Friday Free Game: KDice Friday, December 15, 2006

This week's Friday Free Game is a first in two ways: it's the first sequel to a previous Friday Free Game and it's also the first multiplayer game I've recommended. The Friday Free Game was supposed to be about keeping you busy for just a few minutes by entertaining you in a way that was challenging and original. You might say that an eight-player remake that lasts for about 20-30 minutes doesn't fit this bill, but since the original game was so well-loved (for example, DanC of LostGarden was obsessed for a time), and since I've had so much fun playing the multi-player version, I just had to share. The Friday Free Game is about fun, after all, and that's what this version is all about.

KDice is a direct descendant of Dice Wars (FFG 08/18/06), so there's not much to say about the basic gameplay here, because this version is nearly identical to the original. Except now you get a rating and can join in the battle against other people online, and even play your friends (okay, BigDog.... it's time for us to see who's really better at this game).

A few caveats to those who played the original Dice Wars and are thinking they'll go into this game and just mop up. First, remember this isn't some wonky AI you're playing against. People are much smarter than computers when it comes to strategy. You'll have to use a little bit of psychology in order to stay alive. Second, this game has become massively popular, and so the server tends to bog down. This can cause problems especially if you're in the middle of a game; your turn times out pretty fast and you are marked as "Away" until you hit the "Sit In" button. Also, the game also suffers from the same problems as the original, including having no control over where your reinforcements are placed. Also, the random placement of players and random turn selection can put you in a bad position just by luck.

All that said, I've had a great time playing KDice and you will, too. Check it out.