The Great Dalmuti
The 80-card commercial deck contains cards ranked from 12 to 1, along with two Jokers (or “Jesters”, as they are here called). Each card bears a number, which is not only its rank, but also tells you how many of that card exist in the deck. In other words, there are twelve 12s, eleven 11s, four 4s and a single card ranked 1. The lower the number, the better the rank. Playing Time: 60 Minutes.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars It’s not meant to be fair…that’s the point, even so it’s fun for everyone from royalty through the peasantry
This game has been a favorite of ours for game parties for quite a while.
“The Great Dalmuti” is based on medieval class structure, which was, of course, not equitable at all. In those days there were royalty, merchants, and peasants. Similarly, in this game there is the royalty, referred to as the “Greater Dalmuti” and the “Lesser Dalmuti.” There are also players representing merchants, and one player designated as the “Lesser Peon” and one designated as the “Greater Peon”, i.e., the peasants.
As you might guess, being one of the royalty is great - you get to collect taxes from the peons, but being a peon stinks - you have to pay taxes to the royalty. Being a merchant is OK, but you don’t get in on the whole tax collecting scene, though, at the same time you don’t have to pay any taxes either.
All right, here’s how the game works. This is a card game that we have played with as many as 10 people at a time, though it seems to work best with between 5 and 8 players, as indicated in the rules.
The card deck includes one-1, two-2s, three-3s, and so on up to twelve-12s. The 12s are the weakest cards in the deck, and the one is the most powerful. There are also two jester cards. These cards, if played by themselves, are weaker than a twelve, but when played with another card a jester card takes on the value of any card it is played with.
Play proceeds as follows:
1) When you get ready to play the first round the players need to be seated. This is done as each player draws a card from the deck. The player drawing the lowest numbered (and thus the most powerful card) become the Greater Dalmuti, and so on, so that the player drawing the weakest card becomes the Greater Peon.
2) Players should be seated in order around the table or around a room going from the Greater Dalmuti down to the Greater Peon. Once that is done the game becomes more fun as players take on attitudes and perspectives of their social positions. That is, the Greater and Lesser Dalmutis can be either magnanamous leaders, or they can be overbearing tyrants. At the same time Peons can be either subservient or uppity.
3) The Greater Peon then collects all the cards back from the players once they have been seated, and the Greater Peon shuffles the deck, and deals out a hand of cards to each player, dealing until all the cards have been dealt.
4) The Great Dalmuti then calls for taxes. When this happens the Great Peon has to give her/his two most powerful cards (not including jesters) to the Greater Dalmuti. The Lesser Peon, likewise has to give their single strongest card to the Lesser Dalmuti. The Dalmutis then give whichever cards they like to the Peons (usually weak cards).
5) Play commences as the Greater Dalmuti lays down whatever they desire, say a pair of 11s. Another player can then play only if they have a pair of cards of a lower (more powerful) number, e.g.,a pair of 8s. Play continues around the circle of players until everyone passes. At that point the player than played the most powerful pair of cards starts the next round.
6) Play continues in this manner until everyone has played all of their cards. The player that gets rid of their cards first is seated as the Greater Dalmuti for the next round, and so on around the circle, and the last person to go out becomes the Greater Peon.
7) You can play as many rounds as desired.
We like to have a snack table set up where players can get something to snack on between rounds (while the new Greater Peon shuffles and deals hands for the next round - heh heh heh).
We find this game to be enhanced by providing a variety of hats to be worn by players - e.g., a crown for the Greater Dalmuti, and an assortment of other hats to be worn by merchants and peons. We also like to add other perks to positions of high station. For example, we like to seat the Greater Dalmuti in a comfy couch, and the Greater Peon on a small wooden stool, or even on the floor. Thus adding an extra element of class structure to the game.
All is not lost for Peons, though. There is always the possibility of a revolution. You’ll need to read the rules to find out about that.
This is a great family or party game. You and your friends will love it.
5-stars all the way!
5 Stars fun for the whole family
Great game for a family gettogether. Nice part of the game is that you can play each round individually if you want so you don’t have a long time commitment. It started of slow as people were learning the game but everyone got involved from age 10-50 and didn’t want to quit. It is also a lot of fun for college students as my nephew played it a lot in school.
5 Stars The Great Dalmuti is GREAT FUN!
This game is way too much fun to come out of such a little package! From elementary school-aged kids to seasoned adults, we all had a blast sitting around the table enjoying one another’s company for a couple of hours. It’s an easy game to learn but a hard one to put down!
5 Stars A fun game for a group
We first played this game at our daughter’s house with a large group of family and had a blast. Absolutely had to have a game for ourselves.
5 Stars Family Reunion Staple
We have a large family reunion every summer, and we always play the Great Dalmuti. It isn’t just a game, it is a social experience, complete with heavy competition and role playing. The younger kids who don’t understand the card game still get a kick out of teaming up with a more “senior” player for the role playing - serving drinks and snacks as the peon, ordering people around as the Great Dalmuti and other upper class citizens. It is a fairly simple game to learn. Playing it always involves lots of laughter and family bonding.
Filed under: Classic Board Game Reviews