Contents
- 1 Welcome to the Rules of At the Gates of Loyang!
- 1.1 Goal of the Game
- 1.2 Game Setup
- 1.3 Gameplay
- 1.4 Scoring
- 1.5 Conclusion
- 1.6 What’s Inside the Box
- 1.7 Game Setup
- 1.8 Okay, now let’s get this game going!
- 1.9 Phase 3: Time to Make a Move
- 1.10 The Different Actions I Can Take
- 1.11 End Of The Action Phase
- 1.12 Loans
- 1.13 The Game Is Over
Welcome to the Rules of At the Gates of Loyang!
Are you ready to embark on a journey to the world of farming? In this game, I will guide you through the rules and help you understand how to play At the Gates of Loyang. So, let’s get started!
Goal of the Game
The goal of At the Gates of Loyang is to become the most successful farmer by growing and selling crops. You will need to manage your resources wisely, make strategic decisions, and fulfill customer orders to earn victory points.
Game Setup
Before we begin, let’s set up the game. Each player starts with their own player board, which represents their farm. You will also receive a set of action cards, a small market board, and a starting hand of vegetable cards.
Place the market board in the center of the table and shuffle the deck of customer cards. Then, place four customer cards face-up on the market board. These customers will be looking for specific vegetables that you can grow and sell.
Now, let’s take a look at the game board. The game board consists of fields, fields with barns, fields with market stalls, and fields with special abilities. Each player will start with one basic field with a barn. Throughout the game, you can expand your farm and build additional fields to grow more crops.
Gameplay
At the beginning of each round, you will take turns performing actions. On your turn, you can choose one of four actions: sow, expand, harvest, or trade. Let’s explore each action in more detail:
Sow:
When you sow, you can plant vegetable cards from your hand into your fields. Each field has a specific number of slots where you can sow vegetables. Think strategically and choose the vegetables that will fetch you the most profit when harvested and sold.
Expand:
If you choose to expand, you can build additional fields on your farm. This will allow you to sow more vegetables and increase your potential earnings. However, be mindful of the costs and plan your expansions wisely.
Harvest:
When you harvest, you can pick your ripe vegetables from the fields and sell them to customers. Refer to the customer cards on the market board to see which vegetables they are looking for. Fulfilling their orders will earn you victory points.
Trade:
If you need a specific vegetable that you don’t have in your fields, you can trade with other players or the general supply. This way, you can acquire the vegetables you need to fulfill customer orders and maximize your profits.
Scoring
The game is played over several rounds, and at the end of each round, you will score victory points based on your performance. The number of victory points you earn will depend on various factors such as the number of customers you have satisfied, the number of vegetables you have sold, and the size of your farm.
The player with the most victory points at the end of the game is declared the winner and the ultimate farming champion!
Conclusion
Now that you know the rules, it’s time to start planting, harvesting, and selling! Remember to manage your resources wisely, make strategic decisions, and fulfill customer orders to become the most successful farmer in At the Gates of Loyang. Good luck!
China, 2000 years ago: Loyang became the Capital of the Han Dynasty and one of the four great Capitals of old China.
The city’s economy was booming and needed a better supply of basic food. Local farmers stepped up to the plate, planting a variety of crops like wheat, pumpkins, turnips, cabbages, beans, and leeks in their fields.
After each harvest, the farmers would gather at the gates of Loyang to sell and trade their vegetables. They had regular customers who depended on them, but they could also make good money by selling their produce to passing shoppers. The market stalls were another option for trading vegetables, and they could also keep some for seed and plant them in their fields.
If the farmers needed vegetables that they didn’t have, they would buy them at the Shop. The Shop had twenty different helpers with many different skills to assist them.
If you want to be a successful farmer, you need to navigate the Path of Prosperity. It’s a journey that requires balancing your finances wisely. Each step along the path costs more money, and you’ll also need funds for investments. It’s all about finding the right equilibrium.
The coins used for this journey are unique. They have square holes, making it easy to string them together. These coins have an interesting history and are known as “Cash” in Chinese.
