Description

Although the rules do not explicitly reference Battlestar Galactica, this set of 55 custom hexagonal cards bears elements showing that the game was inspired by the seventies TV show, including two cards that display Cylon helmets and an Ovion "Death Card." In keeping with the theme, there are rules regarding gameplay when the ship you are stationed on is at yellow or red alert status. Cheating is explicitly authorized in the rules, but with penalties for being caught. There are no face cards in the game. The cards of the four suits are ranked in value from 2 to 13 plus a Pyramid card. The three special cards with Cylon or Ovion markings round out the deck.

Galactic Poker comes with rules for four different games:

"Pyramid" - the name of a card game the characters played on the seventies TV series, Battlestar Galactica;

"Red Eye" - perhaps just a generic reference to Cylons, but Red-Eye is also the name of a specific Cylon character featured in a 1978 episode of the TV series;

"Draw" - in reference to a fast-draw western showdown with blaster pistols; and

"Galactic Strip" - which is exactly what the name implies - a game where you wager articles of clothing rather than money - and where the Death Card causes you to lose all of your attire, except for your blaster and holster!

Other Implementations of Pyramid

This implementation of Pyramid is different from that reflected in the game Triad (the name given to the card game in the newer version of the TV series) and appears to be an independently designed game rather than a variant of Triad. In addition, the cards shown in the BoardGames entry currently described (without attribution) as the "Official Version" of Pyramid appear to use the same artwork as this set, but that deck has 56 cards, with four Cylons and no Death Card.

—user summary

There are thousands of forms of Poker through out (sic) the galaxy. They differ only in details & all basically follow the same elementary principles. The following rules are not the only games of Poker that can be played with these cards. They are a galactic deck which can be used for most any card game.

May the Lords smile upon you with great fortune!

—description from the publisher