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This game illustrates Herr Rosenberg's talent for unique card games. The deck is one through nine in six suits, with two of each card (two 1s, two 2s, etc.). After the initial hand of eight is dealt, players select one card value to collect, which is placed face-up in front of each player. A fairly standard trick-taking game takes place with the remaining cards, with players following suit if they can. If you cannot, the card you play can be trump, if you desire. If two cards of the same suit/value appear, the second can be declared as either high or low. When a player wins a trick, the cards of the same value they are collecting are placed in his 'good' pile, with each worth one point. All the rest are put in the 'bad' pile, with each worth minus one point. However at the end of each hand, you can convert one value of cards from your 'bad' pile onto the 'good' pile. Of course, if you had enough of them, you'll be collecting that value for the next hand...
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the goal is to win but it is the goal that is important not the winning
- Fromage is a game where it seems like to me in the design of it that it's intended to very much be played in a sense where like you're doing your own thing and spinning
- the simultaneous nature is just that whatever action card you see on the table, you're going to get to develop
- Moon Colony Blood Bath will never feel good to win
- winning just feels like an accomplishment
References (from this video)
- deep interaction in a small box
- permits bluffing and social play
- quick to teach and play
- rules can be fiddly for new players
- memory component adds complexity
- deal-making and memory
- set-collection with bargain piles and junk tracking
- witty, chaotic
- Three Witches
- Tax the Rich
- Cross Bronx Expressway
- RoboTrick
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Set Collection — each player selects a bargain pile card and aims to assemble a collection; scoring depends on pile contents
- set-collection / bargain pile — each player selects a bargain pile card and aims to assemble a collection; scoring depends on pile contents
- spring cleaning and junk management — end-of-hand purge where players move cards between junk and bargain piles
- Trick-Taking — tricks revolve around declaring trump and using irresistible offers to influence outcomes
- trick-taking with trump-like elements — tricks revolve around declaring trump and using irresistible offers to influence outcomes
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Three Witches is a three-player trick-taking game with, I don't know, I say opportunistic or sudden partnership.
- The elixir is quite powerful.
- Lead witch is a difficult thing in this game.
- This is chaotic at the start but becomes strategic as you play more.
- Stir the potion.