Tali-Knucklebones

Tali was a Roman dice game,though played more in Greece, that could be played by just about anyone. The game was usually played with the knucklebones of goats which makes it easy to see where the game got it's name from seeing as Tali means knucklebones in Latin. Even though it started as a Roman game, it eventually found it's way into medieval Europe homes and was often found in the graves of children.

(Venus and Pan playing a game on Tali, found on the back of a mirror)

Rules

During research I found two ways the game was said to be played, since not as much is known about Tali I thought it only fair to include both:

1st game play

*Five knuckle bones are to be thrown in the air and have to be caught on the back of the hand

*The first to catch a "venus" (1,3,4 or 6) was the winner as that was the highest number, others where named after other gods and heros of the time.

2nd game play

*Four Tali are dropper from an agreed upon height over a game table

*Scoring could change in ever game, but no number ever out did a Venus, the Vultures, or a Senio

("Numerical values for the other possibilities would represent a simple variation.")

*Should the player not throw a Venus, the Vultures etc. the dice would simply be thrown again and the play did not count

*If a throw again should happen and there was a prize, it would be kept until a winner was decided

*Also, if two people threw a Senio it would be called a tie and the prize would be kept

* As in poker, different rules can be agreed upon at the start of a game.

History

Again the game came from Rome, but was played more in Greece. Besides being found in children's games in Europe, knuckle dice were found in Pompeii and Athens. Sometime in it's history Emperor Augustus changed the game so that there was always a prize, due to the fact that anyone who threw a Dog (Canis) or a Senio would have to put in four coins, but as in the original game rolling a Venus got you the whole prize.

Game Design Elements

Tali is little more than a game of pure chance and good luck. There was no skill, no edge, but there is a thrill the simple thrill of a win that keeps people going back to casinos to play games of luck and chance. The game is designed to keep you coming back, even in those days the aspect of winning money could lure in anyone as long as they had a full pocket.

Art

The bones were usually left plain except for the symbols inscribed on the sides, assumed to be roman numerals, and they were simply used for telling what your next more was after rolling the dice. However there were vases made in 460 BCE found in Greece that were made to resemble the knuckles bones and decorated with pictures of young men and women. While no one really knows what they mean they are assumed to tell a story probably involving the game.

References

* "Tail" Roman Board Games Feb. 2, 2010

http://www.aerobiologicalengineering.com/wxk116/Roman/BoardGames/tali.html

* "Tail & Tropa" Game Hist Feb. 2, 2010

http://jducoeur.org/game-hist/roman-games.htm

Links

* http://www.aerobiologicalengineering.com/wxk116/Roman/BoardGames/tali.html

* http://jducoeur.org/game-hist/roman-games.htm