Game: El Grande: Grossinquisitor und Kolonien

Thread: Re: Questions and Confirmations - Limit table and setup & GrInq cab'llros

flapjackmachine — 2008-10-02T12:44:00+00:00

I'm no expert so the following is just how our group understands the rules:

1) No the caballeros don't move with the limit table (they remain in the region). Only the now 'empty' limit table moves. After placement in the new region it is filled up with caballeros in that new region (see rules as how that is done). The limit table 'limits' the caballeros that count for scoring in that region, not as a quick way to move a horde.

2) We take them from the court. Note that one starts with 12 caballeros (one on the track, 2 with the Grande, and 2 with secret choice) rather than 10 in the base game. Note also the total caballeros is up to 37 in the expansion from 31 included in the base game for each colour. The expansion adds 6 of each colour, which have to be counted out to play the base game in the decennial edition.

3) Yes, the Grand Inquisitors caballeros can be repositioned, even when they are not controlled by any player. Note in the current German rules they do not count for scoring if not controlled by a player AND they cannot be moved to a players court or the provinces.

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Bernd13 — 2008-09-17T08:33:58+00:00

German Version - Boxfront (bright and clear)

Thread: Questions and Confirmations - Limit table and setup & GrInq cab'llros

aboveriver — 2008-07-15T21:01:16+00:00

1) How exactly does the limit table work? Moving the limit table to another region - Having played twice - I have moved the caballeros that are currently on the limit table along with the limit table to a new region. Sounds right?

2) During setup - the additional 2 caballeros placed with a secret choice - are they coming from your courts? I just want to be sure they're not coming from the provinces.

3) Repositioning Grand Inquisitors - when folks have the Gr. Inq. card, have you repositioned Gr. Inquistor's caballeros to France, Americas, Mediterranean or the ship for that matter? How has that gone for folks over the course of the game?

Thread: Could you go up to 6 players with Grand Inquisitor and the Colonies?

petegrey — 2008-06-05T17:58:24+00:00

*I'm going to post this under general El Grande game as well.*

It seems with the extra territories and additional card stacks, you could potentially add a 6th (maybe 7th?) player here. You'd have to create a makeshift secret wheel and include another color and Grande for it.

But does anyone see any reason why this couldn't be done?

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LordT — 2008-03-18T19:38:04+00:00

The 9 distinct action cards used as Stack 7 (11 cards in total)

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LordT — 2008-03-18T19:36:12+00:00

Limit Tables : 6 spaces for 2 or 3 players and 10 spaces for 4 or 5 players

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LordT — 2008-03-17T19:12:12+00:00

One of the 4 new regions : America

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LordT — 2008-03-17T19:10:36+00:00

One of the 4 new regions : France

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LordT — 2008-03-17T19:09:02+00:00

One of the 4 new regions : Mediterranean

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LordT — 2008-03-17T19:07:50+00:00

One of the 4 new regions : Ship

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LordT — 2008-03-16T16:36:33+00:00

Gold and Wares

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LordT — 2008-03-16T16:34:51+00:00

The Grand Inquisitor card

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LordT — 2008-03-16T16:31:54+00:00

The Grand Inquisitor

Thread: Re: Game In Progress (Doppelganger Question?)

debabe3 — 2007-03-25T01:36:11+00:00

whatever adam.

Thread: Re: Starting a turn with G.I., losing him, and then reclaiming

Great Dane — 2007-03-23T14:31:46+00:00

While I cannot claim to have the power of making official rulings, I would say that you did play correct.

Both the german and the English rules makes it very clear that you can either do one or the other during a single turn. Not both.

Thread: Starting a turn with G.I., losing him, and then reclaiming

Patilian — 2007-03-23T06:50:29+00:00

This situation came up tonight in the first practice game with my wife. The rules under Grand Inquisitor say "You may move one additional Caballero from the provinces to your court OR from your court to a region..." when the G.I is in your court during your turn.

I had the Grand Inquisitor in my court as a turn began. I used that option to summon an extra Caballero from the provinces to my court. My wife bid to go first and chose the 7 stack card, Special Scoring, which reads "Take the Grand Inquisitor into your court and score the regions where his Caballeros are located." She took the G.I., scored the points, and then placed her Caballeros and finished her turn. I then took the normal 6 Stack Grand Inquisitor card and used my two "repositioning" actions (see other rules thread for my interpretation and questions on that).

We decided that even though I had lost and regained the Grand Inquisitor, it had still all happened on the same turn. So I couldn't violate the either/or rule above and use the privilege of the G.I. to now place an additional Caballero on the board from my court. This situation could possibly happen every game when the 7 stack Special Scoring comes up. Did we handle this correctly? (I know we can do what we want--we're just wondering what the "official" ruling is.)

Thread: Re: The Castle & limit tables

Patilian — 2007-03-23T05:55:35+00:00

This is from the final bullet under Limit Table in the Decennial edition rules (I'm adding the italics):

If no player has the Grand Inquisitor and there is not room for all Caballeros, the Caballeros are placed in the region off the limit table.

So I read that the Caballeros are basically wasted if the Castillo overloads the region and no one has the Inquisitor. That could easily change your strategy in a crowded game...

