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[Capital Fish]

Alternate Title: I'm gonna start my own crime squad! With blackjack! And hookers!

I've started working on an idea I've had for a while now, and it's actually in a decent-enough state that I thought I'd show it off and get some feedback on it. See if it was as good of an idea as it seemed in my head.

If you haven't guessed from the title, I've added a casino to the game. Inside, there are three different casino games to interact with: Poker, Blackjack, and Slot Machines.





The games themselves are nothing overly fancy. You basically get a prompt asking if you want to play, another prompt asking if you want to attempt to cheat, and (when playing blackjack or the slot machines) the game randomly determines whether or not you've won. Poker is a little different, in that victory is determined by your Persuasion skill (“I know I was bluffing with my last ten hands, but I'm totally holding a Royal Flush right now. You should definitely fold.”)

Here's an “honest” blackjack game to demonstrate:









Alternately, you can use your Stealth skill to cheat in blackjack and poker, and your Computer skill to hack the slot machine. This'll guarantee a victory, just so long as your skill is high enough to avoid getting caught.

For instance, if you're caught cheating in blackjack or hacking the slot machines, you'll have an angry Pit Boss to deal with, which may actually be easier than the angry mob you'll have screaming for your blood should you be caught cheating at the poker table:



Anyway, this is still a work in progress, so be sure to let me know what you think of it so far.

Additional Notes:

Though it's yet to be implemented, I also plan on allowing you to steal money from the casino directly. So far, I'm torn between giving to casino a vault similar to the one in the bank (thought easier to break into and containing less cash), or just stashing to casino's profits in a safe, similar to the one in the
Corporate HQ/CEO's House. On one hand, I kind of feel that the Bank Vault should one of a kind, but  a regular safe just feels anticlimactic. Thoughts?

So far as I know, cheating in a casino isn't actually illegal. Currently, when you're caught cheating while playing blackjack / hacking the slot machine, and you choose to surrender, you get sent to jail with a loitering charge. I'd like to make things a little more interesting, and plan to set it up so surrendering to a pit boss results in you “getting taken to a back room and beaten to a pulp”. Instead of going to jail, you'd basically just find yourself kicked back to your safehouse with some fresh injuries and your clothes in tatters.

With regards to slot machines, I haven't shown any screenshots with them because I'm toying with the idea of changing how they function. Currently, as with blackjack and poker, you're given a prompt asking if you'd like to play the machine, and another prompt asking if you'd like to cheat by hacking the machine. If you don't hack the machine, your odds of winning are completely random (but certainly not in your favor), whereas your odds of successfully hacking the machine are determined by your Computer skill. I may remove the option to cheat entirely, and have the computer skill determine your odds of victory when playing the slots normally. The implication being that players with a higher Computer skill are just more in tune with the machine they're playing. They've studied the particular model of slot machine they're using, they know its quirks and weaknesses and can predict when it's going to hit the jackpot.

With regards to blackjack; currently, if you don't cheat, your odds of winning are completely random. I'd like so that playing blackjack actually relied on one of your skills. The higher the skill, the better your odds of winning. The problem is that while Persuasion makes sense with regards to bluffing in poker, and the Computer skill is the obvious choice with regards to slot machines, none of the skills currently in the game lends itself to playing blackjack. If there was a Mathematics skill in the game, it would be a perfect match (with the implication that you're subtly counting cards), but it doesn't make sense to add a new skill into the game if it's only going to be used for one possible skill check. Tying the Business skill to your blackjack performance is an idea I'm considering, but I'm wondering if it would be obvious enough?

With regards to adding skills to the game, in older versions of LCS, I remember there being a skill called “Sleigh of Hand”. It could be found on Amateur Magicians. I believe it was taken out for being unnecessary, as well as being redundant when paired with the Stealth skill. While the Stealth skill certainly works with regards to cheating at the table games, Sleigh of Hand seems like it would be an even more perfect match. It would also work perfect for another non-gambling related idea I had. That said, the skill was removed from the game for a reason, and as I've stated above, it just doesn't make sense to (re)add a skill to the game it it's only going to be used in one or two ultra-specific situations.

Again, let me know your thoughts on what I've got so far, and whether or not you think a casino would add to the game at all.

[Darvi]

Alternate Title: I'm gonna start my own crime squad! With blackjack! And hookers!

One of these is pretty redundant, heh.

[SlatersQuest]

Interesting idea

Bluffing is Disguise, not Persuasion, is the first criticism that I can think of. 

The more important questions that occur to me thereafter is what can be done at the casino apart from winning/losing money (which is a minor asset in LCS), and recruiting (which can also be done elsewhere very easily). Perhaps there should be a law about legalizing gambling that the casino should influence? I'm not sure what the liberal/conservative axes should be, though (do liberals support legalizing gambling or would conservatives support it?).

