Chinagold
Chinagold Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Components
- 91 prospecting-spot markers. Before the first game, one side of each prospecting-spot marker is fitted with one of the golden adhesive dots.
- 3 two-sided throwing discs, with the values 0/1, 0/2, and 1/2.
- 1 game board, made of faux leather.
The game board holds 17 mountains, 17 rivers, and 91 prospecting spots.
Mathematically speaking, the distribution of the prospecting spots among the mountains and among the rivers is a mirror image of one another. For the sake of clarity, the prospecting-spot areas are shown once as brown areas (mountains) and once as blue lines (rivers).
Some copies of the game include a two-part game board: the mountains printed on faux leather, the rivers on a transparent disc. This allows different board layouts to be formed. The two board parts are laid on top of one another so that every prospecting spot is part of both a mountain and a river.
Setup
A prospecting-spot marker is placed on each of the 91 prospecting spots, golden side face down. The players decide who will search for gold in the mountains and who in the rivers.
Gameplay
Getting Started
The player who is greediest for gold begins the game by throwing the three throwing discs and adding up the values shown face up. If a throwing disc lands standing on its edge, the higher of its two numbers counts.
Prospecting for Gold
The total tells the player how many prospecting-spot markers they may turn to the golden side.
Important: the markers to be turned must lie next to one another in a straight line, without a gap or an already-discovered gold nugget in between.
Instead of turning the rolled number of prospecting-spot markers to the golden side, the player may instead rebury exactly one gold nugget, by turning the golden side of one prospecting-spot marker back face down.
Transporting the Gold Away
Whoever is on turn and turns the last remaining prospecting-spot marker in one of their own areas (a mountain or a river) to the golden side may take all of the gold in that area for themself.
If, in doing so, the last prospecting-spot marker in the opponent's area is turned to the golden side at the same time, the opponent may then collect the gold of that area.
Note: especially once some prospecting spots have already been cleared, it can happen that a player overlooks markers that should be collected. The other player should point this out, if they notice it.
The opponent is then on turn.
Reducing the Throwing Discs
If there is at most one way left to turn 5 straight-line adjacent prospecting-spot markers to the golden side, the 0/1 throwing disc is returned to the box. From now on, the players determine numbers from 1 to 4 using the two remaining throwing discs, 0/2 and 1/2.
If there is at most one way left to turn 4 straight-line adjacent prospecting-spot markers to the golden side, the 0/2 throwing disc is replaced by the 0/1 throwing disc, so that from now on only results from 1 to 3 are possible.
If there is at most one way left to turn 3 straight-line adjacent prospecting-spot markers to the golden side, all throwing discs are returned to the box. From now on the player may choose freely whether to turn a single prospecting-spot marker or two adjacent prospecting-spot markers to the golden side.
Note: since no more throwing takes place from this point on, the alternative move — reburying a gold nugget — may no longer be performed either.
Game End and Scoring
Once all prospecting spots have been cleared, the player who has collected the most gold wins.
Additional Notes
5 not-yet-turned prospecting-spot markers lying in a straight line offer two different ways to prospect 4 gold nuggets.
4 not-yet-turned prospecting-spot markers lying in a straight line offer two different ways to prospect 3 gold nuggets.
If turning a prospecting-spot marker back face down creates several new possibilities of free, straight-line adjacent prospecting-spot markers to turn to the golden side, then the corresponding throwing discs are used again as well.
The Gold Diggers
The printed rulebook closes with this poem by Emanuel Geibel (1815-1884), reproduced here as it appears in the booklet, in translation.
They had traveled across the sea, their desire was for luck and gold, three wild fellows, tanned by the weather, who knew each other well and were friends.
They had dug day and night, the pit by the river, the shaft in the mountain, through blazing sun and pouring rain, enduring thirst and hunger through it all.
And finally, finally, after months full of sweat, they saw the prize beckon from the depths; it glowed at them so sweetly through the darkness, with a serpent's gaze — the fiery gold.
They broke it loose from the dark chamber, and when they took hold of it, they could barely lift it, and when they weighed it, they cheered together: "Now we are safe, now we are rich!"
They laughed and shrieked with jubilant sound, they danced in a circle around the bright metal, and had pride not restrained their desire, they would have kissed it with eager lips.
Tom the hunter said: "Now let us rest! It's time to reward ourselves for our toil. Go, Sam, and fetch us food and wine, a merry feast must be celebrated."
As if drunk, Sam wandered off down to the town, his mind enchanted; clouding his head, thoughts crept upon him softly, such as he had never thought before.
The others sat on the mountainside, they examined the ore, and it glittered and rang. Will the Red said: "The gold is fine; it's just a shame that we must split it three ways!"
"You mean?" — "Well, I just mean — two would enjoy the treasure better." — "But if—" — "If what?" — "Well, suppose Sam weren't here." — "Yes, indeed, then—"
They were silent for a long time; the sun glowed and gleamed around the gold; then Tom murmured: "Do you see the ravine down there?" — "Why?" — "Its shadow is deep and the rocks are silent."
"Do I understand you right?" — "Why ask so much! We both thought it, so let's carry it through. One good shove and a grave in the rock, and it's done, and we'll split it just between us."
They fell silent again. The day burned away, the late red glow lay on the gold like blood; then he came back, their young companion, sweat streaming from his pale brow.
"Now bring the basket and the round-bellied jug!" And they ate and drank in deep draughts. "Ha, merrily, brother! Your wine is strong; it rolls like fire through bone and marrow.
Come, drink with us!" — "I already drank earlier; now my eyes are heavy with sleep. I'll stretch out in the crevice." — "Well then, good rest! And take the blow — and this one too!"
They struck him well with their knives; he staggered and slipped in the steaming blood. Once more he raised his pale face: "Lord God in Heaven, you hold judgment!
You slew me for the sake of the gold: woe to you! You are lost, just as I am. For I, too, wanted the treasure alone, and mixed deadly poison into your wine."