At the Gates of Loyang

2009

Experience 'At the Gates of Loyang', a compelling card-based trading game. Produce, harvest, and sell goods while maximizing your earnings through strategic actions and timing.

120
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

10+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Welcome to the immersive world of ‘At the Gates of Loyang’ – a board game that beautifully blends strategy, farming, and commerce in the classical Chinese period. This game, designed by the renowned Uwe Rosenberg, transports players back in time to experience the hustle and bustle of a vibrant marketplace.

The game is set in the period of the Han Dynasty. Players step into the shoes of humble Chinese farmers, cultivating fields and selling their produce at the bustling Loyang market. As farmers, you will not only grow and harvest crops, but also interact with various characters, from shopkeepers to customers, to maximize your earnings and elevate your social status.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

At the Gates of Loyang is a strategy board game that includes several components, each with its unique role in the game. These components interact to create a dynamic, engaging gameplay experience. Here’s a list of each component and a description of its purpose:

1. Game Board: This is the main component of the game, where players lay out their cards and track their progress. The board includes areas for the card market, scoring track, and player fields.

2. Player Boards: Each player has an individual board that represents their starting field. This is where they will plant vegetables, which are represented by wooden pieces.

3. Vegetable Tokens: There are five types of vegetable tokens: wheat, pumpkins, turnips, cabbage, and leeks. Players plant these on their fields to later sell in the market or fulfill customer orders.

4. Customer Cards: These cards represent the customers that players can sell their vegetables to. Regular customers provide ongoing income, while one-time customers offer quick cash.

5. Market Stall Cards: These cards allow players to sell their harvested vegetables in the market. The price and quantity of vegetables required are indicated on each card.

6. Helper Cards: These cards provide players with various abilities that can be used throughout the game, such as additional field spaces, discounted market prices, or extra actions.

7. Coin Tokens: These represent the currency in the game. Players earn coins by selling vegetables and fulfilling customer orders. The player with the most coins at the end of the game wins.

8. Scoring Marker: Each player has a scoring marker that moves along the scoring track on the game board to indicate their current score.

9. Round Marker: This marker moves along the round track to indicate the current round of the game.

Each of these components interacts with each other in a unique way to form the strategic gameplay of At the Gates of Loyang. The game requires careful management of resources and strategic use of helper cards to maximize vegetable production and sales, ultimately leading to a higher score and victory in the game.

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

At the Gates of Loyang is a strategy board game where players take on the roles of farmers in ancient China, growing crops and selling them at the gates of the city of Loyang. Here is a step-by-step guide to setting up the game:

1. Player Roles: Each player represents a farmer in ancient China. Their role is to cultivate and sell crops to earn points and progress on the Path of Prosperity.

2. Board Placement:

Place the main board in the center of the playing area.
Each player receives a separate stall board and places it in front of them.
Make sure the Path of Prosperity is in a location accessible to all players.

3. Initial Resources:

Each player receives 1 coin and 14 cash.
Each player also gets 1 vegetable and 1 wheat card.
Each player draws 1 regular customer card and places it face-up next to their stall board.

4. Random Elements:

Shuffle the deck of customer cards and place it face-down next to the main board.
Deal 5 cards to each player from the customer deck. Players examine their hands and keep 2, returning the rest to the bottom of the deck.
Shuffle the deck of helper cards and deal 1 to each player.

5. Preparation of the Market: Draw 4 cards from the deck of vegetable cards and place them face-up in the 4 spaces of the market on the main board.

6. Starting Player: The youngest player goes first and the game proceeds clockwise.

Now that the game is set up, you’re ready to start playing ‘At the Gates of Loyang’! Remember, the goal is to be the player who has progressed furthest along the Path of Prosperity at the end of the game.

Game flow Round and round we go

At the Gates of Loyang is a strategy board game where players aim to progress along the prosperity points track as quickly as possible. The game is played over nine rounds, each of which has five phases: Drawing Cards, Distributing Cards, Action Phase, Selling and Buying, and Customer Serving.

1. Drawing Cards: In the first phase, players draw cards from the deck. Four cards are drawn from the regular deck and one from the pile of 9 cards. The drawn cards then form the card pool.

2. Distributing Cards: In this phase, players take turns to choose one card from the pool until all cards are distributed. Each player gets two cards from the four, and the fifth card is placed in the shop.

