I wanted to mention that this game also has some of the most successful theming I've ever encountered, in that (having seen pictures of our first couple of plays) all my Chinese friends seem to be looking for copies and discussing the history behind the story of the game-despite the fact that it's almost perfectly abstract. The art, of course, is itself really great-it takes me back to visits to famous gardens in China. This is the rare case where I'm genuinely proud to be a backer-I thought it was going to be something special from well before the KS campaign, and it's almost everything I'd hoped for. Though I agree with one other commenter that it's a pity the consolidated player aid did not make it into the official release, and remained as print-your-own.
3 Mechanisms highlighted: 1. When you gain characters, you must place a character so that only one ongoing ability is in play for each player 2. When a character is placed on the board you orient the character, it gives you end-game points based on what the character "sees." 3. The two main actions have a push-pull mechanism. The two actions are draw a decoration card or place a landscape tile. The number of decoration cards drawn is related to number of face down tiles (2+number of face down tiles). Tiles are refreshed to be face-up when there is only 1 face up tile left or a decoration card is drawn very small things you forgot to mention: - (2) placement of characters limited to certain spots - (2) there are secondary endgame points for each decoration in a direct line - (2) there are some interesting scoring mechanisms other than panoramic set collection (e.g. Empress)] - (3) less than 1 face up landscape tile resets the landscapes, not just 1 (can happen with lantern powers) - (3) gaining a card is accompanied by placing a decoration (can be an issue if there is a card you want but no place on the board to place it giving a push-pull there also). Two other interesting mechanisms worth mentioning: - Endgame timer is set to placing the panorama tiles or exhausting one of the stacks. So that is public information that can be delayed but not prevented; can be accelerated but at a cost. - Because placing a tile on the map can also advance you on the character board (which can give points or unlock another character placement), and placing a tile can dictate future points through various mechanisms (some characters get points based on landscapes, not panorama icons; some spots give you wooden tokens to place panoramic tiles; tiles on the board have icons to determine decoration placement). This is interesting because the two actions creates a push-pull between the bulk of the points (decoration cards) and endgame points and "map control." This prevents a single strategy from dominating the game (esp. important in two player games).
Oops! This brought to my attention I had missed a rule both times I've played.. We didn't refresh the garden tiles after somebody took a decoration turn. That must make a pretty big difference. Glad I watched this!
I love that in one of the scenarios you actually place 1 coin on each face-up stack when you take decorations. It makes your decisions even harder while you are just thinking about something super simple as: Take a tile or a Card :D Love that the depth is created throughout the game - so early decisions are really simple while later in the game one move can score you even 25 points :D
I really enjoyed my first play of this at 2 players but it was a bit long. It was really thinky and has some hard choices to make though sometimes at 2 players it felt like the choice to take a tile or a decoration was obvious. I hope and think the next play should be dramatically shorter.
Bought this from someone on BGG. Really looking forward to playing it with friends in person when I'm able. How long was game play and did you play with any expansions?
Lovely game but there’s many issues like no player aid, hard to read symbology, miniature bases colors are often almost identical as hard to tell apart, and the coin colors are very dark unlike the Kickstarter page portrays them and the rulebook was a tad confusing. Despite all those complaints it’s a great game
Hate to be the guy that says that ong isn't right, either. Languages just don't use the same sounds as each other, or even classify the sounds they do use in the same ways. Someone should make a game about this…!
Thank you for sharing this with us, Jamey! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I wanted to mention that this game also has some of the most successful theming I've ever encountered, in that (having seen pictures of our first couple of plays) all my Chinese friends seem to be looking for copies and discussing the history behind the story of the game-despite the fact that it's almost perfectly abstract.
The art, of course, is itself really great-it takes me back to visits to famous gardens in China.
This is the rare case where I'm genuinely proud to be a backer-I thought it was going to be something special from well before the KS campaign, and it's almost everything I'd hoped for. Though I agree with one other commenter that it's a pity the consolidated player aid did not make it into the official release, and remained as print-your-own.
3 Mechanisms highlighted:
1. When you gain characters, you must place a character so that only one ongoing ability is in play for each player
2. When a character is placed on the board you orient the character, it gives you end-game points based on what the character "sees."
3. The two main actions have a push-pull mechanism. The two actions are draw a decoration card or place a landscape tile. The number of decoration cards drawn is related to number of face down tiles (2+number of face down tiles). Tiles are refreshed to be face-up when there is only 1 face up tile left or a decoration card is drawn
very small things you forgot to mention:
- (2) placement of characters limited to certain spots
- (2) there are secondary endgame points for each decoration in a direct line
- (2) there are some interesting scoring mechanisms other than panoramic set collection (e.g. Empress)]
- (3) less than 1 face up landscape tile resets the landscapes, not just 1 (can happen with lantern powers)
- (3) gaining a card is accompanied by placing a decoration (can be an issue if there is a card you want but no place on the board to place it giving a push-pull there also).
Two other interesting mechanisms worth mentioning:
- Endgame timer is set to placing the panorama tiles or exhausting one of the stacks. So that is public information that can be delayed but not prevented; can be accelerated but at a cost.
- Because placing a tile on the map can also advance you on the character board (which can give points or unlock another character placement), and placing a tile can dictate future points through various mechanisms (some characters get points based on landscapes, not panorama icons; some spots give you wooden tokens to place panoramic tiles; tiles on the board have icons to determine decoration placement). This is interesting because the two actions creates a push-pull between the bulk of the points (decoration cards) and endgame points and "map control." This prevents a single strategy from dominating the game (esp. important in two player games).
Oops! This brought to my attention I had missed a rule both times I've played.. We didn't refresh the garden tiles after somebody took a decoration turn. That must make a pretty big difference. Glad I watched this!
I love that in one of the scenarios you actually place 1 coin on each face-up stack when you take decorations.
It makes your decisions even harder while you are just thinking about something super simple as: Take a tile or a Card :D
Love that the depth is created throughout the game - so early decisions are really simple while later in the game one move can score you even 25 points :D
Gorgeous looking game.
I really enjoyed my first play of this at 2 players but it was a bit long. It was really thinky and has some hard choices to make though sometimes at 2 players it felt like the choice to take a tile or a decoration was obvious. I hope and think the next play should be dramatically shorter.
That was my experience. Our first play was 2 hours, and our second play was 45 minutes.
Bought this from someone on BGG. Really looking forward to playing it with friends in person when I'm able. How long was game play and did you play with any expansions?
Our first game (learning game) was long--nearly 2 hours. The next game was much closer to 45 minutes.
Lovely game but there’s many issues like no player aid, hard to read symbology, miniature bases colors are often almost identical as hard to tell apart, and the coin colors are very dark unlike the Kickstarter page portrays them and the rulebook was a tad confusing. Despite all those complaints it’s a great game
boardgamegeek.com/filepage/196943/tang-garden-player-aid-insert-organizer-all-expans
Hate to be the guy that says any Chinese word ending with ang almost always is pronounced ong. Lol
Hate to be the guy that says that ong isn't right, either. Languages just don't use the same sounds as each other, or even classify the sounds they do use in the same ways. Someone should make a game about this…!