In the Year of the Dragon

2007

Test your strategic skills in Stefan Feld's 'In the Year of the Dragon' game. As a Chinese ruler, manage resources, recruit personnel, and survive a tumultuous year.

100
minutes

2 - 5
player(s)

12+

Medium Heavy

About the game

In the Year of the Dragon is a captivating board game that transports players back in time to ancient China. This strategic game, filled with intrigue and competition, was designed by Stefan Feld and has become a favorite among board game enthusiasts around the world.

The game is set in the year of the dragon, a time of prosperity and cultural growth in China. Each player takes on the role of a Chinese prince, aiming to maximize progress and prosperity in their provinces. Players will need to manage resources wisely, navigate through a series of challenges, and balance between immediate needs and long-term goals.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The board game ‘In the Year of the Dragon’ comes with a variety of components, each with their own unique role in the gameplay. Here’s a detailed list:

1. Game Board

The game board serves as the core playing field. It’s divided into several sections that provide players with various actions to take.

2. Person Cards

There are 60 person cards in the game. Each player starts with a certain number of these, representing different characters with unique abilities. These cards are used to take actions and gain advantages during the gameplay.

3. Action Cards

There are 12 action cards, each representing a different action that a player can take on their turn. These actions can be used to recruit new persons, build palaces, harvest resources, and more.

4. Palaces

There are 64 palaces in the game, which are pieces that players can build on their provinces. These palaces provide a place for the players’ persons to live and can provide certain benefits depending on the persons that live there.

5. Privilege Cards

These are 35 cards that offer certain privileges or benefits to the player. They can be acquired through certain actions, and can provide a significant advantage when used correctly.

6. Dragon Cards

Dragon cards are used to determine the order of play. The player with the highest numbered dragon card goes first, and so on.

7. Event Cards

Event cards represent different events that can occur during the game. These events can have a big impact on the gameplay, forcing players to adapt their strategies.

8. Yuan

Yuan are the currency in the game. Players can earn Yuan by taking certain actions, and can spend it on various things such as building palaces or acquiring privilege cards.

9. Province Tiles

These are 12 tiles representing different provinces. Each player starts with a certain number of province tiles, which they can expand by building palaces.

10. Buddha Tokens

Buddha tokens are used to protect players from certain negative events. They can be acquired through certain actions and are a valuable resource during the game.

11. Fireworks

These are tokens that represent the player’s celebration levels. The player with the most celebration levels at the end of the game wins.

12. Person Tiles

There are 60 person tiles in the game, each representing a different character. These tiles are used in conjunction with the person cards to take actions during the game.

Each of these components interacts with the game in different ways, and understanding how they work together is key to mastering ‘In the Year of the Dragon’.

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

In the Year of the Dragon is a strategic board game where players take on the roles of Chinese rulers around the year 1000. The game involves managing resources and surviving events that occur each month. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set it up:

Step 1: Place the Game Board

Place the game board in the middle of the table. This is where you will track the months (rounds), place the person cards, and keep the event tiles.

Step 2: Prepare the Person Cards

Separate the person cards into 10 stacks, one for each profession. Shuffle each stack and place them onto the 10 spaces on the game board.

Step 3: Prepare the Event Tiles

Shuffle the 12 event tiles and place them face down in a stack. Reveal the top 2 tiles and place them on the corresponding spaces on the game board.

Step 4: Prepare the Action Cards

Shuffle the 5 action cards and place them face up next to the game board. These cards dictate the actions that a player can take during their turn.

Step 5: Player Setup

Give each player a province board, 9 palaces, 2 Privilege markers, and 1 dragon in their color. Players should place their dragon on the scoring track on the game board and their Privilege markers on the lowest spaces of the Privilege tracks. The palaces and province board are kept in front of them.

Step 6: Initial Resources

Each player starts with 2 yuan (money), 1 rice, and 1 firework. These resources are kept on their province board.

Step 7: Initial Person Cards

Each player draws 2 person cards of their choice from the stacks on the game board. They place these cards on empty spaces in their palaces.

Step 8: Determine Starting Player

Determine the starting player by any method you prefer (e.g., youngest player, roll of a die). This player receives the starting player marker.

Step 9: Prepare the Round Tiles

Shuffle the 12 round tiles and place them in a stack next to the game board. These tiles will dictate the order of play for each round.

