Game: Emerald

Thread: 3 player game

FNH1 — 2008-06-17T11:43:58+00:00

The session included myself, my wife and my son. We have played once before so everyone knew what to do.

My son went first and clever lead off with 2 knights. My wife and I followed with 1 each. Then he made a double leap with his knights getting 4 spaces down the path. My wife was focusing on getting her first two pawns along the path and I was trying to move all of mine. My son was focusing on his first and second knights. He got into the cave first and started collecting Gold.

I followed him in and started my policy of taking gold only if it was worth more than a 1, other wise I was taking a gem. I only made one exception to that later in the game when I was able to claim my fourth green gem letting me gain the bonus.

I got about half way into the cavern and my son was still ahead when the Dragon got his first knight.

After that my wife moved into the carverns, the dragon started getting ravenous, getting two of my knights, one of hers and another one of sons.

My wife got the bonus for four mixed gems with her second knight and my I managed to be the first player to get a knight through into the horde, it did cost me two gold that had to be given up to the Dragon, still a profit!

The game ended pretty quickly after the dragon feast and we started handing out the various gem bonus'. I got the green and the others went to my wife and son.

My sons face lit up when he discovered he had won, he'd been a bit downcast when he was the first player to lose a knight. the scores were pretty close... he only won by about 20 points!

Thread: Re: Baby Dragon, ahhhhh. Mother Dragon, AHHHHHHH!

FNH1 — 2008-06-08T09:18:02+00:00

About 35-40 minutes or so.

Thread: Re: Baby Dragon, ahhhhh. Mother Dragon, AHHHHHHH!

Hendal — 2008-06-07T23:33:40+00:00

All about the theme, how long did the game take? Sounds like it might be nice to use some Mini's in this one?

Thread: Baby Dragon, ahhhhh. Mother Dragon, AHHHHHHH!

FNH1 — 2008-06-07T16:40:43+00:00

Emerald is a light game, a gateway game. The theme is based on knights leaving the castle to raid the dragons lair for its gold.

The board is simple and colourful, actually a joy to play with. It depicts the castle, a short path that leads into the cave of the dragon and eventually into the lair of the dragon.

The players will be using loverly wooden pawns ( knights ) in the usual array of colours.

There are also number of cards that get laid onto the board. These are Gem and Gold cards.

There is also a large wooden piece for the dragon and a wooden dowel. The dowel is used to mark the patrol area of the dragon within the cave spaces, and will move during the game.

All of the pawns (knights) start out in the castle. On your turn you may move either one or two of your pawns. The way pawns move is quite clever and forms part of the stratergy of the game. A pawn moves forwards a number of spaces equal to the number of pawns in its starting space. So a pawn in a space on its own only moves one space. With two pawns in the start space the pawn moves two spaces.

The first six spaces on the board are safe and your only concern here is keeping ahead of the competition. The next nine spaces are where the fun begins, these are the caves and are patroled by the dragon.

When you land in a cave space you check the card spaces to either side. If there is a gold card or a gem card you have to take one. When you take that card that ends your turn. The Gold cards are valued from 1 to 5 the gem cards are only worth 1, so the choice seems obvious. Except that at the end of the game there are points to be won for sets of gems that can make a seeming loser into the winner.

When a player ends a turn in the cave he has to move the dragon. You roll the die ( marked 1-3 twice ) and the dragon moves backwards and forwards along its patrol area ( the stick! ). If the dragon ends its move on a space with a pawn ( knight ) the player owning that pawn has a choice. Either pay a gold card to the dragon ( discard ) or lose the knight to feed the baby dragon!

Each space in the cave has a limited number number of gold and gem cards so as the game progresses the cards nearer the entrance to the cave get used up and this forces you further into the cave. The dragons patrol area moves during the game towards the back of the cave thus your never really safe.

Any knights that pass the dragon can move up to the dragons horde where some bonus cards appear and each knight that gets that far earns an additional five gold.

The game usually ends when one player is left with only one knight in play.

You then distribute the bonus cards and count up points to see who has won.

