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Description
Stefan Feld's 3rd game by Alea is In the Year of the Dragon.
Players take on the role of Chinese rulers around the year 1000. The game plays out in twelve rounds, with each round representing one month in a year that seems to go from bad to worse. Disease, drought, and attacks from the Mongols may claim lives, but make sure you have enough money to offer a tribute to the Emperor.
The game play is easier than it may appear. Every player has a set of "person" cards. Each round, you choose one action (most of which call on your workers' abilities) to help you prepare for the months ahead. Then you play one person card, recruiting that person and placing him into one of your palaces. Each person brings different skills and abilities to help you ride out the year. (Farmers help you gain rice to survive a drought month, Tax Collectors raise money, etc.) At the end of each round, that month's event is triggered, which may cost you some of your workers, some money, or give you points.
Careful planning is the key to surviving "the year of the dragon," but survival alone may not win you the game.
Year Published
2007
Featured Videos
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 6
This page: 6
Sentiment:
pos 4 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–6 of 6
Video IB_KmoSOKPI
Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews game_review at 0:14 sentiment: positive
video_pk 62361 · mention_pk 154893
Click to watch at 0:14 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- streamlined and not fiddly
- well-flowing sections with clear pacing
- strong tension from resource planning and event calendar
- expansions add meaningful variety (Great Wall, Super Events)
Cons
- lighter on tension compared with some other Stefan Feld designs
- shines best at 3–4 players; the two-player experience is decent but less dynamic
Thematic elements
- building palaces and managing resources while facing disruptions and threats
- Dynastic China during a year of calamities and events
- historical-fantasy dynastic management
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Building and resource management — players build palaces and manage resources like food, medicine, and money to score and enable actions
- End-of-round scoring and bonuses — points come from palaces, geishas, privileges, and end-round bonuses; mismanaging population or resources can cost points
- expansion integration — Great Wall of China and Super Events expansions add new action tiles and special effects
- month-driven calamities — each month introduces events (droughts, famines, taxes, Mongol invasions) that reward or penalize players depending on resources and positioning
- order tracking and turn order — an inner track determines action order; influence on when you act and how often you get to act
- Resource management — players build palaces and manage resources like food, medicine, and money to score and enable actions
- worker placement — players place workers on action blocks to perform a variety of board actions; younger workers act earlier but are less powerful, older workers are more effective but act later
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this game was pretty streamlined it wasn't fiddly at all
- Great Wall of China mini expansion is a great addition
- in this 10th anniversary edition of the game it had come with a couple of many expansions
- overall I think this is a solid game I thought was a lot of fun and I do recommend it
- this is like a Feld gateway game so if you want to get people into Feld, this is a good way to introduce them
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video x8Ly82kZJbQ
Unknown Channel top_10_list at 15:14 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9292 · mention_pk 27437
Click to watch at 15:14 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- clever, tight resource economy
- atmospheric theme with tense decision-making
- masterful balance between pressures and available options
Cons
- high brain burn and pressure can be exhausting
- complex scoring and setup may deter casual players
Thematic elements
- resource/crew management amid evolving threats
- medieval empire-wide management and survival
- grim yet strategic attrition-style play
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- crew_management — Maintain pagodas and houses with the right workers to fight threats.
- resource_management — Weather threats (drought, famine, disease) and manage crew to withstand them.
- scene_control — Control of pagodas and troops influences scoring and threat mitigation.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this game does a great job of mashing together the hybrid systems of like euro games and american games
- the engine building is so satisfying
- turns in this game are extremely fast
- you can be extremely creative and clever with the way you link these clues together
- the familiarity of a game like charades is gonna instantly help other people understand the rules
- an underrated and under-appreciated family-friendly puzzle-style game
- a wonderfully put together game
- the dice being used in weird and wonderful ways
- this is a dry euro, one of the most mechanical and most mathematical games out there
- weathering the storm and overcoming all the obstacles
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 4YHdlv_XJ2o
Chairman of the Board general_discussion at 6:17 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3726 · mention_pk 10980
Click to watch at 6:17 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- steady rise in personal rankings
- distinct pace and atmosphere
Cons
- challenging to learn and master
- may punish slow early players
Thematic elements
- catastrophe management and staff placement
- fantasy empire under a dragon theme
- puzzly, highly thematic but abstract
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- grouped action selection with cascading effects — actions come in clusters; early choices affect later ones
- pacing and event management — weather storms via staff and catastrophes
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I absolutely adore this one
- I think it is an absolute blast
- this game is fantastic
- an evergreen to me
- it's stripped back and still a blast
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video uYNVXp6Q-PA
Board Game Co general_discussion at 4:09 sentiment: negative
video_pk 3114 · mention_pk 9097
Click to watch at 4:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
none
Cons
- Aesthetically unappealing
- Never been enamored with it
- Waiting for reprint
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I know the games I play. I know the games I love to play. And I know the games that I theoretically want to play but don't actually play.
