Deep within us, twelve great kingdoms lie right next to each other: they have to deal with all kinds of chaos and challenges. Although there are also happy times, they never last long. Then one day, some heroes come along and bring peace to the kingdoms.
Requirements
An original Essence card set consists of 156 cards.
If you are using a conventional (skat, poker) deck of cards, you will need three of them. They must be recognisable as different sets on the back (and preferably also from the front).
It is theoretically possible to play with a different number of card sets. This could be interesting if a group is very large or very small.
The playing card(s)
A playing card contains a range of information that each player must know how to interpret. They are divided into several sections. You can find a detailed list of all cards and their descriptions here.
1. the sides
Each playing card has a front side (face, Aver) and a back side (back, Rever)
2. the hand
In many other games, the hand is referred to as the picture. However, this term is misleading, as it also includes the so-called number cards. In the Frieden game, the following can be the hand: Ace, numbers from 1-10, Jack, Queen, King and Joker.
There may not be any Jacks in the original game.
3. the coat of arms
This symbol is referred to as the suit in many other games, but what is actually meant are the symbols clubs, spades, hearts and diamonds. This term is also misleading, as many playing cards are also shown with different colours (red, blue). We therefore call them coats of arms.
In the original card set, there are a total of twelve coats of arms instead of the four mentioned above: Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Lightning, Thunder, Spirit, Soul, Time, Space, Light, Darkness.
4 The material
The material is only relevant in conventional card sets. If several different cards are used, they must be distinguishable from each other (e.g. blue, red (back), gold, silver, black or white cards). The game calls these characteristics material.
In the original card set, the material does not play a role, as there is another way of distinguishing the cards.
5 The kingdom
In conventional card sets, the name of the kingdom to which a card belongs is determined by its coat of arms and material. So if you were to use blue, red and green card sets (on the backs), there would be, for example, the red spade, the blue heart and the green diamond kingdom.
In the original peace card set, the kingdoms are the same as the coats of arms.
6. the value
Each playing card has a numerical value that can play an important role in the further course of the game.
Joker = 0 Ace = 1 Number cards = the value shown Jack = 11 Queen = 12 King = 13
7 The effect
Each card can have a specific effect in the game when it is used.
They can also be 'extended' by discarding so-called multiples (i.e. several cards from the same hand).
They can also be 'extended' by the next player whose turn it is to discard a card from the same hand.
The (deeper) meaning
The deeper (mental, spiritual, energetic) meaning of each playing card is derived from the kingdom, its hand, combination and position. An overview of this can be found below.
The positions
There are four different positions in the peace game where a card can be located:
The open pile/heap and the hidden one. The open hand and the hidden hand.
Players discard their cards in the open pile. They lie on their backs so that you can always see which card is in the pile. Only the top card can be drawn from the hidden pile, which lies face down on the table in the centre.
Each player keeps the cards they have drawn in their hidden hand during the course of the game. Other players are not allowed to see them. A maximum of twelve cards may be held in the hidden hand. If a player exceeds this limit, every other player must draw a card from their hidden hand until they have fewer than twelve cards in their hand.
If a player has a straight of at least five cards, he can place it in his 'open hand'. This means it spreads out on the table in front of him for all to see.
The combinations
There are several possible ways to combine cards:
1. multiples
If you have more than one card from a particular hand (e.g. 4 nines), these are called multiples. These may always be placed together on the open pile.
2. streets
Streets are unbroken sequences of at least five consecutive cards of the same kingdom. The only permitted sequence is: Ace, 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, Jack, Queen, King.
As long as the sequence is adhered to, it can start or end at any point.
Kings and aces can also be placed directly next to each other. Streets therefore do not have to end with kings, but can be continued with an ace.
A sequence only counts as a street if all cards belong to the same kingdom (crest and material must match)
3rd court
If you have the Jack, Queen and King of a kingdom, this is called the Court.
You may place a court on your open hand, even though there are only three cards instead of five. However, you may only place cards on the court if this results in at least five cards.
Aim of the game
Each player tries to increase their influence over their chosen kingdom to such an extent that they can pacify the entire empire. To do this, he must have all the relevant cards. This means he needs the complete road from the ace to the king.
Once the goal has been achieved, he says the word "peace" and reveals all the cards. If these streets contain jokers, they are kept in the open hand until they have been exchanged. It is then formed into a pile and set aside.
Play continues until all kingdoms have been pacified.
Start of the game
Before the first game begins, each player draws a card. The player with the highest card value begins. If several players have the highest value, they draw again until a single player has been determined.
If there has already been a previous game, the player who had the most jokers at the end of the last game starts. If several players are tied, the new starter is determined using the method described above.
Effects of the last game
The player who was the first to make peace in the last game may this time hold thirteen cards in their hidden hand instead of a maximum of twelve.
The player who made peace last may only have eleven cards in their open hand this time instead of the usual twelve.
Course of the game
To prepare, the decks of cards are shuffled and placed face down in the centre as a hidden pile.
Each player then has exactly one turn within a round. He can choose to do only one of the following three things (if technically possible).
He draws a card. He can do this from any position. However, he may only draw the top card from the two piles. He places a card on the face-up pile (discard, discard). He sits out. Insider trading
If a player is caught cheering another player with a card under his hand, the card in question is returned to the hidden pile.
Exchange
If a joker has been added to a street in any player's open hand, it can be replaced at any time by any player with the matching card.
Other special features
If a player's first name is Max or Rene, he may not keep any jokers. They must immediately hand them over to the inventor of this game.
If a player is called Lemmy, he may not take part in the game if it is Tuesday.