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Sylvan Pastimes => Market => Roll the Bones => Help |
Welcome to the Roll the Bones Help pages.
Overview
Roll the Bones is played in eight phases. In each phase, you must meet two goals. The first goals requires that you match the dice shown on the board in a limited number of rolls. The second goal requires that you accumulate points and meet or exceed a score value. Whoever meets the second goal first ends the phase. At the end of the eighth phase, whoever has the higher score wins the game.
Starting a Game
When you first run the game, you see the title screen:
Select Solo to play a game by yourself against the computer.
Select Versus to play again against a human opponent at the same computer
("hot seat" play).
Setting Options
After selecting the game type, you will see the options screen. You can also get to this screen by clicking on the "Options" clam from the game screen:
You may click on any of the options to turn them on or off. A red check next to the option indicates that the option is turned on. A blank circle indicates that it is turned off. The options are:
| Quick Roll | With this option off, clicking on the dice cup will bring it forward. Clicking on it
again will cause it to shake the dice, then dump them out on the board. With this option
on, the dice cup will immediately roll the dice (no shaking). Default is off.
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| Tutorials | With this option on, you will receive on-screen tutorials that will help you learn how
to play. You will only see each tutorial once during the game, but you will see them
again if you play another game with this option on. With the option off, you won't see
any tutorials but you will see informational messages. Default is on.
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| Minimum Rule | With this option on, you must have accumulated at least 300 points toward your goal before
you can stay and keep your score. With this option off, you can stay with any amount of
accumulated points. Default is off.
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| Twins Rule | With this option on, if you are working on your second goal, only have two dice left, and
roll non-scoring doubles (e.g., two 3's), you will be saved from busting and be allowed
to roll again. With this option off, non-scoring doubles as your last two dice will cause
you to bust. Default is on.
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| Full Screen | With this option on, the game is run full screen with no window. With the option off,
the game is run inside a window. In full screen mode, title bar information is not
available. Default is off.
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In addition there are the following controls:
| Sound | Use this slider to control the master volume of the sounds and music in the game.
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| Rules | This button will bring up the rules dialog that explains how the game is played.
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| Back (Surrender) | The "Back" button will return you to the title screen, if you are starting a new game.
If you are in the middle of a game, this button changes to "Surrender". Click it to
give up the game and let your opponent win. 
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| Play (Continue) | The "Play" button will start a new game with the options you've selected, if you are
coming from the title screen. If you are in the middle of a game, this button changes
to "Continue" and will take you back to the game. 
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Playing the Game
Players take turns rolling the dice and working toward their goals.
Primary Goal
The primary goal is to match all the required dice shown at the left of the board. You have four rolls (five for later phases) in which to match each die shown. Once you match a die, that die is removed from your cup and the requirement lights up to show it's been met.
If you don't match all your requirements, you'll have to start over on your next turn.
Some requires show letters instead of dice. The letter indicates that any die roll will match, but that letter then matches only that die roll from then on. For example, if you match a 3 to an A, then all A's become 3's and only 3's can be used for A's. Each different letter requires a different number. If you don't make your primary goal, the letter requirements return to letters on your next turn so you can try something else.
Secondary Goal
The secondary goal is to achieve a certain number of points. You have as many rolls as you need to accumulate points. In each roll of the dice, you can pull out any dice that score points and add those points to your "hand" score (the score you've accumulated so far this turn).But be careful! If you roll the dice and can't score any, you "bust" and lose your hand score (but not your total score). When the risk gets too high for you, you can "stay" and end your turn. Your hand score is added to your total score. If the total is greater than or equal to the required score, the phase is over.
It is advantageous to end the phase as early as possible. Not only does it allow you to go first next time, but any points that your opponent is missing from his secondary goal gets added to your score. For example, if the goal is 1500 and you end the phase when your opponent only has 400, you get 1100 points.
Further, if your opponent hasn't met his primary goal yet, he has to repeat the whole phase!
Winning the Game
When a player ends the last phase, the game is over. At that time, whoever has the highest score is the winner, regardless of what phase you both are on.
If you can't find the answers you're looking for here, feel free to contact Sylvan Pastimes for help. You can e-mail Guest Services by addressing your e-mail to guestservice at sylvanpastimes dot com.
Version History
- Version 1.0, Build 2008.10.15.a - Fix for another crash on exit
- Version 1.0, Build 2008.10.14.a - Fix for a crash on exit and a minor UI enhancement
- Version 1.0, Build 2008.10.12.a - Some minor bug fixes and UI enhancements
- Version 1.0, Build 2008.08.25.b - Initial revision