Thread: rule discrepancies between english and german versions

496King — 2007-03-18T18:45:20+00:00

I ran into the following problem. I own the original German versions of El Grande and the "Grand Inquisitor & the colonies" expansion (purchased in Germany in 1998). Since I now live in Canada, I purchased the new "Decennial Edition" so that I can play with friends that can't read German. Besides the misprints on various cards, which is discussed elsewhere, I found more important deviations: The first issue relates to the placement of gold and wares. In the English rules, this requires the execution of a special action from a 7th stack card. In contrast, the German rules state that gold and wares must be placed whenever the card is picked, and that this placement can not be vetoed. The second issue has to do with the scoring of the Grand Inquisitors caballeros: The English rules state that if nobody owns the Inquisitor then the points are awarded to an "invisible player", in other words the points are lost. The German version is very clear that the Inquisitors caballeros shall be ignored in this case.
Now, I don't think that these are simple translation errors, but may reflect certain rule revisions. In particular, I believe that the English translation is based on an early version and does not reflect later revisions. I found a FAQ page (in German) that lists the rule revisions made in 1998 and one of them reflects the second issue I mentioned, so I am assuming that an earlier version must have been used for the current English translation. But maybe there are later revisions I am not aware off?
Can somebody shed some light on this, please???? Thanks!
P.S.: I also posted the same question in the El Grande section, so please, if you have a comment, place your answer there. Thanks!!

Thread: Re: Game In Progress (Doppelganger Question?)

Great Dane — 2007-03-18T16:34:01+00:00

Here is my translation of all the German rules for the card:
Double turn [ie. Doppelganger]:
The player lays the card in front of him. It allows him to perform a special action after he has completed it - but to his own advantage. The player can only perform the special action listed on the chosen card - which include bringing Gold and Goods into the Provinces. The player cannot bring Caballeros into play again. The card is discarded after use.

In the round this card is used will the player perform a special action twice: the special action chosen this round and then the Doppelganger.

This card is very powerful. Just think about how the King-, the Grand Inquisitor- or the Intrigue-actions can be used to hurt the player who had just performed that action while at the same time helping you!

So to answer your question: yes, you can only place the Caballeros when you draw the card.

Thread: Re: Game In Progress (Doppelganger Question?)

ooogene — 2007-03-18T13:29:56+00:00

Thanks for the reply! One other question. Do you place your Cabelleros on the turn you draw Doppelganger? Or do you place them when you use Doppelganger? I believe it is when you draw the card. Another player thinks it is when you use the card. Thanks again for answering the question.

Thread: Re: Game In Progress (Doppelganger Question?)

Great Dane — 2007-03-18T09:43:48+00:00

The German rules leaves you with no doubt:
"you will perform two actions in the round you use the Doppelganger."

In fact the original title of the card is Doppelschlag = "double turn"!

Thread: Game In Progress (Doppelganger Question?)

ooogene — 2007-03-18T00:38:46+00:00

Please help us answer this question: During round 4 I picked the Doppelgranger card and kept it until turn 9. After player 1 chose the Grand Inquisitor and did his action I chose to use Doppelgranger and do the G.I. action. My turn was next and I decided to take the king. However one of the other players said that I cannot do to actions in one round. Which is correct? Can I use both the Doppelganger card and whatever action I choose in the round? Or can I only use one or the other?

Card Text:
Lay this card in front of you. It allows you to perform a special action used by another player after he has completed it. Place the two discs when you use this card. Discard the card after use.

Thread: Re: Caballeros coming from Ship?

ooogene — 2007-02-13T00:11:36+00:00

Yeah, that is the way that I understand the rules as well. Thanks for the input.

Thread: Re: Caballeros coming from Ship?

OttawaGray — 2007-02-12T17:36:27+00:00

We play that the caballeros on a ship at the beginning of your turn may move (at some point in your turn) to any coastal region other than the king's region.

Thread: Caballeros coming from Ship?

ooogene — 2007-01-03T05:25:36+00:00

If I could get an answer for this I'd appreciate it. Can Caballeros move from the ship with treasures or wares to a coastal region even if the King is not in a coastal region? I know that they can't move TO the ship unless the King is in a coastal region, but can they move from it. I read the rules to say that they can, but another one of our players doesn't think that is the case.

Thanks for the clarification.

Thread: The Castle & limit tables

davedanger — 2006-06-30T23:26:23+00:00

If no one owns the Inquisitor & players from the castle overload the
limit table, who adjusts it?
We ruled: by bid order...
Any thoughts?
Dave

Thread: Re: Quick Comments

sandyxavier — 2006-01-28T05:07:24+00:00

Hi there, where can I get the card translations and rule translations for the Inquistor and colonies expansion?
Thanks
Xavier

Thread: Quick Comments

davedanger — 2003-08-08T21:24:15+00:00

This expansion fixes the basic game. (I have not tried the others yet).
The basic game gets stuck when the king is in the corner, & you have 4 or 5 players. You may deploy to 2 provinces,
or the castle. This is 3 choices for 5 players & screws
up the balance and interest. (hmmm, I'm last with deploy 1 caballero into a 2 regions everyone else got stuck deploying into..).
I'm pretty sure the castle was added just for this "traffic jam";I think it could be done better.

With these expansions, the game opens up, there are almost always decent choices with 7 stacks.
Yes, the rules are slightly murky, but just pencil in your interpretation before you start. Heck, be nice and choose the Inquisitor to show others what he does. The length added is minimal, the drama stays constant.
In our game the winner was behind by 40 points after first scoring. This dramatic swing rarely happens in the basic game, at least with our group.
Comments welcome.