What’s Inside the Box
When you open the box, you’ll find several components that make up the game:
- 1 Rule booklet
- 4 T-shaped game boards (featuring the Path of Prosperity and Shop)
- 12 Satisfaction markers, in both blue and red
- 24 small 1-Cash coins
- 14 large 5-Cash coins
- 237 wooden tokens
- 4 “Storehouse / Cart” cards
- 4 “Turn Summary” cards
- 6 “Loan” cards
- 36 Private fields
- 70 action cards
If you’re playing the game for the first time, we’ve got you covered with an “Introductory version.” In this version, we’ve made two small changes to the game rules. You’ll find these changes highlighted in red boxes in the rule booklet. These adjustments are designed to make it easier for you to get started with the game, without significantly altering the overall gameplay experience.
Footnote: The word “Cash” has its origins in the Sanskrit word “karsha” (referring to a small coin with specific weight) and the Tamil word “kasu” (indicating a small piece of money). For nearly 3,000 years, cash coins were the primary form of currency, only being replaced by the Yuan in the late 19th century.
Specific rules for different numbers of players:
These game rules are applicable to any number of players, with a few exceptions:
- When playing with 2 players, there are some differences in the Card phase.
- When playing with 4 players, two players will take their actions simultaneously.
Game Setup
To start the game, separate the money, vegetables, Satisfaction markers, and Loan cards, and set them on the table as the Supply.
So, here’s the deal – we need to make sure we have enough of everything to play the game. But hey, sometimes we might run out of some stuff, and if that happens, we gotta get a little creative and make some extra tokens.
Here’s How It Goes Down in the Beginner’s Version:
We shuffle the 4 Regular customers with the blue dot, you know, the ones that go in the Satisfaction marker slot. Each player gets one, and we keep it face-down.
We all get a good look at our cards and keep them in our hands until we’re ready to play them during the Card phase. Oh, and if we’re playing with only 2 or 3 players, any leftover Regular customers go back into the Action card deck.
Time to shuffle up those Action cards and stack ’em face-down.
Finally, each of us gets the following items, laid out just like in the picture:
- First, you’ll need a T-shaped game board.
- Make sure you have 10 Cash.
- Set up the Home field.
- Place the Scoring token at the bottom of the Path of Prosperity.
- Don’t forget the “Storehouse / Cart” card, with the side showing facing up.
- Keep the “Turn Summary” card close.
- To stock the Shop, you’ll need some Vegetables: 3 wheat, 2 pumpkins, 2 turnips, 2 cabbages, and 1 bean and 1 leek.
(Remember, the dark price tags in the Shop represent the cost of buying the vegetable, while the pale price tags indicate the price you can sell it for). - Prepare the Private fields. You’ll need 8 cards with green backs, divided into 2 sets of 4 cards each. Each card should have 3, 4, 5, and 6 spaces. Shuffle each set separately, then stack them face-down to the left of the Home field. This forms the Field pile.
So, here’s what you gotta do to play this game. First, you gotta choose a starting player. That person gets the bigger Starting player token – the smaller one stays put for now.
Once you got your starting player, it’s time to get planting. Starting with the starting player and going clockwise, each player gets to buy one vegetable from their shop and plant it in their Home field. Now, remember, the price for each vegetable is written on those dark price tags in the Shop.
When we say “plant,” we mean you gotta place the vegetable on a Field card. And guess what? All the other spaces on that field gotta be filled with the same vegetable. Oh, and don’t forget to grab the extra tokens from the Supply.
But hold up, there are a couple of rules you gotta follow:
- You can only buy and plant the vegetables that are shown on your Home field card. So, that means only wheat, pumpkins, or turnips are allowed.
- And here’s the tricky one – no more than 2 players can plant the same type of vegetable at the start of the game.
Okay, now let’s get this game going!
The game I’m going to tell you about has 9 Rounds. Each Round is divided into 3 Phases:
1. Harvest phase: In this phase, you and the other players each get a new field and collect vegetables from your fields.
2. Card phase: In this phase, you and the other players play 2 Action cards. After that, a new Starting player is chosen.
3. Action phase: In this phase, you and the other players can buy and sell vegetables. You also make progress on the Path of Prosperity.
