The Game of the Month series highlights one of the many games in our libraries at Ravenwood Castle and The Malted Meeple. We will briefly describe the game, how to play it, and why we like it.

Game: Red Dragon Inn

In The Red Dragon Inn, players make up a party of adventurers in a high fantasy world. Your party has just returned from your latest adventure. You have delved the dungeon, slain the monsters, and claimed the treasure. The party members decide to blow off some steam by visiting the famous Red Dragon Inn. While at the inn, the party engages in some friendly competition. They will spend the night enjoying some of the taverns drinks, some friendly gambling, and a bit of roughhousing.  Whoever is left sober, standing, and manages to keep their gold will win the game!

To begin, players take ten gold from the bank, their player mat, and all the cards corresponding to their character. If they run out of gold, then they are out of the game! Players place a red token, representing their fortitude, on the 20 space of the track. Then they place the clear token, representing their alcohol content, on the 0 space. As the game progresses, players will gain alcohol content and lose fortitude. If the two tokens ever meet, they are eliminated from the game! Finally, each player takes one card from the top card of the Drink Deck and puts it on top of their Drink Me! pile.

During each player’s turn, they will begin by discarding any number of cards they choose from their hand before drawing back up to seven. Then they may play one Action card and resolve its effects. Next, the player draws a card from the top of the Drink Deck and – without looking at it – puts it on top of another player’s Drink Me! pile. Finally, the player must drink the top card of their Drink Me! pile.

During the game, players will have ample time to play Sometimes or Anytime cards. These cards can force players to split drinks, lose fortitude, lose gold, begin a round of gambling, or have other effects. The Anytime cards can be played anytime during the players turn or another player’s turn, while the Sometimes cards can only be played when certain conditions are met. Players continue taking turns until one player is left standing!

If you will be attending Con in the Castle at Ravenwood Castle this month, you will get a chance to play The Red Dragon Inn with the creators from Slugfest Games. If you aren’t able to make the convention, never fear! The next time you visit Ravenwood Castle or The Malted Meeple, ask your game master for The Red Dragon Inn and prepare for a night of fantasy fun!

Jim Reed

Jim Reed is a lifelong gamer who started with the original red box Dungeons & Dragons. After spending 20 years in the corporate world, he decided it was high time that work be fun and struck out on his own. Jim now owns and operates Ravenwood Castle, and spends his days ensuring his guests have as much fun as he does.