Medieval tavern games: dice and skittles

A medieval tavern was a place for eating, drinking, gossiping and passing time, so simple games belonged naturally to its noisy interior. Dice and skittles needed little equipment, suited mixed groups and could be played on a rough table or packed-earth floor. They are especially effective at living-history events because visitors can understand the basic idea within a few minutes.

The exact rules used in medieval Europe varied by region, period and social setting. Dice might be used for gambling, fortune-telling or competitive games, while skittles developed from bowling games in which a ball was rolled at wooden pins. A modern recreation should therefore present these activities as historically inspired rather than claim that one universal rulebook existed.

For an Australian reenactment group, the appeal is practical as well as historical. A small kit can travel to a festival near Ballarat, Maitland or Canberra, and a shaded marquee can turn a quiet patch of grass into a lively tavern corner. With non-cash stakes, clear boundaries and a few period-looking props, the games can welcome families, newcomers and experienced players alike.

What players might have found in a medieval tavern

Dice were commonly made from bone, wood or other hard materials, with small cubes marked by drilled or painted spots. Archaeological examples show that dice existed in many shapes and sizes, although surviving objects do not always reveal the rules played with them. A tavern keeper might provide a cup, board or cloth, but players could also carry their own dice.

Skittles required a level area, several pins and a ball or rounded wooden piece. The pins could be arranged in a row, triangle or compact cluster, depending on the local tradition and the space available. For an event, nine pins are visually impressive, but three or five are easier to manage around children and passers-by.

Historical tavern games were not always harmless entertainment. Gambling could lead to arguments, debt and accusations of cheating, while authorities and religious writers sometimes criticised gaming. A living-history demonstration can acknowledge this tension without recreating the less suitable elements: explain that money was sometimes involved, then use buttons, painted tokens or wooden counters instead.

A simple dice game for beginners

A straightforward dice activity is a high-roll contest. Each player rolls two dice, adds the spots and records the result on a slate or scrap of paper. The highest total after three rounds wins. This is easy to teach, keeps turns short and allows visitors to join halfway through without holding up the whole table.

For a more characterful version, call the game “the tavern tally”. Every player begins with five counters. Rolling a pair wins one counter from the common pot; rolling a total of seven earns two; rolling double ones means returning one counter. The rules are invented for demonstration, but they echo the excitement of lucky throws, changing fortunes and friendly rivalry.

Use a dice cup to make the action feel authentic and to reduce disputes about whether a die bounced off the table. A wooden tray or shallow board keeps pieces from disappearing into grass. If a die lands outside the tray, reroll it openly. Avoid allowing players to wager real money, alcohol or personal possessions, especially at public events and family-oriented festivals.

The game can also teach probability in a relaxed way. A total of seven is more likely with two standard dice than a total of two because several combinations produce seven. That small observation gives children and adults something to discuss while keeping the focus on play rather than presenting a modern mathematics lesson.

Setting up a safe skittles lane

Choose a flat area away from tents, cooking fires, armour displays and queues. On Australian festival grounds, dry grass, hard soil and sudden gusts can affect a rolling ball, so mark the lane with rope or painted wooden pegs. A short run of three to five metres is usually enough for a public activity, while a longer lane can be reserved for timed demonstrations.

Use lightweight wooden pins with rounded edges and a soft ball for general visitors. Heavy hardwood equipment may look impressive but can damage flooring, bruise feet or become dangerous when children crowd around the lane. A marshal should stand beside the pins, not directly behind them, and players should wait behind a clear starting line until the lane is empty.

The basic scoring system is simple: one point for each pin knocked down, with three rolls per player. For a competitive round, reset the pins after every throw and add the totals. Another option is to award a bonus for clearing the whole arrangement, creating a satisfying final throw without needing complicated historical claims.

Skittles also works well as a demonstration of medieval material culture. Display the pins beside a modern ten-pin bowling ball and point out the differences in scale, shape and handling. Visitors can see that rolling games have a long history while recognising that today’s bowling alleys follow different rules.

Making the games feel like a tavern

Atmosphere comes from presentation rather than expensive scenery. A rough trestle table, linen cloth, wooden cups, a chalkboard and a painted tavern sign can establish the setting. Keep decorations restrained if the event has a specific period: a fourteenth-century camp should not be filled with props from a much later public house.

A costumed game keeper can invite people over with language that is friendly and understandable: “Fancy a throw?” or “Have a go, mate.” Australian visitors often respond well to an informal invitation, especially during a long arvo of walking between stalls. Avoid forcing a theatrical accent; clear instructions and warm hosting matter more than exaggerated medieval speech.

A short rules board should show the number of throws, scoring method and what happens when equipment leaves the playing area. Volunteers can demonstrate one round before asking visitors to play. At a large public gathering, a festival first-timer guide can help organisers think about crowd movement, signage and the needs of people unfamiliar with reenactment spaces.

Keep a separate table for clean cups, counters and dice, particularly where food is served. Hand sanitiser, a first-aid contact and an adult supervisor are sensible additions. If the weather turns hot, move dice indoors or under shade and offer regular breaks; a crowded canvas marquee can become surprisingly warm in an Australian summer.

Building a game station for events

A portable kit might contain two dice cups, several sets of dice, a wooden tray, counters, chalk, a score sheet, five or nine skittles, a soft ball, rope and a small rules sign. Numbering the equipment helps volunteers check that nothing has rolled into the grass or disappeared beneath a table. A lidded tub protects bone-style replicas from rain and dust.

Different visitors need different levels of challenge. Offer a one-minute dice round for people passing through, a longer tournament for reenactors and a skittles lane where younger children can roll from a shorter distance. Keep one set of dice available for tactile handling, while the main equipment remains with the game keeper.

The station can connect with other demonstrations. An organiser running an archery programme might use a local archery guide to coordinate lanes, safety briefings and audience flow, ensuring that a skittles ball never crosses into an active range. Shared signage and scheduling make the whole village feel planned rather than improvised.

For educational events, prepare a small explanation of evidence and interpretation. Say which items are based on archaeological finds, which rules are modern reconstructions and which details are simply chosen to make the activity playable. This honesty strengthens historical storytelling and gives visitors a better understanding of how living history works.

Using stories, stakes and friendly competition

A tavern game becomes memorable when it has a small story. Players might be competing to win the innkeeper’s painted token, settle a fictional argument between travelling merchants or earn the right to choose the evening song. Such framing adds personality without pretending that the scene reproduces a documented medieval incident.

Tokens can represent bread, beer, a place by the fire or a favourable mark in the tavern ledger. Do not use rewards that imply real gambling, and avoid presenting alcohol as necessary for participation. The game should be equally enjoyable for children, drivers, visitors observing religious restrictions and adults who simply prefer a quiet activity.

Historical fiction, documentaries and children’s resources can help volunteers develop believable details. A shelf or display of recommended reading, including medieval history books, can give families a useful next step after they have tried the games. Keep the display separate from the playing surface so books stay clean and dry.

At the end of a session, record which rules worked, where queues formed and whether the equipment survived the day. The best format may be a quick dice challenge in a crowded hall, or a slower skittles tournament at a spacious outdoor fair. For a dependable medieval tavern station, pack light wooden equipment, use tokens instead of cash, mark a safe lane, explain the rules in one minute and let the fun begin.