During the Card phase, you receive new cards. These cards are important because you can use them in the Action phase to turn your harvested vegetables into money.
If you need some extra money, you can take out a loan anytime during the game.
To keep track of how many rounds are left, just count the vegetables on your Home field. This will show you how close you are to the end of the game.
Now let’s talk about Phase 1: Harvest Phase.
When it’s time to harvest, all of us players do it at the same time.
- I turn over the top field from my Field pile and put it to the right of my other fields. But in the last round, there’s no new field to find.
- Then, I gather exactly 1 vegetable from each of my fields. I put the vegetables I collect, along with any that were left in my Storehouse from before, on (or next to) my Cart. There’s no limit to how many veggies my Cart can hold, unlike the Storehouse.
Once I’ve pulled out the last vegetable from my Private field, it’s gone for good. However, when it comes to fully harvested Common fields from the Action card deck, they’re placed on the “Discard pile.” You can easily recognize these fields by the Cost symbol at the top left. But don’t worry, fields that haven’t been sown yet aren’t discarded.
Now, let’s move on to Phase 2: Card Phase.
At the beginning of the Card phase, and only then, we create a fresh Draw pile by shuffling the Discard pile into the remaining Draw pile. Each player is then dealt a hand of 4 Action cards.
After that, it’s time for the Distribution round. In this round, each player plays 2 Action cards face-up in their own playing area.
Just remember, once a card is played, it can’t be discarded until it’s been used. However, Helper cards are the exception to this rule. You can discard them at any time you like.
If you’ve never seen these rules before, you don’t need to worry about the Distribution round section. How players get their 2 Action cards isn’t crucial to understanding how the game works.
Distribution Round
When it’s time to distribute cards, each player has to play one card from their hand and one card from the common “Courtyard”.
Starting with the player who has the larger Starting player token, they place one card face up in the center of the table, thereby opening the “Courtyard”. Then, it’s everyone’s turn to take their chances. On your turn, you have two options to choose from; remember that you can never pass.
- You can place one card from your hand into the Courtyard.
- You can take one card from the Courtyard and one card from your hand. You must play both cards by putting them face-up in your own play area. If you have any cards left in your hand, you should place them face-up in the Courtyard. After this, you’re done with the Distribution round.
Note: Did you know that in this game, the last person to choose a card in a round has a special rule? They can’t put any cards into the Courtyard like the others. Instead, they have to immediately choose from the cards that are left.
Special rules for the beginner’s version
When it’s time to play the two cards, you have a choice. You can choose to play the Regular customer that you were given at the beginning of the game instead of a card from your hand. There’s no limit to how many rounds you can hold onto this Regular customer.
In addition to the Regular customer, you also get to choose a card from the Courtyard. You can’t play a card from your hand, though. Once you’ve made your choice, all the remaining cards in your hand have to go into the Courtyard.
Special Rules for 2 Players:
When I start my turn in the Distribution round, I have the option to flip over the top Action card from the Draw pile and put it in the Courtyard. This is a special rule that gives me more options when choosing my cards. It also allows the Starting player to make their selection right away, even before their opponent has taken a turn.
Remember:
- When a loyal customer visits, you immediately place a Satisfaction marker on the marked area of the card.
- When a Market stall is used, you fill it with the vegetables shown.
- If you play a “Field” Action card, you must pay 2 Cash right away. You can sell vegetables to your Shop, use Helpers, or take out a Loan to make the payment. Private fields are free, but there is a charge for Common fields.
Here are some important notes and special cases to remember:
- You must always play 1 card from the Courtyard and 1 card from your hand. You can’t play 2 cards from the same place.
If I have only one card left in my hand, I have to play it right away and pick one card from the Courtyard. But keep in mind that I can’t place my last card in the Courtyard, I have to play it from my hand. There’s no limit to how many cards I can put in each row of my play area. Once the Distribution round is over, the remaining cards in the Courtyard become the Discard pile. These cards will be shuffled into the Draw pile at the beginning of the next Card phase. Now, let’s talk about the end of the card phase. We need to choose a new starting player. The player who played two Action cards last during the Card phase will receive the big Starting player token and become the Starting player. The second-to-last player to play two cards will receive the smaller Starting player token and become the Second player.