With these steps completed, you are now ready to start playing In the Year of the Dragon. Good luck!

Game flow Round and round we go

‘In the Year of the Dragon’ is a strategic board game where players take on the roles of Chinese rulers around 1000 A.D, trying to best manage and prepare for various events while keeping their populace alive and content. The game is played over twelve rounds, each representing one month in a year. The game has a set structure of phases for each round as follows:

Phase 1: The Event

At the beginning of each round, an event takes place. These events are pre-determined and visible to all players from the beginning of the game, allowing for strategic planning. The events can be positive or negative, including things like famine, invasion, tribute, festival, etc. The effects of these events are resolved immediately.

Phase 2: Person Actions

After the event, players in turn order select one of the available person actions. These actions allow players to take different characters into their palace, each with their own abilities and benefits such as farmers, scholars, builders, etc. The character you choose determines the action you will take in the next phase. It’s important to note that once a player chooses a person action, it becomes unavailable for the rest of the players until the next round.

Phase 3: Actions

After all players have selected their person actions, they then perform their chosen actions in turn order. Actions can include things like collecting rice, collecting fireworks, building the Great Wall, etc. The action a player can perform is dependent on the character they chose in the previous phase.

Phase 4: Person Cards

Once all actions have been performed, players then draw a person card, adding a new character to their palace. The characters drawn in this phase do not provide an immediate action, but will provide benefits for future rounds.

Phase 5: Scoring

At the end of each round, players score points based on their current state. Points can be scored from a variety of sources, such as having the most scholars, the most robust Great Wall, etc. The specific scoring conditions are dependent on the game state and can be influenced by the actions taken by players throughout the round.

After the twelve rounds are completed, the game ends. The player with the highest total score is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

The board game ‘In the Year of the Dragon’ is a strategic resource management game that requires players to take various actions during their turn. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what happens during a player’s turn:

Choosing an Action Card

At the beginning of each round, each player chooses an action card from their hand. This card determines which action they will perform during their turn. The actions include:

Person: This allows a player to add a new person to their palace.
Building: This allows a player to add a new building to their palace.
Money: This allows a player to collect money, which is necessary for purchasing resources.
Privilege: This allows a player to increase their privilege level, which can result in bonus points at the end of the game.
Event: This allows a player to prepare for an upcoming event, which can be beneficial or harmful.

Performing an Action

After choosing an action card, the player performs the associated action. The actions can be performed in any order, but each action can only be performed once per turn.

Managing Resources

Throughout the game, players need to manage their resources effectively. This involves balancing the need to expand their palace with the need to maintain their current resources. For example, adding a new person to the palace requires resources, but it also increases the player’s income. Similarly, building a new building requires resources, but it also provides the player with additional capabilities.

Preparing for Events

At the end of each round, an event occurs. These events can be beneficial or harmful, depending on the player’s actions and preparations. For example, a player who has chosen the ‘Event’ action card and prepared for the event can benefit from it, while a player who has not prepared may suffer consequences.

Scoring Points

At the end of the game, players score points based on the size of their palace, the number of people in their palace, their privilege level, and any bonus points they have earned. The player with the most points wins the game.

Overall, ‘In the Year of the Dragon’ is a game of strategic resource management, where players need to plan ahead, make smart decisions, and adapt to changing circumstances in order to succeed.

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

In the Year of the Dragon is a strategic board game where players take on the roles of Chinese rulers around the year 1000. The game ends after the twelfth round, when the final month of the Chinese calendar is completed. The player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.

Victory Conditions:

Victory points are calculated at the end of the game, and the player with the most points wins. Players can earn points throughout the game in the following ways:

Palaces: At the end of the game, players earn points for the number of floors in their palaces. Each floor is worth 2 points.
Persons: Players also earn points for the number of persons they have in their palaces. Each person is worth 1 point.
Fireworks: If a player has the fireworks privilege, they earn 2 points.
Events: Points are also earned during the game through events. Each event can earn a player up to 9 points.

