Gambling Houses

GAMBLING HOUSES

Gambling houses are a very popular feature in many sword and sorcery stories, as well as many different genres of literature in the modern era especially. However, gambling as an activity and hobby has been present in most human societies throughout history, in many different forms, and featuring many different styles of games, or other activities of competition that feature betting various amounts of wealth on the favoured chance of a particular person or team being victorious. I created some tables for adding some enhanced detail to these establishments in my own campaigns. Whether the scene in the campaign requires a group of rough sailors playing dice down by the docks, or a smoke-filled tavern where gamblers gather around playing cards and such at tables while beautiful women hang on their elbow, smiling and looking glorious--or some dark, jazz-like "Speak-Easy" club where only members are allowed to enter, whereupon the characters enter a dark, sensuous world of games, music, beautiful women, and danger, the gambling house always presents some excellent plot elements and opportunities for fun in the campaign!

Gambling House Access
01-25% Private
26-00% Public

Private Gambling House: Private gambling houses often have secret, hidden locations. Sometimes, these private gambling houses may actually be easy to reach--but are disguised as some other kind of building or business. Entrance is strictly controlled, and forbidden to any non-member. Private gambling houses typically have a specific and exclusive club membership, with membership files extensively detailing who the membership is, personal details, and how long they have been a member, as well as their favoured games, how much they typically spend, and how often they have won, and what amounts. Private gambling houses always charge monthly membership dues, and typically have strict dress codes.

Public Gambling House: Public gambling houses are out in the open, usually easily accessible, and publicly advertised as such. They sometimes charge an entrance fee, and may also have establsihed dress codes.

Gambling House Size
01-25% Small (Comfortably accomodates up to 25 people)
26-55% Standard (Comfortably accomodates up to 100 people)
56-75% Large (Comfortably accomodates up to 500 people)
76-90% Huge (Comfortably accomodates up to 1,000 people)
91-00% Palatial (Comfortably accomodates up to 3,000 people)

Gambling House Quality
01-20% Poor
21-50% Standard
51-75% Fine
76-90% Excellent
91-00% Regal

Poor Quality
Poor quality gambling houses typically have only a few kinds of games offered, have lazy, poor security, and the staff is often lazy, incompetent, and possess very poor or obnoxious attitudes.

Standard Quality
Standard quality gambling houses typically offer a decent variety of games, and have reasonably alert and skilled security. Standard quality gambling houses usually have a good number of alert, skilled and competent staff on hand that possess friendly, courteous and professional attitudes.

Fine Quality
Fine quality gambling houses typically offer a good variety of games, and have unusually alert and highly skilled security. Fine quality gambling houses usually have a large number of very alert, highly-skilled and experienced staff on hand that possess very friendly, courteous and professional attitudes.

Excellent Quality
Excellent quality gambling houses typically offer a broad variety of games, and have extremely alert, highly-trained and elite security. Excellent quality gambling houses usually have an abundant number of extremely alert, highly-skilled and experienced staff on hand that possess very friendly, courteous and professional attitudes. Excellent quality gambling houses routinely have both uniformed and disguised security staff as well as other house staff, providing extra layers of security as well as being very proactive in servicing their guests and seeing to any needs a guest may have in a very professional, gracious manner.

Regal Quality
Regal quality gambling houses typically offer a huge variety of games, and have superb, extremely alert, highly-trained and elite security. Regal quality gambling houses have many security staff that possess highly unusual training and equipment, as well as hidden spies and a fully-equipped staff of elite, ruthless security agents that are prepared to maintain the security of the gambling house at any cost. Regal quality gambling houses usually have a huge, ever-present number of extremely alert, highly-skilled and experienced staff on hand that possess very friendly, courteous and professional attitudes. Regal quality gambling houses routinely have both uniformed and disguised security staff as well as other house staff, providing extra layers of security as well as being very proactive in servicing their guests and seeing to any needs a guest may have in a very professional, gracious manner. Regal gambling houses typically have disguised teams of security staff as well as elite investigators ready and waiting, both inside the gambling house, as well as outside.

Gambling House Ammenities and Features

Liquor and Booze Quality
01-20% Poor Quality Liquor and Booze
21-40% Standard Quality Liquor and Booze
41-60% Good Quality Liquor and Booze
61-80% Excellent Quality Liquor and Booze
81-00% Outstanding Quality Liquor and Booze

Poor Quality Liquor and Booze
Harsh, rough and nasty-tasting liquors, poor, watered wines, and weak, terrible beers. Your dog wouldn't drink this stuff. You might survive a few of these. Thinking of getting good and ripped on this horrible stuff?--forget about it. You may not survive the experience!