Phase 3: Time to Make a Move
Hey there! Now it’s time for me to tell you all about what you can do in this exciting phase. Get ready, because things are about to get interesting!
You can take actions in any order during your turn. The Turn Summary card has all the details about what you can do. Feel free to take any action you like, except for Action H, “Buy a Two-pack”. But don’t worry, you can still do any other action as many times as you want during a round.
If you want, you can even take the same action more than once, and in between, you can take other actions too. How cool is that?
When it’s my turn to play, I need to put away my vegetables and move my Scoring marker. The person who starts the game goes first, followed by the second player. In a game with three players, the person without the Starting player token goes last.
Here are the special rules for a four-player game:
In each round, the Starting player picks one of the two non-Starting players to be their partner for the Action phase. The other non-Starting player is paired with the Second player.
The Starting player and the Second player take their Action phase at the same time. Once they’re done, their partners can take their turns.
Important: If I do something that affects “the other players,” it only affects my current partner. Look for the Chinese lantern symbol on cards that allow this kind of action.
The Different Actions I Can Take
Step 1: Planting Seeds
I’ll take one vegetable from my Cart and put it on an empty space. Then, I’ll fill up the rest of the space with vegetables of the same kind from the Supply.
The top border of each space shows what kind of vegetables can be planted there. If there are more spaces on a field, there are fewer options for what vegetables can be planted.
B. Buy Vegetables in the Store
I go to my own store and pick up one vegetable to put in my cart.
I can only buy vegetables that are available in my store. The prices for the vegetables are shown on the price tag next to them.
C. Sell Vegetables to the Store
I take one vegetable from my cart and sell it to my own store.
Each spot in the store is meant for a specific type of vegetable. I can only sell vegetables if I have enough free spots in my store.
The selling prices are shown in the store: I use the lighter-colored price tag. I earn 1 Cash when I sell Wheat, Pumpkins, Turnips, and Cabbages, and 2 Cash when I sell Beans and Leeks.
Note: You can do this action anytime you want in the game. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the Card phase or if you’re doing Action H (Buy a Two-pack). The purpose is to get some extra money to buy a new Field.
D. Trade Vegetables at a Market stall
You can trade 1 or 2 vegetables that you have in your cart for 1 vegetable from a market stall.
Have you ever noticed the number of bowls on a Market stall? That number actually represents the amount of vegetables that need to be traded in order to get the one that’s being offered.
Once the trade is made, those vegetables are returned to the Supply. Then, I take the vegetable from the Market stall and move it to my Cart. If a Market stall is empty after a trade, it goes straight to the Discard pile.
Here are some important things to keep in mind:
- Whenever a player decides to play or reveal a Market stall card (see Action H), it must be filled immediately with the vegetables shown on the card, even if another player caused it to be revealed.
- You have the option to trade a vegetable for another vegetable of the same type. For example, you can trade Wheat for more Wheat.
- Once you acquire a vegetable from a Market stall, you can immediately trade it for another one.
Once you’ve played a Market stall, you can’t get rid of it until it’s completely empty. Remember, it’s a commitment you have to honor. Now, let’s talk about Helpers. They’re there to assist you, but you can also choose to discard them if you don’t need their help. Most Helpers are used during the Action phase, but some can be used in other phases too. Just check the text on the cards to know when to play them. Once a Helper has done its job, it goes to the Discard pile. Helpers are the only cards you can discard without actually using them. They’re the exception to the rule. Keep that in mind. And here are a few special cases and notes you should remember.
- There are 20 different Helpers, and each Helper is featured on a separate card, except for the Trader, who appears on three cards.
- Some of the Helpers (identified by a purple lantern) affect “other players,” allowing you to influence their playing areas.
- If you remove the top card from another player’s Two-pack, the bottom card is automatically moved to its appropriate position. Neither player has the power to prevent the lower card from being revealed. Keep in mind that in a 4-player game, all Actions that refer to “another player” only apply to the active player’s partner during the Action phase.
- Some Helper cards present a choice between two Actions, identified by the word “or.” When using one of these Helpers, you can only choose one of the two options.
