Have a question for the doctor?? Write in your questions!!!! Click HERE to send your question to: nppl@pigmadness.com
Irving Jowler is a world renowned board gaming coach, game play consultant, and pizza delivery man. He earned a "Golden Board Gamer" award for coaching from the Gaming Institute of Langoon in 2003 and in 2007 he received the prestigious "Hungry Hungry Hippopotamus" award for Gaming Achievment from the National Board Gaming and Iron Smelting Academy. Currently, "Doctor" Jowler works exclusively with classic game enthusiasts to increase their skill in games such as Yahtzee, Connect Four, Battle Ship, Stratego, and Pass The Pigs. It is his hope that one day board games will be considered true sports worthy of Olympic competition. "Doctor" Jowler has mentored and coached numerous professional board gaming athletes and currently writes an advice column for the PigMadness.com website.
Dear Doctor Jowler,
I lost $5,000 playing pigs in an underground tournament in East LA. I couldn't pay up so they broke my fingers on both my hands. Is it legal to play with my feet?
Sincerely, Fingerless Fred
Dear Fingerless,
Technically, yes. Considering your circumstances, that is. You would just need to remember the basic rule of pig passing which is, both pigs must leave the hand...or foot...at the same time.
Dear Doctor Jowler,
What's up with the HOG CALL? Does anyone ever use it anymore, and if so, where?
Sincerely, Called Out
Dear Called Out,
Great question. Most people don't even know that the rule of hog calls even exists! Yes it is used but not in tournaments. The NPPL hasn't officially adopted Hog Calls, however, I would absolutely love to see someone make a hog call during the Pig Madness. It doesn't say "you can't" make a hog call, so why not? Generally speaking though, hog calls are used among friend in close circles. they are very effective when used correctly but really give your opponent a huge opportunity to take the lead if you call it wrong. Should be used by true professionals only.
Dear Doctor Jowler,
I won $5,000 playing Pigs and the asshole couldn't play so I broke all his fingers. Now he wants to play me double or nothing and says he'll roll the pigs with his feet - is that legal?
Sincerely Fingerless Fred's Finger Messer Upper
Dear Finger Messer Upper,
Stop breaking people's fingers. But yeah, he can roll with his feet as long as you don't break them.
Dear Doctor Jowler,
I was in Vegas last month and noticed they have a table game of the classic card game of WAR - you get a card and the dealer gets a card and the highest card wins. Do you think Pass the Pigs will ever be a table game in Vegas?
Sincerely, Johnny Vegas
Dear Johnny Vegas,
I'd love to see some professional gaming table for pass the pigs. I assume the rules would need to be modified however to give the house the edge. I simply don't foresee a group of people passing to 100. Also, they would need to use new pigs with just about every throw! Pigs wear down really quickly, unlike those hard plastic dice, so the pig dealers would need to keep fresh pigs on the table...just like an umpire does with baseballs.
