The Notarzee Dice Game is a fun, single-player dice game where your goal is to roll five dice and score points by matching specific patterns or combinations. These combinations correspond to categories like "Ones," "Three of a Kind," or "Notarzee." Each turn, you get up to three rolls to create the best dice combination possible, then choose a category to score in. The game ends when all categories are filled, and your final score is calculated. Let’s dive into how to play!

How to Play: Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Start Your Turn – Rolling the Dice

• What You See: At the top of the screen, you’ll notice five dice (initially showing "-") and a blue button labeled "Roll Dice". Below the dice, it says "Rolls Left: 3".
• What to Do:
  1. Click the "Roll Dice" button to roll all five dice for the first time. Each die will show a number between 1 and 6, represented by black dots (pips).
  2. After rolling, decide which dice you want to keep for your next roll and which ones you want to reroll.
     • To keep a die, click on it. It will turn light blue with a thicker border, showing it’s "kept" and won’t be rerolled.
     • To unkeep a die (if you change your mind), click it again, and it will return to its normal white background.
  3. Click "Roll Dice" again to reroll the dice you didn’t keep. The kept dice stay the same, while the others get new numbers.
  4. You can roll up to three times per turn. The "Rolls Left" number decreases with each roll (e.g., from 3 to 2 to 1).
• Why Do This: Your goal is to create a combination of dice that will score well in one of the categories (listed below the dice). You can stop after any roll if you’re happy with your dice.

Step 2: Choose a Category to Score In

• What You See: Below the dice, inside a box labeled "Select Category," you’ll see a list of category buttons (e.g., "Ones (0)," "Three Of A Kind (0)"). Each button shows a potential score in parentheses based on your current dice.
• What to Do:
  1. After your rolls (or when you’re out of rolls), look at the category buttons. The numbers in parentheses show how many points you’d score if you choose that category right now.
     • For example, "Ones (3)" means you’d score 3 points in the "Ones" category.
  2. Click a category button to select it. It will turn dark blue with white text to show it’s selected.
  3. Once you select a category, the game locks in your score for that category, and you can’t use it again. (Don’t worry about submitting—it happens automatically when you click!)
• Why Do This: Each turn, you must pick one category to score in. Your choice determines your points for that turn, so pick one that matches your dice well.

Step 3: End Your Turn and Start the Next

• What Happens: After selecting a category, the game:
  • Adds your score to your total.
  • Resets the dice to "-" and gives you 3 rolls for the next turn.
  • Updates the "Select Category" list by removing the category you just used.
• What You See: A message like "Next turn." appears in red below the dice, and "Rolls Left: 3" resets.
• What to Do: Click "Roll Dice" to start your next turn and repeat Steps 1 and 2.
• Why Do This: The game progresses turn by turn until all categories are filled.

Step 4: Finish the Game

• What Happens: When you’ve scored in all 13 categories (listed below), the game ends.
• What You See: The "Roll Dice" button grays out, and a message like "Game Over! Score: 150" appears in red, showing your total score.
• What to Do: Click the red "Reset" button at the bottom of the page to start a new game.
• Why Do This: The goal is to get the highest score possible. Resetting lets you try again to beat your previous score!

Understanding the Categories

You’ll score in 13 categories throughout the game. Here’s what each one means and how points are calculated:

Upper Section Categories (Based on Specific Numbers)

These score the sum of dice showing a specific number:

• Ones: Add up all 1s (e.g., three 1s = 3 points).
• Twos: Add up all 2s (e.g., two 2s = 4 points).
• Threes: Add up all 3s.
• Fours: Add up all 4s.
• Fives: Add up all 5s.
• Sixes: Add up all 6s.
• Bonus: If your total score in these six categories is 63 or more, you get an extra 35 points added to your final score automatically.

Lower Section Categories (Based on Combinations)

These score based on specific patterns:

• Three of a Kind: Sum of all dice if you have at least three of the same number (e.g., 4-4-4-2-1 = 15 points).
• Four of a Kind: Sum of all dice if you have at least four of the same number (e.g., 3-3-3-3-6 = 18 points).
• Full House: 25 points if you have three of one number and two of another (e.g., 2-2-2-5-5).
• Small Straight: 30 points for four consecutive numbers (e.g., 1-2-3-4-6).
• Large Straight: 40 points for five consecutive numbers (e.g., 2-3-4-5-6).
• Notarzee: 50 points for five of the same number (e.g., 6-6-6-6-6).
• Chance: Sum of all dice, no matter the combination (e.g., 1-2-3-4-5 = 15 points).

