DOCE is super easy to learn. You can read the rules in five minutes, and you can teach the game in less.
You need one playing grid, two sets of dice, and two markers. Thats it. The rulebook and a score tracker come with the game, but thats not essential if you want to keep score on paper and if you know all the rules.
And then you follow these simple steps:
Place a die on any available square.
Attempt to make a line of four of your own dice or three of your dice and one of your opponents at the end of the line.
Score points based on the state of the board when someone wins.
Play four rounds of the game.
Total the points from the four rounds and declare a winner.
So what makes it different from something like Hasbros Connect 4?
Well, there are some additional rules to consider that take DOCE to the next level of complexity and enable some exciting gameplay.
When a player places a die on the grid, they must also place the marker on top of it. This marker signifies the last die placed, but it also informs the player of the no-play zone. On the next turn, the player cannot place their die in any of the adjacent squares. This effectively cuts off anywhere between three and eight grid placements on the next turn. And it prevents a player from simply placing the die in a straight line one after the other.
That limitation means that this game doesnt end as quickly or as inelegantly as a game of tic-tac-toe or Connect 4. Players have to think in advance how they want to approach the game board, and it requires more finesse and more tactical awareness.
And, beyond that, there is also the blocker die. This die is a special one-time use for players, and it eliminates the square it is played on. This means you can thwart the progress your opponent has made toward a completed line.
Also, when you use the blocker die, it can be played anywhere on the board (including the no-play zone) and you get to play a numbered die afterward as normal.
Its a powerful mechanic that further increases the time and strategy of the game.
I liked a lot of things about DOCE.
Playing over four rounds meant that one mistake or unfortunate round could be countered later in another round. It lengthened the time spent playing and it made good victories feel more important. Losing a 20-point round wasnt as discouraging when I had just won a 35-point round prior to that. It gives players multiple chances to succeed and makes it feel like a mini-tournament or best-of kind of competition.
Like chess in the park, DOCE is a game that you can enjoy just about anywhere while having a good conversation with the person sitting across from you. There is enough strategy to stimulate the brain, but the small-box dice duel doesnt weigh heavily on you as you play. Its light but tough. Small but cunning.
And there are also variants that you can try out to add new twists to the gameplay.
Master Die has players, at the start of each round, roll a die the resulting number is off-limits for the duration of the round.
Luck of the Roll requires players to roll 3 of their dice at the beginning of a turn and those are the only options available to put down.
Hard Mode places one of the blocker die into the middle square of the grid and removes the other one from play.
Think Ahead means that every die a player places must be higher in number than the previous one, with the placement of a 6 resetting the count.
There are also modified modes of some variants that add different rules.
So for such a small game, there is a lot in DOCE that strategy lovers and tabletop enthusiasts will like. Its easy enough for everyone, including kids, to enjoy.
And its fun.
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DOCE Review: A Clever Dice Duel To Take On Chess And Other Games - GameTyrant
