Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about playing Bale
General Gameplay
How many cards do I need to win?
You need 7 cards of the same product. With an active Season card for that product, you only need 6 cards.
Can I win with a mix of products?
No. All 7 (or 6 with season) cards must be the same product. However, the Bale App wild card can substitute for any product.
What happens if the draw pile runs out?
Shuffle the entire discard pile to form a new draw pile.
Can I pick cards from the discard pile?
No. You can only draw from the draw pile. The discard pile only becomes available when it is shuffled to become the new draw pile.
Can I skip my turn?
No, you must draw at least one card. However, trading, playing special cards, and discarding are all optional.
Trading
Can I refuse a trade?
Yes, both players must agree to a normal trade. However, you cannot refuse a Forced Deal.
Can I trade special cards?
Yes, all special cards are worth 30 points and can be included in trades.
Can I see what cards I'm getting in a trade?
No. All trades are blind - you only know the total point value, not the specific cards.
Can I trade on another player's turn?
No, trades can only be initiated during your own turn.
Can I offer a higher value trade without getting equal points back?
Yes. You can offer a higher value card and receive less in return. For example, you can trade a 30-point special card for a 20-point product card, receiving nothing for the extra 10 points.
The Bale Call
When exactly do I call "BALE!"?
When you are one card away from winning - typically at 6 cards, or 5 cards if you have an active Season card.
What if I forget to call Bale?
Your victory is invalid. You must wait until your next turn to try again (and remember to call Bale first!).
Do I call Bale before or after drawing?
Call Bale whenever you reach one card away from winning - this could be after drawing, after a trade, or after playing a card.
Special Cards
Can I play multiple special cards in one turn?
Yes, you can play any number of special cards during your turn.
When do I play Insurance?
You must play Insurance before you are targeted by a blocker card. It provides preventive protection.
Can Insurance block Forced Deal or Market Disruption?
No. Insurance only protects against Inventory Theft, Bad Debtor, and Warehouse Fire.
What if Tariff is played on a product I'm collecting with a Season card?
Both effects stack. You'll need 8 cards to win (7 base - 1 season + 2 tariff = 8).
Can Bale App be stolen with Inventory Theft?
No. Bale App cannot be stolen or affected by product-specific effects.
Does Warehouse Fire affect the player who played it?
No. Only other players must discard 2 cards.
Season Cards
Can I have multiple Season cards active?
Yes, you can have multiple Season cards in play, allowing flexibility in which product you pursue.
Do Season cards affect all players or just me?
Only you benefit from your active Season cards.
Can a Season card be removed from play?
No. Season cards remain active once played. However, Tariff can make a product harder to collect by adding +2 cards needed.
Edge Cases
What if two players declare victory at the same time?
The player with the higher point product wins (20-point products beat 10-point products). If equal, whoever declared first wins.
What if I draw a card that puts me over 13 cards?
You must discard down to 13 cards. If caught with more than 13, you must discard 2 cards as a penalty.
Can I use Forced Deal to make a 0-point trade?
No, trades must have a point value. The minimum trade is 10 points (one Cotton/Polyester/Denim card).
What happens if I play Collateral but there are fewer than 3 cards in the deck?
Draw whatever cards remain, then deposit 1 card to the discard pile.