3. Action Phase: During this phase, players can perform multiple actions, including:

Taking a card from the shop: Players can choose to add a card from the shop to their hand.
Planting a field: Players can plant one of their vegetable fields.
Using a helper: Players can use the abilities of their helper cards.
Serving a customer: Players can fulfill a customer’s order by using vegetables from their fields.

4. Selling and Buying: In the Selling and Buying phase, players can sell their vegetables to the market and buy new vegetables. The price of vegetables fluctuates depending on supply and demand.

5. Customer Serving: Finally, in the Customer Serving phase, players serve their regular customers. They fulfill the orders of these customers using their vegetable fields. The player receives a number of prosperity points equal to the number of customers served.

The game ends after the ninth round. The player with the most prosperity points is declared the winner. This game requires both strategic planning and tactical flexibility in order to secure the most points and win.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

At the Gates of Loyang is a strategy board game that requires players to manage resources, cultivate fields, and supply customers to earn the most points. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what happens during a player’s turn:

1. Draw Cards:

The player starts their turn by drawing cards from the deck. These cards can be regular or casual customers, helpers, or field cards. The drawn cards can significantly influence the player’s strategy for the rest of the game.

2. Marketplace:

Once the player has drawn their cards, they can then visit the marketplace to buy or sell goods. The marketplace is crucial for gaining the resources needed to fulfill customer orders. The player must carefully decide what to buy or sell based on their current resources and the demands of their customers.

3. Planting and Harvesting:

Next, the player can plant vegetables in their fields. The player has to strategically select what to plant based on the customer orders they are trying to fulfill. After planting, the player can then harvest their crops. Harvesting is essential to gather the resources needed to supply to the customers.

4. Fulfilling Orders:

After the player has harvested their crops, they can then fulfill orders for their customers. This involves supplying the required vegetables to the customers and collecting the payment. Fulfilling customer orders is the main way to earn points in the game.

5. Action Cards:

During their turn, the player can also use action cards. These cards can provide the player with special abilities or advantages. The player needs to decide when and how to use these cards to maximize their benefits.

6. End of Turn:

The player’s turn ends after they have finished all their actions. Then, the next player begins their turn by drawing cards and repeating the same steps.

The strategy in ‘At the Gates of Loyang’ requires players to carefully manage their resources, plan their actions, and adapt to changing circumstances. The player who can best balance these elements will likely come out on top.

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

At the Gates of Loyang is a strategy board game in which players assume the roles of vegetable farmers in China. Players aim to maximize their profits and expand their businesses. The game ends after nine rounds, and the player with the most points is declared the winner.

Game End:

The game concludes after the ninth round. After this round, players must complete any remaining actions and proceed to the final scoring. It’s important to note that there are no bonus rounds or extensions beyond the ninth round.

Actions Before Final Scoring:

Before the final scoring takes place, players must complete a few actions:

Players must fulfill any remaining regular customers’ orders. If a player fails to do so, they must pay one point per unfulfilled order.
Players should ensure they have no outstanding debts. If a player does not have enough resources to pay off their debts, they must reduce their points equivalent to the debt amount.
Players can sell any remaining vegetables from their stall. Each vegetable sold adds one point to the player’s final score.

Victory Conditions:

After all actions have been completed, and final scoring has been calculated, the player with the highest score is declared the winner. The scoring is based on:

The number of customers served with orders throughout the game.
The number of vegetables sold during the final round.
The level of advancement on the Path of Prosperity.
Any penalties from unfulfilled orders or unpaid debts are subtracted from the total score.

It’s worth noting that in the case of a tie, the player with the most cash on hand is the winner. If there is still a tie, the player who first reached their final score on the Path of Prosperity is the winner.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

The scoring system in ‘At the Gates of Loyang’ is based on advancement on the Path of Prosperity. The game ends after nine rounds, and the player who has advanced furthest on the Path of Prosperity wins. Let’s delve into the specifics:

Path of Prosperity:

Each player has a marker on the Path of Prosperity, which begins at the start of the game on the space marked ‘9’. The main aim of the game is to advance as far as possible along this path. Each advancement costs a certain amount of cash, which increases with each step.

Scoring Points:

Regular Customers: Fulfilling the demands of Regular Customers with the appropriate vegetables advances your marker on the Path of Prosperity.
Casual Customers: Selling vegetables to Casual Customers gives you cash, which you can then use to advance on the Path of Prosperity.
Market Stalls and Fields: While these do not directly award points, they produce vegetables that you can sell to customers, thus indirectly contributing to your score.

