants if any, then the Lesser Peon and finally the last person out becomes the Greater Peon. It is suggested that the Greater Peon be the dealer, raker-in of card tricks, getter of sodas, and general butt of all Jokes. But beware, the mighty may fall easily in this game.

This game has a lot of fun trash talking, joking, and fun. We use fun hats for the various ranks to help identification. A classic that everyone should have in their game library, and keep on hand for any get-together. Easy to learn and tons of fun to play.

Love Letter
Alderac Entertainment Group, 2012

Love Letter is a simple, quick, fun game. You are an eligible suitor, trying to get your love letter to the princess. In order to do this, you must end the game round with the courtier card with the closest number to the Princess, your card represents the courtier to whom you have given your letter. There are 8 courtier positions: Guard (1), Priest (2), Baron (3), Handmaid (4), Prince (5), King (6), Countess (7) and the Princess herself (8).  You begin with one card. On your turn you draw a card and play a card. Each courtier has a special power that you can use to guess other people’s cards and put them out of the round, discard their card, making them draw a new one, or looking at their cards. Through these means, you try to keep in your hand a high numbered card, survive to the end of the round, or knock other suitors out of the running.

The game is simple because all you have to do is draw and play, but deceptively difficult because of the cutthroat nature of the scramble to be nearest to the Princess. With only 16 cards, and a few wooden blocks, you wouldn’t think that there would be this much to this game. There Is a lot of luck involved, but an alert, focused player can really do well. A good poker face and a bit of deception can go far as well. All in all, a nice little fun game. Great for when you have a few minutes and 2-3 friends.