Domino is a game of skill and strategy. Its tiles are divided into two squares, called ends, each bearing an arrangement of spots, or pips, and sometimes a blank side.
Mercenary Domino assassinated Flag-Smasher in Rumekistan, clearing the way for Cable to take over. She then joined X-Force until Pete Wisdom’s attempts to turn them into a proactive black ops unit caused her to quit.
Rules
Domino’s psionic aura creates improbable events around her that benefit her and cause harm to her opponents. This can range from her enemy’s equipment malfunctioning to hitting just the right button to shut down an overloading machine.
After the dominoes are shuffled and the players draw their hands, the player with the heaviest double or single begins play. If there is a tie, it is broken by drawing new dominoes from the stock.
Depending on the game, players may also score points by counting the pips in the losing players’ hands at the end of a hand or game. In addition, a domino that is exposed on both ends and can be used on two sides (the spinner) counts as two dominoes in this scoring method.
Materials
Over the centuries, dominoes have been made from a variety of materials. The traditional European-style pieces are made from a combination of mother-of-pearl or ivory and a dark hardwood such as ebony with contrasting black or white pips that may be inlaid or painted.
Some sets are also made from natural stone, metals, and ceramic clay. These sets have a more novel look and often have a heavier weight than polymer dominoes.
On a mission in El Salvador, Domino disabled a prototype combat droid that was being neurologically controlled by rogue CIA agent Ekatarina Gryaznova. The feedback from the device induced a synaptical static that affected her speed and reflexes. She left X-Force and returned to her mercenary ways. She joined the Wild Pack and later Providence, a team led by Cable.
Scoring
Domino is a game of strategy where the players score points by laying a line of dominoes end to end, with each exposed side numbered in a multiple of five. The player scores when all four sides of the first double (the spinner) have been played and its total is a multiple of five.
The sole survivor of a government project to create Super Soldiers, Neena Thurman aka Domino uses her probability-altering powers to assist in mercenary work for hero groups like Six Pack and X-Force. She has extensive training in various armed combat and martial arts, and is fluent in several languages. Her luck powers allow her to anticipate events and make impromptu decisions that can change the course of battle. She also has the ability to influence her surroundings.
Variations
Many different games have been played with dominoes. Some are block games, while others involve a scoring system based on counting the number of pips on opposing players’ tiles. Most domino games are played until one player reaches a certain score, such as 100 points.
Dominoes are rectangular clay tiles twice as long as they are wide, with a line in the center dividing them into two squares. Each side of the domino bears a different arrangement of dots, called pips, that range from blank or zero to 6.
Each tile has an open end, or free end, which may be used to connect to another tile with the same number of pips. This is referred to as “dominoing.” A player may do this in his turn, after placing his own domino.
Origins
The word domino was officially adopted in 1798, but the game itself dates back at least a century earlier. Its earliest appearance was probably in the mummy of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, which included a set of bones used for a game.
The game was popularized in the 18th century, when it was played at cafes throughout Europe. It spread to Asia, and is now popular in countries around the world.
Some people believe that domino was invented in Italy by two monks who were punished for playing dice, a forbidden pastime. They were required to spend a long time in their cells and found this way to pass the time pleasantly. They also invented rules for several games that require calculation and strategy.