Gùgōng

2018

Experience the intrigue of the Ming Dynasty in Gùgōng. Play as powerful families, exchanging gifts with Officials, securing advantages, and vying for an audience with the emperor.

90
minutes

1 - 5
player(s)

12+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Welcome to the vibrant world of Gùgōng, a board game that transports you back to the heart of the Forbidden City during China’s Ming Dynasty. Set in 1570, the atmosphere is rife with political intrigue, corruption, and the ceaseless pursuit of power. You play as ambitious nobles, maneuvering to win the Emperor’s favor and secure your spot in the annals of history.

At its core, Gùgōng is a worker-placement game with a unique twist: the gift-exchange mechanic. The game’s name itself translates to “Palace of Heavenly Purity,” and it derives from the historical practice of exchanging gifts with the Emperor. In the game, this is represented by beautifully illustrated cards that you trade with those on the board to conduct your actions. The twist is, you can only exchange a card from your hand with one of equal or higher value on the board, modeling the ancient Chinese principle that a gift given should be of higher value than one received.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Gùgōng is a complex board game with many components, each of which plays a vital role in the gameplay. Below is a list of all the components included in Gùgōng and an explanation of their functions and interactions within the game:

1. Game Board: The game board is where the action takes place. It is divided into several locations, including the Forbidden City, where players can swap Gift cards, the Great Wall, where players can contribute bricks, and the Travel track, where players can send their envoy.

2. Gift Cards: These are the main driving force of the game. Players use these cards to interact with the locations on the board. Each gift card has a value from 1 to 9, and the players must exchange a card of lower value with a card of higher value on the board.

3. Player Boards: Each player gets a personal player board. This board tracks the player’s resources, including servants, jade, and intrigue.

4. Servant Cubes: Servants are a type of resource that players can use to perform actions on the game board. Players start with a certain number of servants and can gain more throughout the game.

5. Jade Tokens: Jade is another type of resource. Players can gain jade by performing certain actions on the game board, and it can be used to gain victory points.

6. Intrigue Tokens: These tokens are used to resolve ties and can also be spent for certain advantages.

7. Decree Tiles: Decree tiles give the players special abilities that can be used throughout the game. At the start of the game, each player is given one decree tile.

8. Travel Tokens: Travel tokens are used on the Travel track. Players can gain these tokens by performing certain actions and can spend them to move their envoy along the track.

9. Palace Cards: These are end-game scoring cards. Players can gain these cards by performing certain actions, and they provide additional ways to score points at the end of the game.

10. Grand Canal Bonus Tiles: These tiles provide bonuses to players who have the majority of servants in the corresponding location on the Grand Canal.

11. Double Servant Tokens: These tokens represent two servants and are used for convenience when a player has many servants.

12. Bricks: Bricks are used to build the Great Wall. Players can gain bricks by performing certain actions and can spend them to contribute to the construction of the Great Wall.

13. Player Markers: Each player has a marker in their color which is used to track their score on the score track.

14. Envoy Figures: Each player has an envoy figure that they can move along the Travel track to gain rewards.

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

Gùgōng is a strategy board game designed for 1-5 players where you take on the role of a powerful Chinese family attempting to gain influence and power in the imperial court of the Ming Dynasty. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game.

1. Setup the Game Board:

Firstly, place the main game board in the center of the table. The game board depicts the Forbidden City with different locations where players can take actions.

2. Prepare the Cards:

Shuffle the deck of Gift cards. Deal 4 cards face up to each location on the board. Then deal a hand of 6 cards to each player. The Gift cards represent the bribes that players offer to officials to gain their favor.

3. Setup the Player Boards:

Each player is given a player board, which represents their family estate. They should place this in front of them.

4. Distribute Initial Resources:

Each player receives a set of 7 Servant cubes in their chosen color.
From these, place 2 Servants on the ‘0/3’ space of the player’s Palace track on their player board.
Put the remaining Servants in the general supply area of the player board.
Each player also receives 1 Travel token, which is placed on the ‘1’ space of the player’s Travel track.

5. Setup the Jade Tokens:

Shuffle the Jade tokens and place them in a pile next to the game board. Jade tokens are valuable resources that can provide additional benefits to players.

6. Establish Player Order:

Randomly determine the starting player. Give this player the Grand Canal token. Player order will proceed clockwise from this player.

7. Prepare the Intrigue Track:

Place each player’s Intrigue marker (the smallest cube in their color) on the ‘0’ space of the Intrigue track on the main game board. This track represents the underhanded tactics and scheming of the families.

8. Prepare the Decree Cards:

Shuffle the Decree cards and deal 4 cards face up next to the game board. These cards represent special rules that can be activated by players.

9. Prepare Destiny Dice:

Roll the 5 Destiny dice and place them on the Destiny board. These dice will determine which Gift cards can be exchanged each round.

