Northern Threes

Rules Overview

Game design: David McDougal

2-99 Players | Family Dice Game | 5 Standard d6

Roll low. Find the threes. Know when to stop.

Overview

In Northern Threes, players roll five dice trying to finish with the lowest score.

After every roll, you must lock at least one die. You can then Bank your score and stop or risk another roll to try to improve it.

Most dice score their face value, but 3s score nothing.

At the start of each round, everyone chips an agreed item into the pot. The player with the lowest score wins it.

Components

• 5 standard six-sided dice
• A supply of small items for the pot

The Pot

Before playing, everyone agrees on one kind of item to use for the pot.

For example:

• M&Ms
• pennies
• crackers
• buttons
• small tokens
• another small item everyone agrees on

Everyone must use the same kind of item during the game.

Keep it small and fun.

Object

Finish the scoring round with the lowest score.

Die Values

Each die scores its face value except for a 3.

For example: 1, 2, 3, 3, 5 → Scores: 1 + 2 + 0 + 0 + 5 = 8

Setup

Each player chips 1 agreed item into the pot.

Choose a starting player.

Play proceeds clockwise.

Taking a Turn

On your turn:

1. Roll all 5 dice.
2. After the roll, lock at least 1 die.
3. You may lock as many of the rolled dice as you want.
4. Decide whether to Bank or Roll Again.

Locking Dice

Once a die is locked, it stays locked for the rest of your turn.

A locked die cannot be rerolled.

There is no limit to how many dice you may lock after a roll, as long as you lock at least one.

Bank

After locking your dice, you may choose to Bank.

Your turn immediately ends.

Score all your locked dice normally.

Each die you did not lock scores 4 points.

Roll Again

Instead of banking, roll all your unlocked dice again.

After every roll, you must again lock at least one die.

Continue choosing between Bank and Roll Again until you bank or all 5 dice are locked.

If all 5 dice become locked, your turn ends automatically.

Example Turn

You roll: 3, 1, 4, 5, 6

You lock the 3 and 1.

You now have 3 unlocked dice.

If you Bank, your score would be: 0 + 1 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 13

Instead, you roll the remaining 3 dice.

You roll: 3, 2, 6

You lock the 3 and 2.

You now have only one unlocked die.

Your locked dice are: 3, 1, 3, 2

They currently score 3 points.

You now have a choice.

If you Bank, the remaining unlocked die scores 4: 0 + 1 + 0 + 2 + 4 = 7

Or you can roll that final die and try for something better.

Roll a:

• 1 → score 4
• 2 → score 5
• 3 → score 3
• 4 → score 7
• 5 → score 8
• 6 → score 9

Bank the safe 7, or take the chance.

Winning the Scoring Round

After every player has taken one turn, compare scores.

The player with the lowest score wins the pot.

Only a tie for the lowest score matters.

Ties

If two or more players are tied for the lowest score, nobody wins the pot yet.

Everyone chips 1 more item into the pot.

Then everyone gets another turn.

Nobody is knocked out because of a bad previous roll.

After everyone has played again, compare the new scores.

If one player has the single lowest score, that player wins the entire pot.

If the lowest score is tied again, everyone chips in again and another scoring round begins.

Five-Round Limit

A single pot may last for a maximum of 5 scoring rounds.

The original scoring round counts as Round 1.

Each tiebreaker is another scoring round.

If players are still tied for the lowest score after Round 5, those tied players split the pot as evenly as possible.

If the items cannot be divided evenly, any leftover item remains in the pot for the next game.

Northern Sweep

If you lock all five dice as 3s, you have rolled a:

Northern Sweep

A Northern Sweep immediately wins the pot.

The current scoring round ends, even if some players have not yet taken their turn.

A new round then begins with a new pot.

Only five locked 3s count as a Northern Sweep.

Banked dice do not count.

Starting a New Round

After someone wins the pot:

1. Everyone chips 1 new item into a new pot.
2. Pass the starting-player role to the player on the left.
3. Begin another round.

Play for as many rounds as everyone wants.

There is no required number of rounds and no overall game winner necessary. Each pot is its own little game.

Solo Play

Northern Threes can also be played solo.

Do not use a pot.

Play 10 turns using the normal rules.

Record the score from each turn and add them together.

Try to beat your previous lowest total.

A solo scoring chart can be established after more playtesting.

Larger Groups

Northern Threes can technically be played with any number of people, but one set of dice works best with a smaller table.

For a large group, use additional sets of five dice so several players can take their turns at the same time.

Everyone still follows the same rules and compares scores once all players have finished.

Rules at a Glance

• Roll 5 dice.
• Lock at least 1 die after every roll.
• Locked dice cannot be rerolled.
• 3s score 0.
• Other dice score their face value.
• After locking, Bank or Roll Again.
• If you Bank, each unlocked die scores 4.
• Lowest score wins the pot.
• A tie for lowest gives everyone another shot.
• Everyone chips in again before a tiebreaker.
• Maximum 5 scoring rounds per pot.
• Five locked 3s is a Northern Sweep and immediately wins the pot.