[Gryphon Games has released a new string of "bookshelf" games. The new game in the bunch - Roll Through the Ages - is featured this issue. But the line also includes reissues of classic games too. One of them is Money by Reiner Knizia. The only difference between the reissue and the original release is graphic: Gryphon has improved the size of the cards, making them larger and a bit easier to handle. So, since the game play has remained intact, there's no sense in re-inventing the wheel. Here is how Contributing Editor Steve Kurzban [aka Kban] viewed the game way back when in the Summer 1999 issue of Gamers Alliance Report.]
MONEY (Gryphon Games, 3-5 players, ages 10 and up, 20-30 minutes; $21.95)
Reiner Knizia has designed many successful bidding games including Modern Art (Fall 1996 GA Report), Medici (Fall 1999 GA Report) and Ra (Summer 1999 GA Report). Each has its own unique Knizian imprint - simplicity with multiple choices and charms - with Money being no exception.
The game
consist of a single deck of 74 cards. 63 of the cards represent banknotes in
seven different currencies with values of 60-50-40-30-30-30-20-20-20 in each.
Six gold coin cards worth 10 points each and five "Play Money" cards round out
the deck.
Each player is dealt one Play Money card that looks like a Monopoly bill and is used for bluffing. With three players, two complete sets of currency are removed from play; with four, one set is removed. The rest of the deck is shuffled with six cards dealt to each player. Each turn, four cards are dealt face up to either side of the draw pile. These are the bank notes to be auctioned this turn.
Bidding is simple. Each player selects one or more cards from his hand (including the Play Money card in the bid if desired) and places them face down on the table. When all players have made their selections, the cards are revealed simultaneously. Whoever offered the biggest value has three options:
1. trade cards bid for either row of banknotes displayed
2. trade cards bid for the bid of another player
3. return your bid to your hand
The second highest bidder has next choice and so on until everyone who has bid completes his exchange. Ties are broken by awarding the bid to the player displaying the bill with the lowest serial number.
Play continues until no cards are left in the draw pile. Scoring for the round starts with each player counting up his points for each currency. If the total for a given currency is 200 or more, it counts at full value. If the total value is below 200, then 100 points are subtracted. (The total cannot go below zero.) Then, a bonus of 100 points is earned for every triplet of 20 or 30 point notes for each currency. Scores are recorded for the round and the deck is reshuffled with play resuming for two more rounds. Scores for all three rounds are totalled to determine the winner.
The key decisions in Money boil down to deciding how much to bid in order to snag key banknotes needed to complete sets to earn bonuses. Bid too much and you've got nothing remaining to further improve your holdings. Bid too little and your opponents get the choice pickings and you get the remainders. Keeping track of who's collecting each currency and the perceived value of each usually determines the winner.
Money received a surprise 1998 German Game of the Year nomination from the Spiel des Jahres jury, raising many eyebrows among serious gamers, myself included. Many felt that both Samurai and Ra were more deserving among Knizia's 1998 designs. But Money is a good game that belongs in your gaming collection because of its simplicity while revealing a surprising amount of depth and subtlety. The last time I checked, being merely "good" wasn't a crime. - - - - Kban
copyright © 1999, all rights reserved
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