Now you are ready to start the game. Remember, in Gùgōng, your goal is to accumulate the most Victory Points by the end of 4 rounds through a combination of clever card play, strategic movement, and careful resource management. Good luck!

Game flow Round and round we go

Gùgōng is a complex strategy board game set in ancient China, where players take on the roles of powerful Chinese families trying to gain influence and power in the imperial court. The game is played over four days (rounds), with various actions and strategies available to players during each day.

The game’s structure is divided into four main days (rounds). Each day is further divided into six phases, which are played in order. The phases are:

Start of Day: The first player token is handed to the player with the lowest sum of their card values. In case of a tie, it’s handed to the tied player closest to the left of the current first player.
Travel: Starting with the first player and proceeding in clockwise order, each player may spend two servants to advance their envoy along the travel track. Players can earn bonuses and points this way.
Actions: In the same player order, players can perform one action by exchanging a card from their hand with one of the seven face-up cards on the game board’s action spaces, then carry out the action associated with that space. This can be done as many times as the player can afford and wishes to do.
End of Day: Players calculate and compare the sum of the values on their gift cards. The player with the highest total wins the current Jade Imperial Seal; ties are broken in favor of the player with the Jade Imperial Seal.
Reset: The used cards are removed, new ones are drawn, and the palace track is reset.
End of Game: After the fourth day, the game ends. Players add up their points from various sources, and the player with the most points wins the game.

Each action space on the game board allows players to carry out a specific action, such as gaining resources, moving their envoy, constructing buildings, or contributing to the Great Wall. Actions often have a cost in servants, and frequently offer an additional ‘Grand Action’ that can be taken by spending an extra servant.

Strategic use of these actions, combined with careful management of gift cards and resources, is key to success in Gùgōng.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In Gùgōng, players take on the roles of powerful Chinese families trying to gain influence and power by exchanging gifts with Officials. The player’s turn in Gùgōng is structured and involves making strategic choices that affect the overall gameplay. Here’s a thorough breakdown of what happens during a player’s turn:

1. Select and Play a Card:

The player selects a card from their hand and plays it on one of the seven available action locations on the board. The card chosen must have a higher value than the card currently at that location. If the card is of lower value, the player must pay the difference in servants.

2. Gift Exchange:

After playing a card, the player takes the card that was originally at that location into their hand. This is known as a gift exchange. It’s a strategic action as it not only allows the player to perform a specific action but also sets up their hand for future turns.

3. Perform Action:

Once the gift exchange is done, the player performs the action of the location. The actions can be:

Travel: Allows the player to move their envoy on the travel track to receive rewards.
Great Wall: Enables the player to contribute to the construction of the Great Wall for points and benefits.
Decree: Allows the player to acquire a decree which grants a special ability or bonus for the rest of the game.
Intrigue: Lets the player increase their influence on the intrigue track, which can be used for tie-breakers and bonus actions.
Jade: Provides the player jade, a valuable resource used for scoring points.
Horse: Gives the player an opportunity to advance on the horse racing track for additional points.
Palace: Allows the player to place one of their servants in the palace for end-game scoring.

4. Draw New Card:

Lastly, the player draws a new card from the deck, ensuring they always start their turn with a hand of 5 cards. Drawing a card with a high value can be advantageous for future gift exchanges.

This cycle continues until all players have played all of their cards, which marks the end of the round. The game ends after four rounds, and the player with the most victory points becomes the winner.

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

Gùgōng is a strategy board game that ends after four rounds, representing four days. Each day is made up of different actions that players can take. The game concludes when these four rounds are completed.

At the end of the fourth round, final scoring takes place. Before final scoring, there are several actions players must take:

Return all workers from the travel area: Any workers that have been sent on travels must be returned to their respective player’s supplies.
Resolve any remaining cards: If any players have cards with end-of-game effects, these are resolved in turn order.

In Gùgōng, victory is determined by the total number of victory points a player has at the end of the game. Victory points can be earned in several ways:

Contributing to the Great Wall: Players receive points equal to the number of their cubes on the Great Wall.
Traveling: Points are awarded for each destination reached on the travel track.
Intrigue: Players get points equal to their position on the Intrigue track.
Jade: Players gain points for each Jade they have collected.
Decrees: Decrees give players bonus points, depending on the conditions of the decree.
Gift cards: Some gift cards have points that are scored at the end of the game.

The player with the most victory points at the end of the game wins. In the event of a tie, the player with the most leftover resources (gift cards, servants, and jade) is the winner. If there is still a tie, the player who is earlier in turn order wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game ‘Gùgōng’, scoring plays a key role in determining the winner. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the scoring system:

1. Travel Scoring: Players earn points for their Envoy’s progress on the travel track. The points are awarded as per the location of the Envoy on the travel track at the end of the game.

