Game Info
Year
2012
Players
2-4
Age
13+
Playtime
90 min
Collection
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
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Description
Tzolkin: The Mayan Calendar presents a new game mechanism: dynamic worker placement. Players representing different Mayan tribes place their workers on giant connected gears, and as the gears rotate they take the workers to different action spots.
During a turn, players can either (a) place one or more workers on the lowest visible spot of the gears or (b) pick up one or more workers. When placing workers, they must pay corn, which is used as a currency in the game. When they pick up a worker, they perform certain actions depending on the position of the worker. Actions located "later" on the gears are more valuable, so it's wise to let the time work for you – but players cannot skip their turn; if they have all their workers on the gears, they have to pick some up.
The game ends after one full revolution of the central Tzolkin gear. There are many paths to victory. Pleasing the gods by placing crystal skulls in deep caves or building many temples are just two of those many paths...
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 4
This page: 4
Sentiment:
pos 3 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–4 of 4
Video MZEsSobLDnU
Meeple University Rules Teach at 3:36 sentiment: positive
video_pk 64873 · mention_pk 158464
Click to watch at 3:36 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Introduces five interchangeable modules for high replayability.
- Priests and Priestesses add variable player powers.
- Seasons of Progress create a dynamic game state.
- Height of Development offers a new temple track with strategic benefits.
- Architecture and Development provide alternative building mechanics.
- Includes new sideboard for decorations and season tiles.
- Pimped out worshipper pieces.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Mayan calendar progression
- Mayan civilization
Comparison games
- Tzolk'in
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- event cards — The 'Seasons of Progress' module uses season tiles to introduce global effects that change periodically.
- Modular board — The expansion is modular, offering five interchangeable modules that can be combined in various ways.
- Resource management — Players manage resources like gold and wood for building actions.
- tile placement — The 'Architecture and Development' modules alter how players acquire and place decoration tiles and build pyramid tiles.
- Track advancement — The 'Height of Development' module introduces a new temple track with associated benefits.
- Variable player powers — The 'Priests and Priestesses' module grants players unique abilities.
- worker placement — The game involves placing workers (dice) on action spaces, with some module changes affecting how many workers can be used or where they can be placed.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Hi, it's Taran and Stella from University. We bring you a variety of quality board videos.
- So, if you're new here, please consider subscribing and do hit the bell to be notified of when we post new videos.
- And that's how to play Tatu Wakan late pre-classic period expansion. We hope that you enjoy this video and we hope that you enjoy playing.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video OGhPESDGKPY
The Dice Tower Unboxing at 2:34 sentiment: positive
video_pk 60194 · mention_pk 152633
Click to watch at 2:34 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Visually striking
- Innovative gear-driven timing mechanic
Cons
- Pronunciation challenge noted by speaker
Thematic elements
- calendar-driven worker placement
- Maya civilization
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Ooh, it's a box in a box in a box.
- Ah, it's Oriflamme. This is the Devir version of it.
- This is the new version of Arkham Horror: The Card Game, like a second edition of sorts.
- I like Star Wars Unlimited.
- Oh, be still my heart.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video yyh3AEk4Jvg
Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Top List at 0:09 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 12868 · mention_pk 115186
Click to watch at 0:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- big plastic gears
- complex gameplay
- popular at the time
Cons
- reviewer never picked up a copy
- many people owned it so reviewer didn't
- hasn't seen it around recently
Thematic elements
- Mayan
- calendar
- gears
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection
- gear rotation
- worker placement
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- these games have amazing table presence by which i mean people are going to glance across the room and go what is that person playing and i want to play all these games
- stacking games have table presence like nothing else
- looks beautiful it looks like a load of sweets on the board
- one of my favorite games of all time
- i don't like that sort of game i find that one of the most frustrating game mechanisms
- the central marble dispenser is your main draw in this game
- absolutely brilliant strategic game quite complex game
- it's actually my favorite of the mask trilogy
- i'm almost scared to say this but i don't really like azul very much
- biggest most overlooked game on this list
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video bJ5RjGXJsrs
BoardGameBollocks Discussion at 3:50 sentiment: positive
video_pk 6388 · mention_pk 18867
Click to watch at 3:50 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- tight engine with interesting timing
- beautiful component design
Cons
- steep learning curve for new players
Thematic elements
- routines/planning with a rotating gear wheel
- ancient Mesoamerican civilization
- strategic planning with temporal pressure
Comparison games
- Gaia Project
- A Feast for Odin
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- rota gear/tile placement — workers placed on a shifting rondel to gain resources and advance actions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- probably the greatest party game of all time
- it's a betting racing game
- this is basically one huge massive rondell of a game
- I hate painted miniatures
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–4 of 4