Note: If your dice don’t meet a category’s requirements (e.g., no three of a kind for "Three of a Kind"), you’ll score 0 in that category.

Special Features to Watch For

• Free Roll: If you roll certain combinations (like 1-2-3-4-6), you get an extra roll for that turn. A message like "Free roll! Rolls left: 3" will appear, and your rolls won’t decrease for that roll.
• Notarzee Count: Every time you roll five of a kind (e.g., 5-5-5-5-5), the game tracks it with a message like "Notarzee! Total: 1". While this version doesn’t add extra bonuses, it’s a big 50-point score!

The Game Interface: What Everything Means

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll see on the screen and how to use it:

• Dice (Five Boxes with Dots):
  • Show your current roll. Click a die to keep it (turns light blue) or unkeep it (turns white again).
  • Hover over a die, and it slightly enlarges for easier clicking.
• "Roll Dice" Button (Blue):
  • Click to roll the dice that aren’t kept. It grays out when you’re out of rolls or the game ends.
• "Rolls Left: 3" (Text Above Dice):
  • Tells you how many rolls you have left this turn (starts at 3, goes down to 0).
• Message Area (Red Text Below Button):
  • Shows updates like "Rolls left: 2", "Free roll!", or "Game Over!".
• Category Selection (Buttons in a Box):
  • Lists available categories with potential scores (e.g., "Notarzee (50)"). Click one to score and end your turn.
• "Reset" Button (Red, Bottom of Page):
  • Click to restart the game at any time, resetting all scores and dice.
• Sound Effects:
  • You’ll hear a beep when rolling or clicking buttons. There’s no mute button in this version, so sounds are always on.

What to Do If You’re Stuck

• No Rolls Left? If "Rolls Left: 0" and you haven’t picked a category, the message will say "No rolls left. Select a category." Click a category button to continue.
• Forgot to Roll? If you try to pick a category without rolling (dice show "-"), the message will say "Roll the dice first." Click "Roll Dice" to start.
• Not Sure What to Pick? Look at the potential scores in parentheses. Pick the highest one that makes sense, or take a 0 in a low-value category to save better rolls for later.

Tips to Play Better

• Go for the Upper Bonus: Try to get at least three of each number in Ones through Sixes (e.g., three 4s = 12 points) to hit 63 points and earn the 35-point bonus.
• Save High-Value Categories: Aim for Notarzee (50), Large Straight (40), or Full House (25) when your dice look promising.
• Use Chance as a Backup: If your dice don’t fit anywhere else, use Chance to score their total sum.
• Keep Smartly: After your first roll, keep dice that could build a combination (e.g., keep 3-4-5 to aim for a straight).
• Don’t Panic About Zeros: It’s okay to score 0 in a category like "Four of a Kind" if your dice don’t match—it’s better than wasting a good roll.

Let’s Play!

Now you know exactly what to do:

1. Click "Roll Dice" to start rolling.
2. Keep or reroll dice by clicking them, up to three times.
3. Pick a category by clicking its button.
4. Repeat until the game ends, then reset to play again.

Have fun rolling the dice and chasing that high score in Notarzee! If you’re still unsure, just start playing—the game’s messages will guide you as you go. Good luck! 🎲

About N8Soft

N8Soft is a passion-driven initiative by Nathan Smith Manley, a Michigan-based indie game developer on the autism spectrum, creating sensory-friendly, ad-free browser games designed with autism and ADHD in mind. Using AI tools like Grok and GPT, Nathan crafts original interactive fiction, puzzle adventures, and accessible games that prioritize calm, clear, and engaging gameplay, free of ads, loot boxes, or sensory overload. Hosted on itch.io, titles like Castle Adventure (interactive fiction RPG, May 19, 2025), Spin & Solve (puzzle game, May 14, 2025), Operator (memory-based keypad game, May 22, 2025), Coloring Book (calming coloring experience, May 24, 2025), and Sequel (tile-swapping puzzle, May 25, 2025) are built from concept to polish by Nathan, ensuring smooth play on any device—mobile, tablet, or desktop. N8Soft leverages AI to promote digital equity, empowering creators with disabilities to craft unique, meaningful experiences. Sustained through a patron-supported model, N8Soft relies on community support (Bitcoin: 34NzYz615995sPyuxYpXF2c34HqNb4RGZf) to cover hosting and tools, keeping games free. Join the movement by playing, sharing, or donating at n8soft.itch.io, and help Nathan continue building simple, inclusive, and joyful games for everyone.