You’ll be happy to know that no other players can disturb the vegetables in your Home field, Cart, or Storehouse. They’re completely safe!
Delivering to Regular Customers
You can deliver vegetables to your Regular customers in any order you like.
Every Regular customer card has eight empty spaces. For four rounds, you will deliver the two vegetables shown on the card. The Regular customers want to receive each of these two vegetables once in each round, starting from the round when the card was played.
Whenever you play a Regular customer, place a Satisfaction marker with the blue side facing up on the marker space at the top right of the card. However, if you can’t or don’t want to deliver to a Regular customer in a particular round, simply turn the Satisfaction marker to the red side.
If I don’t deliver to a Regular customer when the red side is up, I have to pay a penalty of 2 Cash to the Supply. If I miss another Delivery, I have to pay a 2 Cash penalty. But for my last Delivery, I’ll get paid 7 Cash.
Here are some notes and special cases to keep in mind:
- I need to fill the Regular customer card from the bottom to the top. The arrows between the prices are there to remind me.
- When I make a delivery to a Regular customer, I get paid immediately.
- I can’t partially fill a row when supplying vegetables. I have to provide the whole row.
- A Regular customer’s first delivery is due in the Round it is played.
- If another player reveals a Regular customer during their move (see Action H), I only have to make a delivery that round if I haven’t taken my turn yet.
- To raise the 2 Cash penalty, I can sell vegetables from my Cart to the empty spaces in my Shop, place Helpers, or take out a Loan.
- As soon as the fourth (top) line of a Regular customer is filled, I must empty and discard the card.
- Once I play a Regular customer card, I can’t discard it until the Regular customer receives 4 Deliveries.
Detailed Example
Let me tell you a story about Nina, a regular customer who loves buying turnips and cabbages from me. She pays with cold hard cash, usually either 5, 6, or 7 Z8 Cash. Whenever Nina comes by, I know I have to deliver: 1 turnip and 1 cabbage. In return, she gives me the agreed amount of cash and I feel satisfied.
But the story doesn’t end there. The next time, Nina doesn’t buy anything from me. She doesn’t need any vegetables, and I can feel our satisfaction level dropping. I turn the satisfaction marker on her card to the red side, signifying that things are not going so well between us.
However, the following time, Nina buys from me again. This time, she gives me 6 Cash, but our satisfaction level remains at red. Only the “Saleswoman” Helper can turn it back to blue. I’ll have to try my best to please Nina in the future.
Then, disaster strikes! I miss another delivery to Nina and now I have to pay a penalty of 2 Cash. I can’t let this happen again. I have to be more careful and make sure I don’t miss any more deliveries.
Fortunately, in the next two rounds, Nina buys from me again. First, she gives me 7 Cash, and then 8 Cash. At least our sales relationship is back on track. But after that, I have to part ways with Nina. I discard her card, along with the 8 vegetables and the satisfaction marker. Until I get rid of her card, I have to keep either making deliveries or paying penalties.
G. Deliver to a Regular Customer
You can deliver the vegetables to your regular customers in any sequence you prefer.
First, you need to gather the three specific vegetables mentioned on the order. Once you have them, return the vegetables from your cart back to the supply. In exchange, you will receive the agreed-upon payment for the vegetables.
If I have an equal number of Regular and Casual customers, I will pay the listed price. It’s fair and straightforward, rewarding me for maintaining a balance between my obligations.
However, if I have more Casual customers than Regular customers, I will face a penalty. The penalty comes in the form of a 2 Cash reduction in the price. This discourages me from neglecting my responsibility to Regular customers and prioritizing the easier Casual ones.
On the other hand, if I have fewer Casual customers than Regular customers, I will receive a bonus. The bonus is a 2 Cash reward, recognizing my effort in serving a Casual customer despite having commitments to Regular customers.
It’s important to note that the order in which I serve my customers can affect these modifiers. So, I should carefully consider my strategy and prioritize my customers accordingly.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that all three vegetables must be supplied in a single Action phase. They cannot be stored on the Casual customer between turns. This rule ensures fairness and prevents exploiting the system.