Tie-breaker Rules:

If two or more players are on the same spot on the Path of Prosperity at the end of the game, the player with the most cash left wins. If there is still a tie, the player who passed last in the final round wins.

Point Conversion:

At the end of the game, every player has the chance to convert their remaining cash into points on the Path of Prosperity. This conversion happens in a very specific way. The cost to advance one space is always one more than the current position on the Path. So if a player is on space 13, they must pay 14 cash to advance to space 14.

Scoring at Game End:

When the game ends, the player furthest along the Path of Prosperity is the winner. The exact number of spaces along the Path does not matter; only the relative positions of the players count. So if the furthest player is on space 17, and the next furthest player is on space 16, the first player wins, regardless of how many spaces other players have advanced.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

‘At the Gates of Loyang’ is a complex board game that requires strategic planning and management of resources. Here are some special rules, exceptions, and important clarifications to consider during play:

Private Fields and Vegetables:

Private fields can only be used by the player who owns them. They cannot be traded or sold to other players.
Vegetables can only be planted on a player’s own private fields or on fields that they have leased for a round.

Regular Customers and Casual Customers:

Regular customers require deliveries of specific vegetables over multiple rounds. If a player cannot meet the demands of a regular customer for any round, they must pay a penalty.
Casual customers only require a one-time delivery and do not have a penalty for non-delivery.

Market Stalls and Helpers:

Market stalls can be used to exchange vegetables. Each market stall card specifies the type of vegetable that can be exchanged and the exchange ratio.
Helpers provide special abilities that can help players gain an advantage. However, each helper can only be used once per round.

Loan Cards and Interest:

Players can use loan cards to borrow money. However, they must pay back the loan with interest at the end of the game. If a player cannot repay the loan, they lose points.

Scoring and End of Game:

Players score points based on the number of customers they have served, the vegetables they have planted, and the money they have earned.
The game ends after nine rounds. The player with the highest score wins.

Note: It’s important to remember that ‘At the Gates of Loyang’ is a strategic game that requires careful planning and resource management. Players should always consider their options and make decisions that will give them the most points at the end of the game.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies:

Plan your actions carefully. Since you only get a limited number of actions each round, it’s important to make them count. Prioritize actions that will benefit you in the long run, like growing crops that you can sell for a high price.
Don’t forget to manage your workers. Your workers are a valuable resource, and you need to make sure you’re using them efficiently. Don’t let them sit idle – if you’re not using a worker, consider trading it to another player for something you need.
Keep an eye on your opponents. It’s not enough to just focus on your own farm – you also need to pay attention to what your opponents are doing. If you see them making a move that could potentially harm your interests, be prepared to counter it.

Beginner Tips:

Start with simple crops. As a beginner, it’s best to start with simple crops that are easy to grow and sell. As you get more experienced, you can start experimenting with more complex crops that offer higher rewards.
Use your helpers wisely. Each helper offers a unique ability, and it’s important to use them to your advantage. For example, the Trader can help you get the best deals when buying and selling crops, while the Craftsman can help you build structures faster.
Don’t neglect your customers. Your customers are your main source of income, so it’s important to keep them happy. Make sure you’re regularly supplying them with the crops they want, and try to fulfill their orders as quickly as possible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Not diversifying your crops. It’s tempting to focus on just one or two types of crops, but this can be risky. If the market for those crops crashes, you could find yourself in a tough spot. Try to grow a variety of crops to hedge against this risk.
Ignoring the market. The market is a crucial part of the game, and it’s important to keep an eye on it. Pay attention to the prices of different crops, and try to buy low and sell high whenever possible.
Forgetting about your workers. Your workers are a crucial resource, and it’s important to manage them effectively. Don’t let them sit idle, and make sure you’re using them to their full potential.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Plan ahead. Try to anticipate what your opponents will do, and plan your actions accordingly. This will help you stay one step ahead and give you an edge in the game.
Be efficient. Make sure you’re making the most of every action. Don’t waste actions on things that won’t benefit you in the long run.
Stay flexible. The game can be unpredictable, and it’s important to be able to adapt to changing circumstances. Don’t get too attached to one strategy – be ready to change your approach if necessary.