As for cheating, I would attach a cheating charge to getting caught cheating, and have a couple of bouncers at the door of the casino. The law won't care whether you're cheating or not, so you won't gain heat or any sentence that you wouldn't get for loitering. However, if you have cheating charges and try to walk into the casino, you will have to disguise and/or stealth your way past the bouncers or they will sound the alarm.

What do you think?

[Man of Paper]

I'd think the casino is a conservative creation used to take money from hapless liberals.

Maybe there's a way to change the available games based on Gambling laws? The set there is good for Moderate laws. Perhaps at Arch-Jerk laws you'd be able to play Russian Roulette and at Awesomesauce laws the gambling den is closed down altogether, filled with vagrants and the like, and maybe a zoidberg.

[Capital Fish]

Bluffing is Disguise, not Persuasion, is the first criticism that I can think of. 

I felt Persuasion made more sense with regards to Poker. You're Persuading people that your hand is better/worse than it really is, after all. On the other hand, a good Disguise skill is essential for concealing your emotions, and it's hard to bluff at poker when you've got emotions all over your face. I'm still leaning towards basing your Poker odds off the Persuasion skill, though.

The more important questions that occur to me thereafter is what can be done at the casino apart from winning/losing money (which is a minor asset in LCS), and recruiting (which can also be done elsewhere very easily). Perhaps there should be a law about legalizing gambling that the casino should influence? I'm not sure what the liberal/conservative axes should be, though (do liberals support legalizing gambling or would conservatives support it?).

I thought of this, but like you, I have no idea where the LCS would fall on the legalized gambling spectrum. On one hand, as Man of Paper said above, the casino itself is clearly a Conservative institution used to line the pockets of the rich at the expense of the poor and gullible. On the other hand, the LCS is also against laws that attempt to legislate "morality" according to what's written in some ancient religious text - as evidenced by their stances on drugs and abortion.

As for cheating, I would attach a cheating charge to getting caught cheating, and have a couple of bouncers at the door of the casino. The law won't care whether you're cheating or not, so you won't gain heat or any sentence that you wouldn't get for loitering. However, if you have cheating charges and try to walk into the casino, you will have to disguise and/or stealth your way past the bouncers or they will sound the alarm.

I hadn't thought on this, but I like the idea quite a bit.

[Sheb]

Woudln't the Science skill include mathematics?

[Capital Fish]

Woudln't the Science skill include mathematics?

It is a skill held by in-game mathematicians. I just worry that the Science skill is even less intuitively implied to increase your blackjack playing abilities than the Business skill I'm currently thinking about using. While mathematics is extremely important in science, when I picture the Science skill being used in game, I tend to think of bubbling test tubes and Tesla Coils. Less real science, and more Hollywood Science! At least when I think of the Business skill being put to use, I think of numbers, account ledgers, and dividends. I just feel that Science is too abstract a skill for the average player to go "What would increase my odds at the blackjack table? I know, my Science skill!"

I'm not saying that the business skill isn't also abstract in these circumstances, I just feel it's far less so.

[Purple Gorilla]

Assuming, conservative implies religious, they should actually oppose gambling. Casino staff could still be flagged as conservative in the meaning of hostile. This is in analogy with the gang members at the crack house, who also shouldn't be politically conservative. This however raises the question, what publicity it should yield, if you raid it.

The illegality of gambling could influence the way how they react on cheating. If it's illegal (conservative), they beat you up for cheating in blackjack, if it's legal(liberal), they call the police and charge you for fraud or something.

Skills for playing Blackjack and Poker are different. Counting in Blackjack doesn't need more than primary school's math skills (assuming you looked up the strategy and didn't invent it yourself), so science shouldn't matter. What it needs is a good short time memory, that is influenced, by the intelligence stat and not a certain skill. Maybe hippies should get a penalty for beeing stoned. If you win by counting, there should also be a street sence or disguise check to see, if you get caught.

Poker on the other hand, benefits from higher math (science). On the number of cards, seen, you can determine the dynamic probability of all possible outcomes. Theese probabilities are often seen in TV poker mathes, and one with significant skill could calculate them himself (thought the probailities are different than in TV, as you can't see the other's cards).  Another (possibly more important) aspect of poker, is to keep concealed whether you have good or bad cards (disguise), and possible seeing if other have good or bad cards (psychology). Professions, who can be assumed to be very emotional could get a penalty, maybe teenager,canine hero,hippie,fashion designer,critics,car salesman,fast food worker,hick,news anchor.

Giving hippies penalties in gambling has also a gameplay-wise benefit, as they are easy to recruit, so it prevents you from winning money too early.

[SlatersQuest]

I had a reply in mind, but Purple Gorilla basically said what I wanted to say.

[Azerty]

Interesting and promising!

Roulette should stay wholly random-driven.