Overall, understanding these rules and taking them into account will help me navigate the game and make the best decisions. It’s a double-edged sword, but with the right approach, I can thrive and elevate my gameplay. Just remember, always honor your commitments and serve your customers with care. Your success depends on it.
When it comes to serving customers, there are two main types: Casual and Regular. It’s important to understand the differences between them and how to handle each one effectively.
Regular customers are the ones you need to prioritize. They have specific orders and need to be served in a timely manner. If you neglect a Regular customer, there will be consequences. You can only serve one Regular customer at a time, so be sure to complete their order before moving on to the next one.
Casual customers, on the other hand, are served in a more relaxed manner. They don’t have specific orders, so you can serve them in any order you like. Plus, there are no penalties if you don’t serve a Casual customer. However, once you play a Casual customer card, you can’t discard it without serving them first.
Now let’s talk about buying a “Two-pack” of Action cards. Every player has the opportunity to do this once during each Action phase. It’s an opportunity to add more cards to your collection and broaden your options for future moves.
Remember, serving customers is a double-edged sword. You need to be efficient and attentive to Regular customers, while still finding time to serve Casual customers at your own pace. By understanding these differences and making strategic choices, you’ll become a better player in no time.
A Two-pack is a special set of two Action cards that you can get from the Draw pile. The cost of a Two-pack is determined by the number of Helpers or Market stalls you have in your “played” area – whichever number is higher.
If an Action card is covered by another card, it doesn’t count towards the cost of the Two-pack.
Once you’ve paid the cost, you draw 2 Action cards from the pile and show them to everyone at the table. You have the option to keep both cards, just one card, or none at all. Any cards you don’t keep are discarded.
Note: If you decide to keep both cards, you must stack them on top of each other. The top card should have the top line of the card beneath it visible. You get to choose which card is on top and which one is underneath.
When you play Action cards in the game, they always cost 2 Cash. You need to pay this immediately, even if you place the field card beneath another card. This cost is in addition to the cost of the Two-pack card.
Things to Remember:
- If you don’t have any Market stalls or Helpers, you can take a Two-pack card for free.
- Even if you choose not to keep either card from a Two-pack, you cannot buy another Two-pack in the same Round.
- To pay for a field card that is part of a Two-pack, you can sell goods in your Shop, use a Helper, or take out a Loan.
How Two-pack Cards Affect the Game
In the world of card games, there’s a rule that says when you put the top card of a Two-pack on the Discard pile, you have to move the card underneath it right away. This means you have to do two things at the same time: fill any empty slots in the Market with veggies and add a Satisfaction marker to any regular customers.
Let me give you an example to make it clearer. Let’s say Claudia just bought a Two-pack. Inside the pack, there’s a regular customer card and a Market stall card. Claudia decides to keep both cards. She puts the regular customer card underneath the Market stall card.
Moving on, let’s say a few rounds later Claudia uses her Market stall for the third time and decides to discard it. As soon as she does that, the regular customer card immediately gets placed with her other regular customers, and she puts a blue Satisfaction marker on it.
But here’s the catch – Claudia has to serve that regular customer during the same round. If she can’t do it, she’s got to turn the Satisfaction marker to the red side.
End Of The Action Phase
Storing Vegetables: Keep Your Harvest Fresh
Hey there! Are you wondering what to do with all those extra vegetables after a fun day in the garden? Well, I’ve got some great tips for you on how to store them properly, so you can enjoy their freshness for longer.
So, here’s the deal: when you finish harvesting your vegetables, you need to make sure you store them correctly. This will help prevent them from going bad and keep their flavors and nutrients intact. Let me show you how!
First things first: after each turn, take any leftover vegetables from your Cart and transfer them to your Storehouse. You see, the Storehouse is like a cozy shelter for your veggies, protecting them from the elements and ensuring they stay fresh for longer.
Now, let’s talk about the best way to store different types of vegetables.
Leafy greens, like spinach or lettuce, are quite delicate. To keep them crisp, you need to provide them with a little moisture. One trick is to wrap them in a damp paper towel and store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. This will help maintain their freshness and prevent them from wilting.
Root vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes, prefer a cool and dry environment. You can store them in a dark, cool place like a cellar or pantry. Just make sure they are not exposed to sunlight or moisture, as this can cause them to spoil.