I think this is a great gateway game. I really enjoy the decisions you have to make every turn as to how to move. As well as making optimal moves for yourself your also able to manipulate your opponents pieces by clever play. For instance you can stack your pieces to make an opponent jump in front of the dragon. You can take a card to deliberately stop an opponent from gaining a bonus. Or you can choose to feed your own piece to the dragon in order to end the game quickly.

Good game!

Thread: Re: Does starting last hinder your chances?

FNH1 — 2008-06-07T16:15:39+00:00

Heres what I think. If I'm first play I'll move two knights out knowing that I'll get extra moves for every other knight played by the other players. If I'm not first player, then I Only move one knight out knowing that this will slow the other players.

If other players know of this way to slow the leader, then the game comes out in a much more even handed manner.

If you the last player, only advance one knight on turn one. On turn two lead off with moving another knight out onto the track. This means that at a minimum you will be able to then move the first knight two spaces and enable you to get into the melee.

Thread: Re: Looking for English rules for Emerald

kendahlj — 2008-04-10T02:01:20+00:00

Thank you! Same day response ... it's why I love this site!

Thread: Re: Looking for English rules for Emerald

wwscrispin — 2008-03-31T16:02:09+00:00

done.

Thread: Looking for English rules for Emerald

kendahlj — 2008-03-31T14:18:29+00:00

I seemed to have misplaced mine. The link at the publisher's site (www.abacusspiele.de) doesn't work. Does anyone have the PDF file that they can email to me?

Thanks
Kendahl
kendahlj@gmail.com

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ArtEmiSa64 — 2008-03-13T02:20:32+00:00

bits

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ArtEmiSa64 — 2008-03-13T02:19:33+00:00

components

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ArtEmiSa64 — 2008-03-12T22:12:22+00:00

box inside

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ArtEmiSa64 — 2008-03-12T22:12:01+00:00

back of box

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ArtEmiSa64 — 2008-03-12T22:10:06+00:00

game board

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ArtEmiSa64 — 2008-03-12T22:09:12+00:00

the dragon

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ArtEmiSa64 — 2008-03-12T22:07:33+00:00

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ArtEmiSa64 — 2008-03-12T22:06:32+00:00

box cover

Thread: Re: Language dependent?

jtj608 — 2008-02-04T19:23:54+00:00

SABATAI wrote:
Considering to pick up the german copy of this. Is the game completely language independent?

Well, you're probably gonna have to know some language or other . . .

Thread: Re: Language dependent?

Great Dane — 2008-02-04T19:20:26+00:00

SABATAI wrote:
Considering to pick up the german copy of this. Is the game completely language independent?

Hej Peter,
you will find that not only is the game completely language independent, but the German copy will also include rules in English (and French).

At least that was the case when the game was first published 6 years ago.

Thread: Re: Language dependent?

Trollkin — 2008-02-04T19:19:19+00:00

The game is completely language independent. There is no text on the cards and on the gameboard at all.

Thread: Language dependent?

SABATAI — 2008-02-04T19:10:39+00:00

Considering to pick up the german copy of this. Is the game completely language independent?

Thread: Re: Looking for a game

ginaleigh106 — 2008-01-01T18:15:37+00:00

At my after-school game club we have used Mancala, Sequence, "Hey, That's My Fish", Chinese Checkers and even Chess. One of the most favorites is Blokus, though, and it seems to be a favorite among adults as well. The instructions are easy to learn and the pieces are colorful. I would also recommend Reiner Knizia's Samurai and Downfall of Pompeii ... two of my personal favorites and I think simple enough for younger folks to learn. They'll get a kick out of throwing opponents into the volcano with Pompeii!

Thread: Re: Looking for a game

Mumma — 2007-12-30T07:47:43+00:00

Gina, my son is in Grade 5, and we had a board game day just before Xmas break. Scotland Yard seemed to be the biggest hit. (Also Splat! and Razzle -- quite the variety.) Do you (or anyone else) have any other recommendations, in case I make the effort to do it again? I have quite a few games for age 8+ stashed in my games cupboard, but not sure what would work at school (my other child is younger, so we still play Chicken Cha-cha-cha, Gulo Gulo, etc. at home -- haven't broken out the more complex games.) Thanks...

Thread: Re: Looking for a game

Drew1365 — 2007-12-29T20:32:46+00:00

It's a great game, and out of print as far as I know. You'll be glad you bought it. It's one of my favorites. Some suggest that the first player always has an advantage, but I haven't yet seen a strong correlation.