Sleepers inside could make cheating in poker and other alike games more easy.

I would add Horse racing, based on Intelligence and depending of Animal Rights, along with bettings on sports.

[Neonivek]

I'd think the casino is a conservative creation used to take money from hapless liberals.

Let me see... checking...

Bare minimum research

Ok... Liberalism is against legalized gambling.

Conservatives are for more control over gambling (it is why they are usually against internet gambling).

Which if we ignored the parody aspect of LCS... means that Gambling is unchecked at moderate, tightly controlled at C, and absent at L+.

It actually means Gambling would be unavailable at C+ and L+...

[Cheedows]

Interesting and promising!

Roulette should stay wholly random-driven.

Sleepers inside could make cheating in poker and other alike games more easy.

I would add Horse racing, based on Intelligence and depending of Animal Rights, along with bettings on sports.

We might as well throw in chicken fights too.

I'd think the casino is a conservative creation used to take money from hapless liberals.

Let me see... checking...

Bare minimum research

Ok... Liberalism is against legalized gambling.

Conservatives are for more control over gambling (it is why they are usually against internet gambling).

Which if we ignored the parody aspect of LCS... means that Gambling is unchecked at moderate, tightly controlled at C, and absent at L+.

It actually means Gambling would be unavailable at C+ and L+...

Makes slight sense actually, considering that in a conservative nightmare you don't quite imagine casinos. Nor would you think of them in a liberal paradise. I would support casinos if we could have the grand, spiraling, multi-floored ones with loads of cash and underground dealings. I kinda want to do something like Ocean's Eleven. 

[Neonivek]

This is Liberal Pacifist Squad. Committing grand larceny would be bad for your play through.

Instead you should be allowed to gamble and the losers have to sign your petition.

[Capital Fish]

Roulette should stay wholly random-driven.

As of right now, the only games included in the casino are blackjack, poker, and slot machines. I wanted to focus on games that you had a chance to influence using your skills. It would be easy enough to add a Roulette wheel if enough people demand it, however.

Sleepers inside could make cheating in poker and other alike games more easy.

This is definitely planned. 

I would add Horse racing, based on Intelligence and depending of Animal Rights, along with bettings on sports.

I have an idea for something animal related with regards to the casino, but it isn't horse racing...

Assuming, conservative implies religious, they should actually oppose gambling. Casino staff could still be flagged as conservative in the meaning of hostile. This is in analogy with the gang members at the crack house, who also shouldn't be politically conservative. This however raises the question, what publicity it should yield, if you raid it.

This isn't a bad way to go about having a gambling law in game. Another idea I've had would be to outlaw only casino gambling at L+, whereas at C+, gambling is legal only if it's in a licensed casino. The implications being that the religious right only have a problem with gambling when they can't profit from it.

Skills for playing Blackjack and Poker are different. Counting in Blackjack doesn't need more than primary school's math skills (assuming you looked up the strategy and didn't invent it yourself), so science shouldn't matter. What it needs is a good short time memory, that is influenced, by the intelligence stat and not a certain skill.

I considered basing one's blackjack playing ability on Intelligence, but I'd rather base it on a skill that could be raised with practice, rather than a stat that only changes when you level up. Also it'd be odd for the other two games to be based on improvable skills (Persuasion for poker, Computer for slots) while only blackjack is based on Intelligence.

Alternately, since cheating is based on a skill (Stealth) maybe setting it so that honest play is dependent on stats (Intelligence for blackjack, Charisma for poker) would be a useful way to further differentiate playing honestly from cheating.

Poker on the other hand, benefits from higher math (science). On the number of cards, seen, you can determine the dynamic probability of all possible outcomes. Theese probabilities are often seen in TV poker mathes, and one with significant skill could calculate them himself (thought the probailities are different than in TV, as you can't see the other's cards).  Another (possibly more important) aspect of poker, is to keep concealed whether you have good or bad cards (disguise), and possible seeing if other have good or bad cards (psychology). Professions, who can be assumed to be very emotional could get a penalty, maybe teenager,canine hero,hippie,fashion designer,critics,car salesman,fast food worker,hick,news anchor.

I know poker in real life is highly dependent on mathematical analysis, but LCS tends to run more on "movie" logic than on "real life" logic. And whenever you see poker played in a movie, it's all about the bluffing. While you bring up some excellent points with regards to Disguise and Psychology, I'm kind of hesitant to base the casino games off more than one skill each. The more skills involved, the greater the probability of confusion on the part of the player. If each game is dependent on one skill, the hopefully the player will logically be able to determine which skill impacts which casino game. By making each game dependent on multiple skills, however, you greatly muddy those waters. Or maybe I'm not giving the average player nearly enough credit.

[Neonivek]

I know poker in real life is highly dependent on mathematical analysis

Except Casinos don't like it when you do that.