Post by blackcrowheart on Nov 6, 2006 21:48:04 GMT -5
Rules for the Stickgame
groups.yahoo.com/group/White_Wolf_Publishing/message/2
Have you ever gone to a Powwow and watched the Stickgame, wondering how it's played? Most Stickgames are open to anyone that wants to play. Here are the basic rules for the Stickgame. I don't know how to add the pictures to the text so you will need to look at the photo album. I will upload a PDF version to the files section if I can.
The game itself involves the use of four equally sized cylinders called "Bones" that can be held in the palm of each hand of two players. Two of the bones will have a mark of some kind usually a colored dot or band, and two will be unmarked. There is a set of 11 colored sticks. The color scheme of the sticks represents the sticks of each team. Therefore, five sticks are painted one color scheme to represent a team and the other five sticks are painted a different color scheme to represent the opposing team. There is an extra stick known as the "Kick Stick". This stick is usually larger and elaborately decorated.
The game is started by pre-designated pointers from each team who take one set of bones, one marked and one unmarked, and hides the bones behind a scarf or drum randomly shifting the bones from one had to the other. When the pointer is ready, he/she will hold their hands out with a bone in each hand. The pointers will in turn, try to guess where the opponent's unmarked bone is. The winning pointer takes the ten sticks and lets the opposing teams pointer choose five sticks representing the opposing team. The game is now on.
The drums and singing starts and the winning pointer hands a set of bones, one marked, and one unmarked, to two different teammates. These players then hide the bones behind a scarf, a drum, or their back randomly changing the bones from hand to hand. Sometimes the pointer will give the teammate a hand signal indicating in which hand to hide the unmarked bone. When ready, the player will bring their hands up or across their chest with the bones hidden in the palm of their hands. It is the object of the opposing team's pointer to choose the combination of the bones that are hidden. There are four points to select from when four bones are hidden.
Outside;
See Photos at
ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/White_Wolf_Publishing/photos/browse/68e7
This point is done with the thumb extended vertical and the index finger pointing straight out horizontally 90 degrees; both unmarked bones are on the outside edges.
Down the middle;
See Photos at
ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/White_Wolf_Publishing/photos/browse/68e7
All fingers together, hand making a chopping motion vertically up and down; both unmarked bones are in the middle.
Left and Right;
See Photos at
ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/White_Wolf_Publishing/photos/browse/68e7
This point utilizes the index finger only. The index finger is extended out pointing either left or right; unmarked bones are on the left of the marked ones, or the unmarked bones are to the right of the marked ones.
If the pointer guesses correctly on one of the sets, then one set of bones is thrown over and thus improving the chances of guessing the second set to 50/50. When the pointer fails in attempting to guess the unmarked bone, and guesses a marked bone, then the pointer must throw one of his sticks over to the opposing team. Each marked bone guessed generates a stick for the opposing team. If both sets of bones are guessed wrong then two sticks are thrown over to the opposing team. The team that finishes with all of the sticks wins the game. A game can last mere minutes or even hours.
The singing that accompanies the Stickgame had connotations that where mostly of a mythological nature. The songs that were used were believed to have mythological powers, and if a group sang its songs and won the game then it was believed that the group had more power than the opposing group. The powerful song made them succeed. These songs were passed down many generations. The songs that were sometimes sung were also used to try to instill fear in opponents, and some songs were used in order to taunt a group. This taunting of the opposing team is similar to the posturing and ritual throwing of salt at a Sumo wrestling match. The drums are played to keep to the rhythm of the song or game, but this is a recent addition to the Stickgame.
groups.yahoo.com/group/White_Wolf_Publishing/message/2
Have you ever gone to a Powwow and watched the Stickgame, wondering how it's played? Most Stickgames are open to anyone that wants to play. Here are the basic rules for the Stickgame. I don't know how to add the pictures to the text so you will need to look at the photo album. I will upload a PDF version to the files section if I can.
The game itself involves the use of four equally sized cylinders called "Bones" that can be held in the palm of each hand of two players. Two of the bones will have a mark of some kind usually a colored dot or band, and two will be unmarked. There is a set of 11 colored sticks. The color scheme of the sticks represents the sticks of each team. Therefore, five sticks are painted one color scheme to represent a team and the other five sticks are painted a different color scheme to represent the opposing team. There is an extra stick known as the "Kick Stick". This stick is usually larger and elaborately decorated.
The game is started by pre-designated pointers from each team who take one set of bones, one marked and one unmarked, and hides the bones behind a scarf or drum randomly shifting the bones from one had to the other. When the pointer is ready, he/she will hold their hands out with a bone in each hand. The pointers will in turn, try to guess where the opponent's unmarked bone is. The winning pointer takes the ten sticks and lets the opposing teams pointer choose five sticks representing the opposing team. The game is now on.
The drums and singing starts and the winning pointer hands a set of bones, one marked, and one unmarked, to two different teammates. These players then hide the bones behind a scarf, a drum, or their back randomly changing the bones from hand to hand. Sometimes the pointer will give the teammate a hand signal indicating in which hand to hide the unmarked bone. When ready, the player will bring their hands up or across their chest with the bones hidden in the palm of their hands. It is the object of the opposing team's pointer to choose the combination of the bones that are hidden. There are four points to select from when four bones are hidden.
Outside;
See Photos at
ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/White_Wolf_Publishing/photos/browse/68e7
This point is done with the thumb extended vertical and the index finger pointing straight out horizontally 90 degrees; both unmarked bones are on the outside edges.
Down the middle;
See Photos at
ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/White_Wolf_Publishing/photos/browse/68e7
All fingers together, hand making a chopping motion vertically up and down; both unmarked bones are in the middle.
Left and Right;
See Photos at
ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/White_Wolf_Publishing/photos/browse/68e7
This point utilizes the index finger only. The index finger is extended out pointing either left or right; unmarked bones are on the left of the marked ones, or the unmarked bones are to the right of the marked ones.
If the pointer guesses correctly on one of the sets, then one set of bones is thrown over and thus improving the chances of guessing the second set to 50/50. When the pointer fails in attempting to guess the unmarked bone, and guesses a marked bone, then the pointer must throw one of his sticks over to the opposing team. Each marked bone guessed generates a stick for the opposing team. If both sets of bones are guessed wrong then two sticks are thrown over to the opposing team. The team that finishes with all of the sticks wins the game. A game can last mere minutes or even hours.
The singing that accompanies the Stickgame had connotations that where mostly of a mythological nature. The songs that were used were believed to have mythological powers, and if a group sang its songs and won the game then it was believed that the group had more power than the opposing group. The powerful song made them succeed. These songs were passed down many generations. The songs that were sometimes sung were also used to try to instill fear in opponents, and some songs were used in order to taunt a group. This taunting of the opposing team is similar to the posturing and ritual throwing of salt at a Sumo wrestling match. The drums are played to keep to the rhythm of the song or game, but this is a recent addition to the Stickgame.