How to Play Wicked Grace, the 2-Player Dragon Age: Origins Card Game
Deck
You will need a deck of cards, preferably one with 5 suits and a joker - I used cards from one of my favorite card games, Five Crowns. (A great game in its own right!)
If you need to use a regular deck of cards, then grab a joker, and A-5 of all four suits, plus 9-K of one suit to make up your ‘fifth’ suit.
Regardless of what deck you use, decide beforehand what suits equal the Wicked Grace suits. Serpents < Daggers < Songs < Knights < Angels.
(It doesn’t really matter what each individual card equates to — suit is what is important. Still, I’ve posted the individual card names at the bottom, in case anyone wants to create their own custom deck somehow.)
Winning conditions
The game is over when the Angel of Death (joker) is drawn and discarded. *
Hands are ranked the by number of suited cards in your hand. Lowest to highest - no matches, one pair, two pair, three of a kind, full house, four of a kind, five of a kind
Suits are ranked lowest to highest - snakes, daggers, songs, knights, angels
When two hands are equal, e.g. full house, the person who has the most cards of the highest rank wins. Example 1: 2 knights + 3 daggers is a better hand than 2 daggers + 3 snakes, Example 2: 2 songs + 2 knights is a worse hand than 2 angels + 2 daggers, Example 3: Pair of Knights vs. Pair of Knights, compare other unmatched cards (kickers) to determine who has the highest ranked kicker(s).
* Thus it is not too terribly hard to cheat and pretend like you didn’t draw the Angel of Death, using it whenever you think you have the best hand. Or, you could be like Isabela, and just cold stack the deck, palm cards, draw two at a time, hide good cards about your person, etc…
Gameplay
Pick who shuffles/deals however you like. (Coin flip, winner or loser’s choice, age before beauty, etc.)
Shuffle, then deal 5 cards face down to each player.
Place the remainder of the deck on the table. Do NOT turn over the top card.
First player (non-dealer) draws one card from the deck, then discards one card face up onto the draw pile.
Players take turns drawing one card from the deck or the top of the discard pile.
When the Angel of Death card is drawn, the game ends immediately. Players will compare their hands.
The highest ranked hand wins.
General Tips & Hints
Only 5 cards are allowed in your hand at one time, except when you are preparing to discard. Any more than that is cheating ;)
You must play the Angel of Death card immediately upon drawing it, or announce if you are dealt it. Anything else is cheating ;)
Because of the ranked suits, it is a good idea to favor cards like knights and angels, but don’t discard a strong hand like four of a kind for it.
Cheating is a big part of the game, but do it at your own peril. No one wants to play Wicked Grace with an obvious cheater.
Card Names
Some are directly from DA:Origins. Others, I filled in myself to make up 5 of each suit (6 of Angels, since the Angel of Death is a special card.)
Serpents
Serpent of Deceit
Serpent of Avarice
Serpent of Lust
Serpent of Jealousy
Serpent of Pride
Daggers
Serpent-entwined Dagger
Dragon’s tooth Dagger
Wolfhead Dagger
Boar’s tusk Dagger
Spider fang Dagger
Songs
Song of Temerity
Song of Mercy
Song of Love
Song of Parting
Song of Courage
Knights
Dawn Knight
Dusk Knight
Eclipse Knight
Noontide Knight
Twilight Knight
Angels
Angel of Fortitude
Angel of Truth
Angel of Charity
Angel of Kindness
Angel of Virtue
Angel of Death