- I need at least one of those two things in play - either high personal interest or good reputation
- Designers, reviewers, other people mentioned
- I'm going to be trying to be more mindful about reality as opposed to the desires that I have
- These tend to be less of a priority. Like occasionally I dive into an unplayed game that isn't a review copy, but more often than not if I'm diving into an unplayed game, review copies do take precedence
- I have so many euros I love and so many that I'm behind on
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video CACsxXw02AA
Chairman of the Board general_discussion at 6:23 sentiment: positive
video_pk 1653 · mention_pk 82685
Click to watch at 6:23 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- punishing but rewarding at higher player counts
- tight four-player game
Cons
- punishing and difficult; requires proper setup
Thematic elements
- cooperative disaster management with penalties
- medieval empire under threat
- puzzle-like management of catastrophes
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Resource management — money and resources to weather disasters
- tableau/character placement — you assign characters to weather disasters and weather the storm
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is such a wonderful game
- I had a huge Monopoly on the money generating Viking
- it's such a great little programming game
- I like this little Jewel Rondell system
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video vlb8oKyEv-E
Unknown Channel game_review at 0:15 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 1463 · mention_pk 4236
Click to watch at 0:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Offers a rich, multi-faceted planning exercise that rewards forward-looking decisions and timing.
- Event and drought mechanics create meaningful pressure without relying solely on luck.
- Flexibility to pivot strategies mid-game keeps sessions dynamic and reduces stagnation.
- Replenishing money up to three provides a lifeline when resources are stretched, enabling risk-taking at opportune moments.
- Thematic intensity and distinctive setting make the game memorable and conversation-worthy.
Cons
- Disaster-centric play can feel punishing and grindy, especially for players seeking steady progression.
- High cognitive load and turn-by-turn management may overwhelm casual players or newcomers.
- Not typically considered a gateway title due to complexity and thematic heft.
- Outcome can hinge on the order of events and timing, which may frustrate players who prefer consistent strategy execution.
Thematic elements
- Political maneuvering and resource management under perpetual threat; disaster planning as core tension.
- A historic or mythic Chinese-influenced setting featuring imperial palaces, famine, plagues, Mongol invasions, taxes and courtly life.
- Event-driven, scenario-like feel with cascading threats that require players to adapt strategies.
Comparison games
- Monopoly
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action_selection — Each round, players choose actions that influence resources, palace tile acquisition, and turn order, creating interaction and strategic sequencing.
- event_deck_and_timing — Events are revealed and resolved, introducing negative shocks (famine, plague, Mongol invasions, taxes) that pressure decisions.
- Events — Events are revealed and resolved, introducing negative shocks (famine, plague, Mongol invasions, taxes) that pressure decisions.
- flexible_strategy — Players can shift plans mid-game, trading off short-term losses for longer-term gains, adding depth and adaptation.
- Resource management — Managing rice, money, temples, and other resources is required to weather droughts and penalties while pursuing scoring.
- resource_management — Managing rice, money, temples, and other resources is required to weather droughts and penalties while pursuing scoring.
- scoring_and_progression — End-of-round scoring depends on palaces, court tiles, privileges, and other assets; immergent bonuses for percentiles and money.
- tile placement — Palace tiles and court-related tiles are obtained and placed to unlock bonuses, scoring opportunities, and defensive options.
- tile_acquisition — Palace tiles and court-related tiles are obtained and placed to unlock bonuses, scoring opportunities, and defensive options.
- turn_order_advancement — Your position on the turn order track improves when you are chosen for actions, affecting timing and access to key options.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's not bad if you plan right
- all you're doing is trying to avert disaster
- it's a building game but just constantly being torn down
- you can replenish it up to three
- not a gateway game; very terrifying
- you can look far ahead and it's so systematic
- you have to weather the storms in case you can't do what you want
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–6 of 6