Thread: Re: Looking for a game

ginaleigh106 — 2007-12-29T20:19:20+00:00

Well I have played it before and enjoyed it. I host a weekly after-school strategy game club for 5th graders at my school and thought it might be something they enjoyed. They really like "Hey, that's my fish," and some others. Thought I might try this as well.

Thread: Re: Looking for a game

Mumma — 2007-12-29T02:50:29+00:00

You're welcome, Gina.... I know the feeling. I've ordered from the states and paid shipping to Canada, just to get that elusive game I wanted. Sometimes it's worth it. (And shipping from Europe is way too expensive.)
I hope you enjoy Emerald. I own it, but haven't played it with the kids yet.

Thread: Re: Looking for a game

ginaleigh106 — 2007-12-27T22:24:33+00:00

Thanks Carolyn - I bought a copy at the website you suggested. Didn't much care for the shipping, but since I haven't been able to find the game, I bought it anyway! Thank you!

Thread: Re: Looking for a game

jdludlow — 2007-12-25T06:29:36+00:00

Akrat wrote:
So out of all of these posts, Erin's is the hot deal?

No, that was just the conversion ratio since all of the copies of Emerald currently for sale through this site are priced in Euros.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=1+euro+in+usd&btnG=Goog...

Thread: Re: Looking for a game

Akrat — 2007-12-25T03:55:30+00:00

So out of all of these posts, Erin's is the hot deal?

Thread: Re: Looking for a game

Mumma — 2007-12-25T03:55:23+00:00

It's in stock at germangames.com. I've bought games from that company before -- great service, many titles in stock and very reasonable flat-rate shipping. They are situated in Canada, but do ship to the US.

Thread: Re: Looking for a game

DJ Kuul A — 2007-12-25T03:29:34+00:00

By the time you read this, 1 Euro will get you 2.389 USD.

Thread: Re: Looking for a game

andsoerinsaid — 2007-12-25T02:26:21+00:00

1 Euro = 1.4366 USD

Thread: Looking for a game

ginaleigh106 — 2007-12-25T01:33:42+00:00

I'm trying to find a copy of Emerald to purchase and though have noted that there are a couple on here being sold by users, none in money I understand! Anyone selling a copy in the U.S.?

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Toynan — 2007-11-24T12:30:21+00:00

Thread: Re: Does starting last hinder your chances?

Drew1365 — 2007-11-18T05:17:46+00:00

Having just played a three-player game, and going last in it, I would have to say no. I did quite well.

Missed winning by four points, but I was also the first one through the caves.

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bluestarfish — 2007-09-30T18:56:57+00:00

Emerald box and components (German edition)

Thread: Re: Does starting last hinder your chances?

cymric — 2007-07-17T12:39:50+00:00

The way I see it is that it is not advantageous to sprint ahead too. You'll be all alone in the caves, and easy dragon fodder as you can only move one step at a time. Therefore you will want to enter the caves together. However, if you all arrive at the same time at the mouth of the cave, people have an easier time taking large strides. In other words, you lose control over the moment the game is going to end, and lack the ability to pick up worthwhile cards too. Therefore the group size should be 'just right', and this size comes naturally and easily when it's just 3 players. With 4 players it is a little more complex, but still doable. However, with 5, there's 1 to 2 players---the last ones---who simply get locked out due to the way the game's mechanics work. Despite the fact that it turns them into scavengers for the cards at the entry of the cave and earn a decent amount of points, it never felt 'right' to be playing like this. You're a knight lusting after dragon treasure, dagnabbit, and you want a fighting chance to get at it, too!

Thread: Re: Does starting last hinder your chances?

Luke the Flaming — 2007-07-17T12:24:35+00:00

I agree that going last, no matter how many players, at least FEELS disadvantageous. And it likely is (especially with more players).

Thread: Re: Does starting last hinder your chances?

Sifu — 2007-07-17T12:04:53+00:00

I think that, even in a 3 player game, the 3rd player is at a slight disadvantage. At least it feels that way to me!