Final Actions:

Before final scoring, players must carry out the following actions:

Complete the twelfth round: Players must finish the twelfth and final round of the game. This includes resolving the final event and taking all actions for the month.
Calculate person scores: Each player must add up the number of persons in their palaces and add the resulting score to their total points.
Calculate palace scores: Each player must count the number of floors in their palaces and multiply this by 2. This score is then added to their total points.
Calculate privilege scores: Players who have the fireworks privilege add 2 points to their total score.

Once all scores have been calculated and added to players’ total points, the player with the most points is declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the player with the most money wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game ‘In the Year of the Dragon’, scoring is an integral part of the gameplay. Points are awarded in a variety of ways, and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how scoring works:

General Scoring

The general scoring in the game is based on several factors:

Palace Floors: At the end of the game, each player receives 1 point for each floor of their palace.
Privileges: Players also receive points for each privilege they have. The first privilege gives 1 point, the second gives 2 points, and so on until the 9th privilege, which gives 9 points.
Person Cards: Players can also earn points from Person Cards. Scholars give 2 points, while other people give points based on their roles.

Event Scoring

There are also event cards that can affect scoring:

Festival: During a festival, the player with the most fireworks gets 9 points, the second most gets 6, and the third most gets 4. Remaining players do not receive points.
Jade Emperor: In the Jade Emperor event, players who have not paid tribute lose 9 points. Players who have paid tribute do not lose points.

Tie-Breaking Rules

If there’s a tie at the end of the game, the player with the most leftover money wins. If there’s still a tie, the player who is first in the turn order wins.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

In the Year of the Dragon is a strategic board game with various rules and guidelines. Despite its intricate nature, there are several special rules and exceptions to bear in mind while playing:

Event Tiles: The event tiles are one of the most unique features of this game. Each month, an event tile is revealed that sets the stage for the round. The event tile’s effects are not immediate but occur at the end of the round. This gives players a chance to strategize and make necessary preparations.

Palace Rules: In the palace, the rule is ‘first in, last out.’ This means that the person who placed their person first will be the last one to remove them if the palace becomes overcrowded. It’s a unique rule which can impact strategic decisions.

Privilege Rules: Privileges are a major game element that can significantly influence the course of the game. A special rule about privileges is that you can only buy the next privilege in line, and cannot skip ahead. This means you must plan your strategy carefully and ahead of time.

Dragon Action: The Dragon action allows you to move up on the scoring track. However, it is not allowed to take the Dragon action if you are already in the lead on the scoring track. This rule is designed to prevent a player from gaining an excessively big lead.

Famine and War Exceptions: During famine and war events, players usually lose people. However, there is an exception if you have a person of the corresponding type (farmer for famine, warrior for war) – that person will protect against the event, and no people are lost.

End Game Points: At the end of the game, points are awarded for remaining people and buildings. It’s important to note that the Emperor’s favor does not grant points at the end of the game.

These special rules and exceptions add a layer of depth and strategy to the gameplay of In the Year of the Dragon. Understanding these can greatly enhance your gaming experience.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

In the Year of the Dragon is a strategic board game that requires careful planning and resource management. Here are some tips, strategies, and mistakes to avoid that can help optimize your gameplay and increase your chances of winning.

Advanced Strategies:

Try to ensure that you have a balanced court. This will allow you to respond to a variety of situations and not be caught off guard by any particular event.
Planning ahead is crucial. Pay attention to the event track and try to prepare for upcoming events as best as you can.
Make use of the privilege action. It may seem costly, but the long-term benefits can often outweigh the initial cost.
Don’t forget about the end game scoring. Plan your strategy around the end game bonuses and try to maximize your points in these areas.

Beginner Tips:

Focus on building your court early in the game. This will give you more options in later rounds.
Don’t underestimate the power of the palace. It can offer a lot of protection and can help you accumulate points.
Try to avoid running out of money. It can be difficult to recover if you run out of money in the middle of the game.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Don’t overlook the event track. It’s easy to get caught up in your own plans and forget to prepare for upcoming events.
Avoid focusing too much on one strategy. It’s important to be flexible and able to adapt to changing circumstances.
Don’t neglect your court. A balanced court is key to success in this game.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Try to keep an eye on what your opponents are doing. This can give you valuable information about what events might be coming up and what resources might be in short supply.
Make use of the optional rules for a more challenging and strategic game.
Take the time to plan out your actions each round. A well-thought-out plan can be the difference between victory and defeat.