Edel, Stein & Reich
Players: 2-5 Ages 9 and up
Review by Don B.
Ok, I need to make a new rule for myself: "If a game doesn't sound that great when I initially review the rules - I am going to love it!" This seems to be true for other games I have come to love lately like Puerto Rico, Knizia's Lord of the Rings and Alladin's Dragons. Edel, Stein & Reich is yet another reason why I definitely need this new rule. This is one you have to play to truly appreciate the balance between strategy and tactics, and the drama evoked through the central theme of bidding.
Edel, Stein & Reich is a re-work of Basari, a game I have not played so I cannot make the usual comments on mechanics that have been fixed or broken, or the improvements in production quality, and so forth. What I can say, however, is I love this little gem of a game. And I am not alone. Edel, Stein & Reich is one of this year's nominees for Germany's prestigious Spiel des Jahres. Closer to home, this beauty has hit the table at game night a couple of times now and is quickly becoming one of our favorites.
The premise of the game is that 3-5 players take the role of representing the "Edel, Stein and Reich" trading house bidding in the open gem market. The player with the most money after three phases of 6-8 rounds wins. At the end of each of phase, bonuses are paid based on majority stake in each of four colored gems (red, yellow, green, and blue), as well as certificates that can be won during the bidding rounds. This majority ownership scoring mechanic is reminiscent of another of my favorites: El Grande.
Each player is initially allocated 12 gems, three of each color, and a hand of 3 or 4 action cards used to bid on the items available each round:
In addition to the action cards distributed to the players, there are event cards and gem cards. The stack of event cards is placed in clear view of all players and the number of gem cards is adjusted to achieve the desired number of rounds in the phase based on the number of players. It is the gem cards that control the number of rounds in the phases; for example, all thirty gem cards are used in a 5 player game resulting in 6 rounds per phase.
Each round starts by turning over the topmost event card and distributing a gem card to each player. The gem cards indicate varying number and colors of gems and a dollar amount that, along with the event card, are the items for which the players are bidding. Now for agonizing choices: Bidding on money will increase one's long-term position. Bidding on gems will increase the likelihood of earning a bonus for majority stake in a particular gem color at the end of the phase, or at least, prevent an opponent from achieving a majority. Finally, a winning bid on an event cards will result in immediate benefits or additional bonuses during the scoring at the end of the phase.
Bidding is "blind," with each player selecting one of his or her action cards (money, gems, event, or free action) and placing it face down on the table before them. Once all bids are placed, they are simultaneously revealed. This is where it gets interesting... If only one player bids on a particular item, they automatically get it. If exactly two bid on the same item, they are required to "haggle" with one another using their stock of gems (remember, bonuses are awarded during scoring at the end of the phase for a majority in a specific gem color). Finally, if three or more bid on the same item, they all go away empty handed. The exception is the "free choice" bid. If only one person bids on a free choice, he or she can exchange one of their gems for any two in the general supply. If more than one bids the free choice, each receives a gem of choice from the supply.
At the end of a phase, a bonus is awarded to the player holding the majority stake in a particular gem color. Each color of gem has a different value in the scoring round. The player receiving the bonus must then return half of the gems to the general supply thereby opening the field for the next phase. Ties for a majority in a particular color are not broken; rather they are equally rewarded and equally punished (they all get the same amount of money, and they all have to return half their gems of that color). Certificates, and other event cards resulting in scoring bonuses, are also awarded and discarded during the scoring. Ties for certificates are managed by equally paying for first with no reward for second and equally paying for ties in second place. Finally, all gem cards are then shuffled together, the appropriate number of cards discarded to adjust for the number of players, and the next phase begins.
So what's so special about this game?
First, it is the bidding. I enjoy bidding games, particularly those that feature the blind bidding mechanic. For this reason games such as 6 Nimmt! and Rage (when predicting tricks) have remained on my short list of favorites. Sure Edel, Stein & Reich seems at times to be just a high-stakes game of Rock, Paper, and Scissors, but I think it is much more dramatic than that due to the risks inherent in being forced to haggle or being left with nothing at all. This is where most of the tension and drama of the game lie - staring down your opponents, thinking to yourself: "Do I take the money or do I try to increase my stake in a particular colored gem? What do my opponents need? What's showing on their gem card, and should I try to block it or just bid on what I need hoping that no one blocks me? Hmmm."
Secondly, I like the haggling. You haggle for the money, event card, or gems using gems in your own collection. This of course, forces more decisions, for example, not offering the color gems that your opponent can use to lock up a majority. This haggling becomes even more interesting in the 5-player game where it is possible to have two pairs of opponents haggling at the same time, each watching the other's offers and calculating the effect on their holdings.
Finally, just the right dose of "stick it to your opponent." This is accomplished primarily with the event cards. Event cards are generally positive, but there are a few that let you have a go at the guy that is in the lead or has been causing you pain through the early goings. For example, an event that forces immediate scoring of a particular color at half bonus. Immediate scoring again reminds me of El Grande. The scoring is accompanied with the required return of gems to the general supply. Sure he gets something for it, but it may put you back on top and positioned for a full bonus in that same color at the end of the phase. Another intriguing event allows you to exchange a single gem with an opponent. Imagine using that to reclaim a gem you just gave up in haggling for the event card (I had that one pulled on me once with disastrous results - my opponent gained a majority!).
Another comment about the game I would make is that we discovered that 3 and 5-player games play entirely different. I personally prefer a 5-player game, as this is where the most drama occurs. In a 5-player game, the shortage of gems becomes a factor and starts to eliminate bidding options. Adjustments in the number of rounds per phase based on the number of players attempts to mitigate this issue, but doesn't quite seem to resolve it. For my part, I think the gem shortage makes for more interesting play as the game proceeds by making the decisions even more difficult. Finally, there is just something sensational about the round where the lone player bids uniquely and the other four are stiffed!
Other observations are that winners have typically had possessed at least one certificate during the course of the game and despite the free-choice card being a bit of a "gimmee," it is not often selected. Also, this printing is in German but after a few times studying the pictures and translations for the event cards, it ceases to be a hindrance. The pictures on the event cards are very descriptive and, after a couple of rounds, we found we no longer needed the translations.
I think I can safely say, if you like bidding and bluffing, this is should be your next game.