Thread: Re: Does starting last hinder your chances?

cymric — 2007-07-17T09:41:42+00:00

In a 5-player game, I'd answer 'yes' to that question. Truth be told, I don't like the game at that number much, as it becomes very chaotic with far too much influence of the randomness from die and cards. You might want to read up on this ancient thread which outlines a few of Rüdiger's suggestions to deal with your experiences.

Thread: Does starting last hinder your chances?

Mr Penguin — 2007-07-17T08:03:34+00:00

I just played this game for the first time in the weekend and I admit that I didn't make the best tactical decisions possible. However I also played last out of 5 players and it seemed to me as if I was more frequently reduced to moving small distances then the other players. I'd only managed to get two of my four guys into the cave when the game was won.

Has anyone else found that start order in this game can have a big effect on outcome? Or did I just muck it up. Would it be worth playing a variant like Through The Desert where the first two players only move one pawn on their first turn?

Thread: Re: Knight placement

rhox — 2007-06-09T18:06:40+00:00

Thank you kindly, I will be playing again this evening.

Thread: Re: Knight placement

Fledermaushaus — 2007-06-09T17:21:38+00:00

Something lost in translation, as is often the case. The German rules for placement of knights actually say:

1 knight of each colour being used in the game is placed on each starting place...With 2 or 5 players, the main building stays empty.

At first glance there would seem to be nothing wrong with the loose translation in the printed rules but of course when taken in relation to the 2 player game it becomes ambiguous.

Thread: Knight placement

rhox — 2007-06-09T12:13:32+00:00

Hi,
Can anyone tell me in a 2 player game the rules state each player takes 4 knights of 2 different colours =8 knights per player. During the set up each player places one of his/her knights on each of 4 castles = 4 knights per player on the board, at what point in the game do you place your other 4 knights?
Or should the rules read each player places 1 knight of each colour on each castle = 8 knights per player on the board.
I thank you in advance for any help you may have. What a NIGHTmare not the greatest rules sheet I have encountered but a nice game all the same.

Thread: Re: Movement questions

djnesq — 2006-10-30T13:04:43+00:00

Thanks everyone.

Thread: Re: Movement questions

cymric — 2006-10-30T08:25:28+00:00

djnesq wrote:
1) On his turn, a player moves a knight into the treasure chamber and takes one of the treasure cards. Is his turn finished, or may he move another knight?
According to the german and french rules, no, he may not move another knight and has to end his turn. There is a little sentence there which explicity states this. I suspect a slight oversight on behalf of the translator.

2) The dragon track has not yet reached the end of the cave, and the dragon is facing the exit of the cave. The die is rolled. The number on the die causes the dragon's movement to end on the space that is next to the end of the track that is nearest the exit of the cave. Then, the track is moved. Is the dragon still facing the exit of the cave so that it next will move one space toward the exit before it turns around, or is the dragon facing the cave's entrance so that it next will move in that direction?
The use of the words 'end', 'exit' and 'entrance' confuses me. Let's use left and right when the board is lying the right way up: castle on top, gold cards on the bottom.

1) The dragon moves to the left and ends her turn on the leftmost cave square still under the track. She is immediately turned around, and then the track is moved one to the right. The dragon now has 'walked out' from under it, and left standing where she is. When a knight lands on a square underneath the track or on the square with the dragon herself, is the die thrown and does she walk to the right again.

2) The dragon moves to the right and ends her turn on the rightmost cave square still under the track. She is immediately turned around, and then the track is moved one to the right. She will walk to the left on her next move.

Hope that clears things up.

Thread: Re: Movement questions

dipdragon — 2006-10-30T07:59:02+00:00

Drew1365 wrote:
1) We play that that is the player's only move

2) the dragon moves first, and this includes turning around if it ends its move at the end of the track. Then the track moves. So at the end of this movement, the dragon would be facing back toward the entrance.

We've played it like this - you get a card, end of turn and the dragon would be facing towards the entrance with a space behind it. This is the reverse of the position when the dragon goes toward the entrance, ends on the last track space and the track is moved so the dragon is "outside" the cave facing in. Next turn it moves back onto the track spaces.

Thread: Re: Movement questions

Luke the Flaming — 2006-10-30T01:02:34+00:00

1) The turn is over.
2) The Dragon will always move ONLY on the four squares touched by the track. Turn her as necessary.