Now, for veggies like tomatoes and peppers, it’s best to leave them out on your countertop. They like to be at room temperature and can lose flavor if refrigerated. So, just find a nice spot for them in your kitchen and enjoy their vibrant colors and tastes.
Lastly, onions and garlic are great companions but need their own space. You can store them in a cool and dry place, like a mesh bag or a basket. Avoid storing them next to potatoes, though, as they can cause each other to spoil faster.
Remember, each vegetable is unique, and the way you store them can make a big difference. By following these tips, you’ll be able to enjoy your harvest for longer, savoring the flavors and nourishment nature has provided. So go ahead, store those veggies like a pro!
When it comes to vegetables, I can only keep as many as my Storehouse can hold. If I have any extra veggies, I have to sell them or throw them away.
If I have a Storehouse with space for only 1 vegetable, I can upgrade it for 2 Cash. Once upgraded, it can hold up to 4 vegetables until the game ends. Just flip the card over to show the “upgraded” side.
Scoring Marker Movement
To progress along the Path of Prosperity, I need to pay cash. In each round, it costs 1 Cash to take the first step. If I want to move further along the Path, I have to pay the value shown on the space I want to move to.
For example, let’s say I am on Space 15. I can move to Space 16 by paying 1 Cash. If I want to move two more spaces to Space 18, I would need to pay an additional 35 Cash (17 + 18 = 35).
Loans
Hey there! Did you know that you can take out Loans in the game? It’s pretty cool! When you take out a Loan, you get 5 Cash and 1 Loan card.
Now, here’s something to keep in mind. At the end of the game, your Scoring markers will move back 1 space along the Path of Prosperity for each Loan you took out. And here’s the catch – you can never repay these Loans. Once you take them, they’re with you until the end!
But wait, there’s more!
You can take as many Loans as you want. If there aren’t enough “Loan” cards available, you’ll have to get creative. Just a tip for first-time players: be careful with Loans. Most players usually only take one Loan, so don’t go overboard.
The Game Is Over
First of all, let me explain how the Game works. It’s divided into 9 Rounds, and it comes to an end after the Round where players finish harvesting their Home field.
If you’ve taken any Loans, here’s a heads up. You need to move your Scoring marker back 1 space on the Path of Prosperity for each Loan card you have.
Now, onto the winner. It’s the player whose Scoring marker has made the most progress along the Path of Prosperity. Simple as that.
But what happens if there’s a tie? Don’t worry, we’ve got a Tiebreaker in place. If multiple players are in the same position, the winner is the one with the most Cash left in their pocket.
But wait, there’s more! If the tied players also have the same amount of Cash, we go to the Second Tiebreaker. This time, the number of vegetables remaining in the players’ fields and Storehouses determines the winner. Whoever has the most vegetables takes the cake.
But what if the Second Tiebreaker still leaves us with a tie? Well, in that case, the tied players are considered equal and share the win. Fair and square.
Now, let’s go over some Notes and Special Cases:
Even if I have enough Cash to move forward on the Path of Prosperity, I can’t do it if someone else gives me Cash using a Trader, for example. The game doesn’t penalize me for having both Regular and Casual customers at the end. The number of vegetables in the Shop doesn’t matter either.
Here are some tips: it can be tricky to keep track of which Regular customers have received deliveries during the current Action phase. To make it easier, at the start of the phase, I should move the Satisfaction markers to the row on the card where the delivery is supposed to go. Once a Regular customer gets their delivery or the penalty is paid, I should move the Satisfaction marker back to the top right-hand side of the card.
When I see the Satisfaction marker, it tells me that I still haven’t received my delivery as a Regular customer.
To make the game move faster, I suggest that the player who is currently in action tells everyone how much money they should get, and then another player gives them that amount.
Here’s a simple trick to remember the +2/-2 modifier for Casual customers: just flip over an unused Loan card and use the backside.
To do this, turn the card over and position it in a way that the correct modifier is visible on the right side. Then, place the card sideways under a Casual customer. If the number of Regular and Casual customers changes, make sure to return or rotate the card accordingly.