Ginkgopolis

2012

Ginkgopolis is a strategic board game where players become urban planners, developing cities in harmony with nature. Utilize resources, gather expert teams, and build upwards for victory!

45
minutes

1 - 5
player(s)

13+

Medium

About the game

Ginkgopolis is a captivating board game that takes you into the future, where humans have perfected eco-friendly urban development. The game is named after the ginkgo biloba, one of the oldest living tree species on earth, to represent resilience, longevity, and sustainability.

In the game, you are an architect in a dystopian future where resources are scarce, and the only way to build is up. Your goal is to construct an eco-friendly city using the principles of urbanism and ecology. The setting, which is 2212 AD, gives you the responsibility to expand the ever-growing city vertically, using the best of your strategic skills and resource management.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Components of Ginkgopolis:

The game of Ginkgopolis has a variety of components that each play a role in the gameplay. Below are descriptions of each component and how they interact with the game.

1. Game Board:

The game board serves as the foundation for the city you will be building. It’s a 9×9 grid where the players place their buildings. It starts with 9 tiles placed in a 3×3 grid, representing the initial state of the city.

2. 60 Building Tiles:

These tiles represent buildings that players can construct in the city. There are three types of building tiles – red, yellow, and blue, each providing a different kind of resource or benefit. The buildings increase in level, and higher level buildings provide more benefits when built.

3. 100 Resource Cubes:

There are three types of resource cubes – red, yellow, and blue, corresponding to the building tiles. Players use these cubes to build and upgrade buildings. The color of the cube must match the color of the building tile being placed.

4. 20 Character Tiles:

These tiles represent various characters that provide players with special abilities. Each character has a unique power that can alter strategies, such as allowing players to build more efficiently, gain additional resources, or score bonus points.

5. 4 Player Aids and 40 Player Tokens:

Each player receives a player aid that summarizes the game rules and actions. The player tokens, in four different colors, are used to mark ownership of buildings. When a player builds a building, they place a token of their color on it.

6. 64 Cards:

The cards are used to select actions during each round of the game. They correspond to the building and character tiles, and players use them to build, upgrade, or gain the benefits of the corresponding tile.

7. Urbanization Tokens:

These tokens are used to expand the city. When a player chooses to urbanize, they place one of these tokens on the game board, expanding the city grid.

8. Score Track:

This is used to keep track of each player’s score throughout the game. Players move their scoring marker along the track as they gain points.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Ginkgopolis is a dynamic city building game that combines elements of card drafting, tile placement, and area control. This guide will walk you through the steps to set up a game of Ginkgopolis.

Step 1: Player Roles

In Ginkgopolis, each player takes on the role of an urban planner, architect, or engineer tasked with expanding and developing the city. The goal is to accumulate the most victory points by the end of the game through strategic building placement and resource management.

Step 2: Board Placement

The game board consists of 9 district tiles, each representing a different part of the city. These tiles should be shuffled and arranged in a 3×3 square in the center of the table. To the right of the board, place the 3 resource tracks, and to the left, place the deck of cards.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Each player begins the game with a certain amount of resources, depending on the number of players:

For 2 players, each player receives 4 resources of each type (Brick, Energy, and Workers).
For 3 players, each player receives 3 resources of each type.
For 4 players, each player receives 2 resources of each type.

These resources are used throughout the game to construct buildings and activate special abilities.

Step 4: Card Distribution

Shuffle the deck of cards and deal a hand to each player. The number of cards each player receives depends on the number of players:

For 2 players, each player receives 6 cards.
For 3 players, each player receives 5 cards.
For 4 players, each player receives 4 cards.

These cards represent various building projects and city improvements that players can undertake during their turn.

Step 5: Random Elements

Finally, shuffle the deck of Event cards and draw one to place face-up next to the game board. This Event card will introduce a unique rule or condition that affects all players for the duration of the game, adding an element of unpredictability and replayability to Ginkgopolis.

With the game set up complete, players can now begin taking turns, starting with the youngest player and proceeding clockwise.