Thread: Re: Movement questions

Drew1365 — 2006-10-30T00:47:43+00:00

1) We play that that is the player's only move, our interpretation of the rule that states that if you "take a card" on your first move, you don't get a second move, and moving into the treasure chamber nets you a card. But I could be wrong about that.

2) Good question. My take on it: the dragon moves first, and this includes turning around if it ends its move at the end of the track. Then the track moves. So at the end of this movement, the dragon would be facing back toward the entrance. Though this situation has not happened to us yet.

Emerald is one of my favorite games, and I think underrated here on the 'Geek.

Thread: Movement questions

djnesq — 2006-10-29T23:18:14+00:00

1) On his turn, a player moves a knight into the treasure chamber and takes one of the treasure cards. Is his turn finished, or may he move another knight?

2) The dragon track has not yet reached the end of the cave, and the dragon is facing the exit of the cave. The die is rolled. The number on the die causes the dragon's movement to end on the space that is next to the end of the track that is nearest the exit of the cave. Then, the track is moved. Is the dragon still facing the exit of the cave so that it next will move one space toward the exit before it turns around, or is the dragon facing the cave's entrance so that it next will move in that direction?

Thread: Re: placement of gold and gem cards

Weaselboy — 2006-09-29T00:15:23+00:00

Ta for that. I Knew it was piles of 3 and 2, but I was thinking each pile you alternate gems ans gold.

Thread: Re: placement of gold and gem cards

Luke the Flaming — 2006-09-28T10:46:47+00:00

Moviebuffs wrote:
This should use up (I think) 22 gold cards and 23 gem cards (or maybe vice-versa)
23 gold and 22 gems (2 gold and 2 gems are left out)

Thread: Re: placement of gold and gem cards

Moviebuffs — 2006-09-28T07:18:44+00:00

The spaces show whether there are 2 or 3 cards placed.

The gems go in the spaces on the "city" side of the cave, the gold goes on the "outer" side of the cave.

This should use up (I think) 22 gold cards and 23 gem cards (or maybe vice-versa)

N.

Thread: placement of gold and gem cards

Weaselboy — 2006-09-28T06:57:02+00:00

The rules seem a bit ambiguous about this too. How exactly are the cards divided amongst the spaces? The rules say there will be a couple of cards left, it seems like there will be more than that.

Thread: Re: Game end question

Great Dane — 2006-07-17T19:32:06+00:00

Yes, it's the same game - Rio Grande and Abacusspiele made it together. Only the box is different - and of course a few words in the rules.

Thread: Re: Game end question

Drew1365 — 2006-07-17T17:05:29+00:00

Thanks. Exactly what I thought. I have the Abacus Spiele version which includes an English translation of the rules, but they're not as clear as that.

Thread: Re: Game end question

Great Dane — 2006-07-17T16:21:34+00:00

The original german rules are little bit more precise in their wording than the RGG rules:

"The game ends immediately when:

- the last Dragon-treasure card is taken
or
- a player has only one knight in play."

Thread: Re: Game end question

Drew1365 — 2006-07-17T16:08:55+00:00

Yeah, it seems obvious . . . but I've been fooled before. And it came up in a game last night where I had gotten one through the cave, and had two eaten. With two left in play I considered feeding one to the dragon to end the game (because I was ahead), but then it occurred to me that I wasn't exactly sure on the rule.

Thread: Re: Game end question

Moviebuffs — 2006-07-17T16:00:38+00:00

That is the way we interpret it as well.

Thread: Game end question

Drew1365 — 2006-07-17T15:23:31+00:00

The rules state that one way the game ends is when a player has one knight left. I take this to mean one knight still in play, not counting any that have already made it through the cave. In other words, if two of your knights made it through, and two more get eaten, the game ends, even though you actually have three uneaten knights.

Thread: Re: How does this work for 2 players?

Drew1365 — 2006-07-17T15:15:54+00:00

Old thread, yeah, but I thought I'd chime in to say that the 2-player variant (in which you control two colors of knights, but can only move pieces of one of those colors on your turn) is just as good as the regular game. We played two-player for the first time last night and really enjoyed it.