Renfield (card game)
Encyclopedia
Renfield is a trick-taking
card game
produced by Cheapass Games
. It is a social gambling
game for four to seven players.
The game is based on a theme of "eating insect
s", both the theme and the name derived from the character of Renfield
in Dracula
. The theme, however, is little more than an overlay on the card game mechanics.
A Renfield deck consists of 54 cards, split into three suit
s and numbered from 0 to 17. The suits are called Stones (as in headstone
s), Tool
s, and Parts (as in body
parts). Each card contains a humorous drawing
displaying one of these items.
In structure, Renfield is something of a cross between poker
and trick-taking games. As in poker, each player begins with a supply of "dollar
s" represented by poker chips. Each player places bets into a pot in the centre of the table and hands are played in an effort to win the pot.
Each hand consists of a deal of six cards, with the zero numbered cards removed from the deck. Each player then bids a number of dollars. The winning bidder gets the right to arrange the three zero-cards in a sequence indicating the rankings of the suits. He then leads the first trick.
Tricks are played in a standard fashion, with players following suit if able to. If unable to follow suit, cards of higher-ranked suits trump lower-ranked suits.
Each card won in a trick contains printed on it two values: a cost in dollars, and a number of "bugs". A player winning a trick must pay to the pot the total value in dollars of the cards won, and "eats" the number of bugs won. The winner of the hand is the player who eats at least one bug, but fewer than any other player. The winner of the hand collects the pot.
Play continues over several hands, with the goal of accumulating as much money as possible.
Trick-taking game
A trick-taking game is a card game or tile-based game in which play centers on a series of finite rounds or units of play, called tricks. The object of such games then may be closely tied to the number of tricks taken, as in plain-trick games such as Whist, Contract Bridge, Napoleon, Rowboat, and...
card game
Card game
A card game is any game using playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific. Countless card games exist, including families of related games...
produced by Cheapass Games
Cheapass Games
Cheapass Games is a game company founded and run by game designer James Ernest, based in Seattle, Washington. Cheapass Games operates on the philosophy that most game owners have plenty of dice, counters, play money, etc., so there is no need to bundle all of these components with every game that...
. It is a social gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
game for four to seven players.
The game is based on a theme of "eating insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s", both the theme and the name derived from the character of Renfield
Renfield
R. M. Renfield is a fictional character in the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker.-In the novel:A description of Renfield from the novel:R. M. Renfield, aetat 59. Sanguine temperament, great physical strength, morbidly excitable,...
in Dracula
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
. The theme, however, is little more than an overlay on the card game mechanics.
A Renfield deck consists of 54 cards, split into three suit
Suit (cards)
In playing cards, a suit is one of several categories into which the cards of a deck are divided. Most often, each card bears one of several symbols showing to which suit it belongs; the suit may alternatively or in addition be indicated by the color printed on the card...
s and numbered from 0 to 17. The suits are called Stones (as in headstone
Headstone
A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. In most cases they have the deceased's name, date of birth, and date of death inscribed on them, along with a personal message, or prayer.- Use :...
s), Tool
Tool
A tool is a device that can be used to produce an item or achieve a task, but that is not consumed in the process. Informally the word is also used to describe a procedure or process with a specific purpose. Tools that are used in particular fields or activities may have different designations such...
s, and Parts (as in body
Body
With regard to living things, a body is the physical body of an individual. "Body" often is used in connection with appearance, health issues and death...
parts). Each card contains a humorous drawing
Drawing
Drawing is a form of visual art that makes use of any number of drawing instruments to mark a two-dimensional medium. Common instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes, wax color pencils, crayons, charcoal, chalk, pastels, markers, styluses, and various metals .An artist who...
displaying one of these items.
In structure, Renfield is something of a cross between poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
and trick-taking games. As in poker, each player begins with a supply of "dollar
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
s" represented by poker chips. Each player places bets into a pot in the centre of the table and hands are played in an effort to win the pot.
Each hand consists of a deal of six cards, with the zero numbered cards removed from the deck. Each player then bids a number of dollars. The winning bidder gets the right to arrange the three zero-cards in a sequence indicating the rankings of the suits. He then leads the first trick.
Tricks are played in a standard fashion, with players following suit if able to. If unable to follow suit, cards of higher-ranked suits trump lower-ranked suits.
Each card won in a trick contains printed on it two values: a cost in dollars, and a number of "bugs". A player winning a trick must pay to the pot the total value in dollars of the cards won, and "eats" the number of bugs won. The winner of the hand is the player who eats at least one bug, but fewer than any other player. The winner of the hand collects the pot.
Play continues over several hands, with the goal of accumulating as much money as possible.