Game flow Round and round we go

Ginkgopolis is a futuristic city-building board game where players partake in a strategic competition to create the most impressive city. The game is played in a series of rounds, with each round containing three phases: Card selection phase, Action phase, and End of round phase.

1. Card selection phase: Each player starts with a hand of four cards. From these, they choose one card to play and pass the remaining cards to the player on their left. This process continues until all cards have been chosen.

Urbanize Cards: These allow players to add a building to their city.
Construct Cards: These let players build over existing buildings, upgrading their city.
Exploit Cards: These give players resources or points immediately.

2. Action phase: After all players have chosen their cards, they reveal them simultaneously. Then, each player performs the action indicated on their card. Actions can involve building new structures, upgrading existing ones, or obtaining resources. The order of actions is determined by the numbers on the cards, with lower numbers going first.

3. End of round phase: This phase is triggered once all players have played their cards and performed their actions. During this phase, players check if any of their buildings are surrounded by others. If so, they score points equal to the height of the surrounded building. Then, players refill their hands from the deck and a new round begins.

The game ends after the draw deck has been depleted twice. After the final round, players add up their scores from their buildings, resources, and bonuses. The player with the highest total score is declared the winner of Ginkgopolis.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

‘Ginkgopolis’ is a strategic board game that requires players to make crucial decisions during their turn. Every player’s turn can influence the gameplay and the final outcome. Here is a detailed breakdown of a player’s turn in ‘Ginkgopolis’.

At the start of their turn, the player has a hand of four cards. Each card represents a building in the city. The player can choose one of three actions:

Expand the city: To do this, the player selects a card from their hand and places it face down on the table. They then place a tile from the common pool on the city, adjacent to the building depicted on the card. This action allows the player to gain resources and advance in the game. However, it also opens up opportunities for other players to construct buildings.
Construct a building: The player selects a card and a tile from their hand and places them face down on the table. The tile must be placed on top of the building depicted on the card. This action allows the player to increase their control over the city and potentially score more points. But, it also uses up valuable resources.
Recycle a card: The player selects a card from their hand and places it face down on the table. They then discard the card and gain resources equal to the number of buildings they control that match the color of the discarded card. This action can provide a quick boost in resources, but it also reduces the player’s options for future turns.

After the player has chosen and performed their action, they draw a new card to replenish their hand. This card can be used in subsequent turns. The player’s turn ends, and the next player takes their turn.

Each action in ‘Ginkgopolis’ can have significant strategic implications. Expanding the city can provide resources and opportunities, but it also gives other players the chance to construct buildings. Constructing a building can increase a player’s control and potential points, but it also consumes resources. Recycling a card can provide a quick resource boost, but it also limits the player’s future options.

Therefore, players must carefully consider their options at each turn, weighing the benefits and drawbacks of each action. This strategic decision-making is a key element of ‘Ginkgopolis’ gameplay.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

Ginkgopolis is a board game that combines city building, resource management, and strategic planning. The game ends when the draw pile is empty at the end of a round, which triggers the final scoring phase. This phase is crucial as it determines the winner of the game.

During the final scoring phase, players must perform the following actions:

Return all cards in hand to the box: Players must discard any remaining cards in their hand that were not played during the game.
Score for Buildings: Each player scores points for the buildings they have on the board. The amount of points depends on the height of the buildings and the type of building (residential, commercial, or industrial).
Score for Resources: Players also score points for their remaining resources. The exact amount of points per resource varies depending on the game’s progress.
Score for Urbanization and Construction cards: Players score points for their Urbanization and Construction cards, with the points varying based on the specific cards.
Score for Character cards: Finally, players score points for their Character cards. These cards may give bonus points for certain conditions, such as having a specific type of building or a specific amount of resources.