Location 1: 1 point
Location 2: 3 points
Location 3: 6 points
Location 4: 10 points
Location 5: 15 points
Location 6: 21 points
Location 7: 28 points

2. Palace Scoring: Players receive points for each of their Servants in the palace. The points are awarded based on the number of Servants a player has.

1 Servant: 3 points
2 Servants: 7 points
3 Servants: 12 points
4 Servants: 18 points
5 Servants: 25 points

3. Great Wall Scoring: Players earn points for their contribution to the Great Wall’s construction. Each completed section of the wall gives 2 points to the player.

4. Decree Scoring: Players gain points for acquired Decree cards. The number of points is indicated on the individual Decree cards.

5. Jade Scoring: Players receive points for their collected Jade tokens. The points are awarded as follows:

1 Jade: 1 point
2 Jades: 3 points
3 Jades: 6 points
4 Jades: 10 points
5 Jades: 15 points
6 Jades: 21 points
7 Jades: 28 points

6. Bonus Scoring: Players can earn bonus points through Bonus cards if they meet the required conditions. The number of points is specified on the Bonus cards.

Tie-Breaking Rules: In the event of a tie, the player with the most leftover gifts (cards in hand) wins. If there is still a tie, then the player with the most Servants in the palace wins. If a tie persists, the player who is first in player order wins.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Gùgōng is a strategic board game that revolves around the concept of gift-giving in the Forbidden City during the Ming Dynasty. While the rules are generally straightforward, there are few exceptions and special rules that might require clarification:

Gift Exchange Rule:

In general, the player must exchange a gift card with a higher value card from the game board. But the exception is the ‘0’ value card. This card is considered the highest value and can only be exchanged with another ‘0’ value card on the game board.

Travel Actions:

According to the rules, the player can move his envoy only 1 or 2 spaces forward. However, if a player has a ‘Horse’ bonus, the envoy can move up to 3 spaces.

Grand Canal:

There is a special rule regarding the Grand Canal. At the beginning of the day, if any player’s ship is on a space with a jade symbol, the player may take one jade. But if you move your ship directly to the palace, you cannot take Jade.

Destiny Dice:

The destiny dice are rolled at the start of each day. The rolled numbers determine the locations on the board where the ‘0’ value gift cards are placed. However, if a ‘6’ is rolled, the players can choose any location for placing the ‘0’ value gift card.

Intrigue:

In the Intrigue phase, players can decide to reduce their Intrigue Points. However, players cannot reduce their points below zero.

End of Game:

At game end, players convert their resources to victory points. However, any leftover resources that cannot be converted into points due to the conversion rate are lost and do not contribute to the player’s final score.

Understanding these special rules and exceptions can greatly enhance the gameplay experience and strategic planning in Gùgōng.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Gùgōng Advanced Strategies:

In Gùgōng, planning your moves ahead is key to success. Here are some advanced strategies:

Master the Travel Track: Traveling helps you gain a lot of Victory Points. Aim to reach the end of the track to score maximum points.
Utilize the Intrigue Track: Being ahead on the Intrigue Track can grant you extra actions, which can make the difference in tight games.
Invest in Jade: Jade tokens can be a significant source of points, so don’t underestimate their value. Collect and invest in Jade whenever you can.

Gùgōng Beginner Tips:

If you’re new to Gùgōng, these tips can help you understand the game better:

Understand the Card Exchange Mechanic: The core mechanic of Gùgōng is exchanging cards with the board. You must trade a card from your hand with a higher value than the one on the board to take an action.
Plan Your Actions: Try to plan out your actions for the round. Remember, you only have a limited number of actions per day, so make them count.
Don’t Neglect Any Aspect: All the aspects of the game – traveling, intrigue, jade – are important. Try to have a balanced strategy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Gùgōng:

Here are some common pitfalls that players often fall into while playing Gùgōng:

Ignoring the Destiny Dice: The Destiny Dice can grant you extra actions, so don’t ignore them. Use them wisely to get an advantage.
Not Planning for the End Game: Remember, the game only lasts four days (rounds). Plan your strategy with the end game in mind.
Overlooking the Intrigue Track: The Intrigue track can be a game-changer. Don’t overlook it, especially in the later stages of the game.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay in Gùgōng:

To optimize your gameplay experience in Gùgōng, consider these suggestions:

Take Advantage of the Card Powers: Each card has a unique power. Use these powers to your advantage and plan your strategy around them.
Manage Your Hand: Managing your hand is crucial in Gùgōng. Always try to have a mix of high and low value cards.
Adapt Your Strategy: Don’t stick to one strategy. The game is dynamic, and so should be your strategy. Adapt based on the circumstances.