Ship, Captain and Crew Dice Game

Ship, Captain and Crew is a quick five-dice game of luck and nerve. Find your ship, captain and crew in order within three rolls, then decide whether to keep your cargo or risk it for a bigger haul.

How to play Ship, Captain & Crew

• On your turn you have three rolls of five dice.
• You need a 6 (the ship), then a 5 (the captain), then a 4 (the crew), in that order. They are set aside automatically as they appear; a 6 and a 5 rolled together both count, but a 5 is no use until you have a 6.
• Once you have all three, the remaining two dice are your cargo. Your score is their total, from 2 to 12.
• If you still have rolls left you may reroll both cargo dice to try for more, or keep what you have. The last roll is final.
• Without a full crew after three rolls you score nothing. The highest cargo wins the round; win the most rounds to win the match.

Controls

• Roll: Space, Enter or R   Keep cargo: K

Tips

• Cargo of 8 or more is usually worth keeping; the average of two dice is 7.
• If you roll after everyone else, you know the score to beat — reroll whenever you are behind and have rolls left.
• Finding the whole crew on the first roll gives you two chances at a big cargo, so the first roll is the most exciting.

FAQ

How do you play Ship, Captain and Crew?

Roll five dice up to three times. Set aside a 6, then a 5, then a 4 as they appear. The two dice left over are your cargo and their total is your score. Highest cargo wins the round.

Do you need the 6, 5 and 4 in order?

Yes. You must have the ship (6) before the captain (5) counts, and the captain before the crew (4) counts. If one roll shows 6, 5 and 4 together, you get all three at once.

What happens if you do not get a 6, 5 and 4?

If your crew is not complete after three rolls, your ship sails empty and you score zero for the round.

Can you reroll the cargo?

Yes, if you have rolls left after completing your crew. In our version you reroll both cargo dice together; the result of your last roll stands.

What is the best possible score?

Twelve: two 6s as cargo alongside your 6, 5 and 4.