As for the victory conditions, the player with the most points at the end of the final scoring phase is declared the winner of the game. In the event of a tie, the player with the most buildings on the board wins. If there is still a tie, the player with the most remaining resources wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game Ginkgopolis, players are awarded points based on a variety of actions and outcomes. Understanding the scoring system is crucial to developing an effective strategy and ultimately winning the game. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1. Buildings:

At the end of the game, players earn points equal to the height of each building they control. For example, if a player controls a building of height 3, they receive 3 points.

2. Urbanization and Expansion:

When a player urbanizes an area, they receive points equal to the number of different colored buildings surrounding the new building.
When a player expands an existing building, they receive points equal to the height of the building after expansion.

3. Resources:

Unused resources at the end of the game are converted into points at a rate of 1 point for every 3 resources.

4. Character Cards:

Each character card has a unique scoring condition, and players earn points if they meet these conditions at the end of the game.

5. Area Majority:

Players compete for majority control over each district. The player with the most buildings in a district receives points equal to the number of tiles in that district. The second most buildings receive half the points rounded up.

As for tie-breaking rules, the game follows a clear hierarchy:

The player with the most remaining resources wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who passed first in the last round wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who played the highest numbered card in the last round wins.

Understanding and leveraging these scoring rules can make the difference between victory and defeat in Ginkgopolis.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Ginkgopolis is a very strategic game that requires a good understanding of its complex rules. Here are some special rules, exceptions, and clarifications that will help you play the game better:

1. Urbanization:

Urbanization is a key component of the game. You may only urbanize a district if you have a tile of the same color as the district in your hand. Exception: if you don’t have a tile of the same color, you can still urbanize by using any tile in your hand, but you will lose 1 point.

2. Building Over Existing Buildings:

You are allowed to build over existing buildings, but only if your new building is a higher level than the one being replaced. Note: the level of a building is indicated by the number on the tile.

3. Receiving Resources:

When you place a tile, you receive resources equal to the height of the building you placed. However, the type of resource you receive depends on the color of the tile you placed: red tiles yield energy, blue tiles yield materials, and yellow tiles yield victory points. Clarification: you do not receive resources for the building’s base level or for urbanization tiles.

4. End of Game:

The game ends when all the tiles in the bag have been drawn. Exception: if a player has no more buildings on their personal board, they may choose to end the game immediately.

5. Scoring:

At the end of the game, players score points for the highest buildings in each district and for each set of three different colored buildings they own. Additional rule: players also score 1 point for every 2 resources they have remaining.

6. Multiplayer Rules:

In multiplayer games, if two or more players tie for control of a district, the player with the most buildings of the highest level wins. Clarification: if there is still a tie, the player who placed their building first wins.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies:

One advanced strategy in Ginkgopolis is to focus on expanding outward instead of building upward. This increases the number of cards you have in your hand, giving you more options for your next play.
Don’t overlook the power of synergy between the buildings. Constructing a set of buildings that work well together can yield significant benefits.
Control of the urbanization cards is also crucial. Having the right ones can greatly enhance your gameplay.

Beginner Tips:

For beginners, it’s beneficial to start by focusing on the basics. This means understanding the importance of the three actions: Construction, Expansion, and Urbanization.
Don’t try to do everything in your initial games. Instead, pick a simple strategy and stick to it. This will help you understand the game mechanics.
Remember to always keep a close eye on your opponents’ strategies. This can help you anticipate their moves and plan your actions accordingly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

A common mistake in Ginkgopolis is overextending. While it’s tempting to expand rapidly, doing so can leave you with insufficient resources to defend your territories.
Another mistake is ignoring the urbanization cards. These cards can provide significant advantages, so neglecting them can be a costly error.
Finally, don’t forget about the end game scoring. It’s easy to get caught up in the immediate action and overlook the long-term strategy.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

One way to optimize gameplay is by focusing on efficiency. Make sure every action you take moves you closer to your goals.
Another way is to balance your strategy between construction, expansion, and urbanization. Focusing too much on one aspect can leave you vulnerable in others.
Finally, always adapt your strategy based on your opponents’ actions. If you see an opponent focusing heavily on one strategy, consider how you can counteract it.