On the more seamless side, Chibis also introduces a number of unique tiles to the garden that result in a season of abundance. A second Pond allows for easier irrigation. Kamis tiles grow all three colors of bamboo, creating endless opportunities for every type of Objective. Sacred hills spark growth for every tile of a specific color across the garden, regardless of location. The Gardener’s hut allows for more variety and control in Objective card selection. Each player receives his individual board, 2 action chips and one card of each category (each player makes sure to keep his cards hidden). To fulfill this objective, the configuration shown on the card must be reflected in the bamboo garden. Panda Objectives The first player to reach a certain number of completed objectives (9 in a two-player game, 8 in a three-player game, 7 in a four-player game) receives a bonus Emperor card worth 2 points, and triggers the last round of the game.

Takenoko ( Japanese: タケノコ, which means bamboo shoot in katakana) is a board game created by Antoine Bauza and published by Bombyx and Matagot in 2011. Matagot also produced a Collector's Edition which features deluxe, over-sized pieces and game board. [1] Premise and Gameplay [ edit ] Irrigation channels are placed at the boarder of two plots and form a network from the corner of the pond plot. The sides of the pond tile do not need irrigation channels. Irrigation is important because without it the bamboo cannot grow! Once a plot is irrigated for the first time it grows one piece of bamboo of the corresponding colour. This only happens to each tile once. A plot is irrigated if it is adjacent to the pond tile or if one of its six edges has an irrigation channel or if it has the watershed improvement. If an irrigation channel irrigates two plotsat once then both plots would receive a section of bamboo. The player may, but is not required to, take two identical actions in this round (instead of two different actions). Storm

II. Perform Actions And Meet Objectives

Remember: Sections only grow in irrigated plots, even if the gardener finishes his move on the plot or on an adjacent plot. The panda normally eats 1 bamboo from any plot that they move to either using the Panda action or the Storm weather action. However, the panda can NOT eat any bamboo from a plot with an enclosure improvement.

Panda objectives require the panda to have eaten certain amounts of different colours of bamboo on that player's turns. Plot objectives are completed when the garden configuration shown on the card is reflected in the garden with all the component plots irrigated. Gardener objectives are completed when a matching bamboo towers of the matching colour and base is reflected in the garden. Panda objectives are completed by returning the matching amount of bamboo from your reserve to the supply.There is also a bit of a tug-of-war between the gardener and the panda. The gardener grows and the panda destroys. This is another way a player can effect another player’s objectives. You might spend a good amount of time growing the green bamboo, only to have the panda zip on over and eat it. This helps keep the game in a great balance where one strategy can’t dominate the game. Each of the other players actions can influence what you were planning on doing your turn. It is this bit of balance that helps to make Takenoko such a great game. Each player gets 2 actions per turn and are marked off on their playe rmat with these action markers. The player chooses an Improvement chip from those available in the reserve. It can then be placed immediately on a plot or stored on his individual Board. If no Improvement is available, the player applies the effect of another climatic condition of his choice (sun, rain, wind or storm). A player can complete any number of objectives any time during their turn. They may do so if their objective card is matched by the conditions of the garden at that time (for plot and gardener objectives), or if a player has the correct amount of bamboo for panda objectives. A completed objective is never lost, even if the garden conditions change later in the game.

Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Northern Ireland and the Scottish Highlands) may take longer to reach you. Warning: weather comes into play during the second round of play. In the first round, players ignore this step and proceed directly to the next. The player rolls the Weather Die and applies the effect of the climatic conditions obtained. Sun

Components

Panda objective cards show two or three bamboo sections. To complete the card you must have the sections shown on the card on your player board. Once you have completed the objective card you must return the sections of bamboo used to the reserve. Completing Objectives in Takenoko A player may place improvements and irrigation channels, and claim completed objectives, at any time during their turn. Players have their eyes on three tasks throughout the game. These are laid out as three separate piles of Objective cards. Players receive one card of each type at the outset to spark fruitful creativity in the garden and set the path toward victory points: At any point during the active player’s turn, when an objective is met, this objective can be claimed for victory points. Based on the number of players, the “game end” will be triggered after a pre-defined number of objectives have been completed by a single player. All other players get one final turn to attempt to complete more of their objectives. Strategy If you’d like to read more about Takenoko, we have a How to Play blog available here. We also have Takenoko Chibis– the version with even more pandas!

The gardener grows bamboo on the plot that they move to and all adjacent irrigated plots of the same color. Bamboo stalks normally grow 1 taller with every valid gardener or Rain weather action. However, if the plot has a fertilizer improvement, the bamboo stalk will grow 2 taller with every valid gardener or Rain weather action. Bamboo stalks grow up to a maximum height of 4. On your turn you roll the weather die and then apply that weather condition's effect. So, if you roll sun then you would gain an additional action (this must be a different action to the other two actions you perform in this turn). If you roll rain then you may place a piece of bamboo on an irrigated tile of your choice (up to the limit of four bamboo sections per tile). If you roll wind then you can (but you don't have to) take two identical actions this round.Gardener objective cards require certain colours of bamboo (sometimes with certain improvements) to be grown to various heights. The first player to complete the required number of objectives triggers the final round and receives the Emperor card, scoring 2 bonus points. The other players have a final turn. After they finish, the highest score wins. If the score is tied, the tie breaker is the number of points on panda objectives. If the score is still tied then all tied players win. Plots - draw 3 plot tiles and place one in the garden. Plots can only be placed adjacent to the pond or in a spot next to 2 other existing plots. I already mentioned the comic, but I have to revisit the concept, because Takenoko boasts one of my favorite rulebooks. It is the only book in our collection that the kids fight over when the game opens. The illustrations are sweet and humorous, and they immediately draw players into the game’s narrative. Throughout the book, the gardener’s frustration comes alive as he teaches the rules and wrestles his enormous cuddly friend. Theme goes a long way in winning me over, and these characters have personality.