Standard Quality Liquor and Booze
Reasonably flavoured wines and decent beers; decent selection of adequate booze and liquors. The selection available is modest; forget about seeing anything of good quality though. The taste and quality is basically acceptable, though grudgingly. Nothing to write home about though.

Good Quality Liquor and Booze
A fairly good selection of better quality liquors and booze; some are well-known for being pretty good. A good range of enjoyable beers available, as well as some good ales. Good wine selection, from white, red, and Chardonnays--even some good champagne.

Excellent Quality Liquor and Booze
The booze and liquors offered are all of very fine quality, excellent flavours, and a broad selection. Many different excellent beers and ales to choose from--from lagers and light, refreshing ales, to pilsners and stouts. Wines and champagnes are delicious, and very enjoyable--beware!--this stuff is so good, you can drink yourself into a stupor without even thinking about it!

Outstanding Quality Liquor and Booze
The selection of booze and liquors is vast--so many choices, flavours and colors! Ranges of experiences and flavours to pick from, all are enjoyable, and delicious. While some may be harsh and very strong--their quality is good going down. Others are so sweet and smooth going down, you may hardly notice how much you're gulping down! Excellent. Ales and beers are both fine domestic and local offerings, as well as many imported from distant lands, as well as famous brewers. Wines and champagnes are simply outstanding in color, flavour, and finish, with a broad selection available, inlcuding many selections from famous and elite vinyards and wineries.

Food Quality and Selection
01-20% Poor
21-40% Standard
41-60% Good
61-80% Excellent
81-00% Outstanding

Poor
Food quality is just terrible. Selection is very limited--perhaps choices of merely three or four dishes, often less. Bowls of gooey stew, pale noodles, and chewy, mystery meat. Breads are like chewy cardboard. This stuff is horrible--but better than starving. Maybe.

Standard
Food quality is adequate, but nothing to get excited about. The selection is generally from 6-12 dishes, with decent spices and seasonings, even if they are rather mundane, simple, or rough.

Good
Quality is tasty and flavourful. Selections are very broad. Many dishes to choose from, all cooked well, with good spices and seasonings available. The meals are quite enjoyable, and very satisfying. It's a meal you can easily look forward to again.

Excellent
Quality is very good, and delicious. Selection is broad, with several styles of cuisine available. The excellent dishes are very well-prepared by skilled cooks, with fine-quality spices and seasonings available.

Outstanding
The food quality is thoroughly enjoyable, and outstanding. The food is so good, it makes you want to talk about the experience, and tell others about the fine food available here. The selection is very large, with many different cusines available, as well as several styles, all prepared by outstanding cooks. Delicious spices and fine seasonings are available, and the meal is an entirely wonderful experience.

Smoke and Tobacco: Quality and Selection
01-20% Poor Tobacco
21-40% Standard Tobacco
41-60% Good Tobacco
61-80% Excellent Tobacco
81-00% Outstanding Tobacco

Poor Tobacco Selection and Quality
Quality is poor, with very few selections of flavours of cigarettes, cigars, or pipe tobaccos. The flavour is terrible, harsh, rough, and entirely too strong. This stuff is ghastly. How can anyone smoke this stuff?

Standard Tobacco Selection and Quality
A decent selection of tobaccos is available, with several kinds and flavours of cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobaccos. These tobaccos are of reasonable quality.

Good Tobacco Selection and Quality
Quality is solid, with good flavours of cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobaccos. A good range of selections are offered, both from well-known growers, as well as some talented new brands and names in the tobacco crafting market.

Excellent Tobacco Selection and Quality
Broad selections of styles and flavours of cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobaccos. The cigarettes have good flavour, consistent, and expertly rolled. The cigars never have runs, and have good flavour, consistent smoke, easy, smooth draws, and fine finishes. Pipe tobaccos are excellent, well-humidified, with slightly moist texture. Good smoke, nice even burning, pleasant finish.

Outstanding Tobacco Selection and Quality
Cigarettes are excellent and smooth. The cigars never have runs, and are outstanding in every way. The cigars are delicious. Pipe tobacco is excellent, with a broad range of selections. The smoke is fine, and a very good experience with these outstanding tobaccos, each and every time. You could easily get more of this stuff, and look forward to it. Yeah, even paying good money for any of it. It's an entirely enjoyable experience, from start to finish.