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Timberdoodle's review
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 Watch Goliath Games demonstrate Tayu in this video.
Tayu
Connect Your Tiles To Make Waterways
According to legend, the Chinese hero Ta Yu (Tamer of the Flood), after years of strenuous labor, saved his country from flooding by providing outlets to the sea by means of dredging the lands with the aid of dragons. In Tayu, each player tries to create as many water channels as possible, either north to south or east to west, while at the same time blocking his opponent's waterways or diverting them to his own. (One player 'owns' the north and south ends of the board, while the other player scores off the east and west ends.)
Score By Building Waterways Which Spill Onto Your Ends Of The Board
Simply draw a tile from the bag and decide where to place it, extending the network of tiles already on the board. Because each tile must be placed in such a way that at least one of its water channels matches with a channel on an adjacent tile, this becomes quite a game of strategy. Since only completed waterways count, players must attend to both ends of the board at all times while also being mindful of any opportunities to block his opponent. The player who has the most complete channel connections is the winner.
Even Builds Math Skills
The scoring method invokes some very unusual strategy. Your score is calculated by multiplying your completed waterways one end X the other. For instance, if you score 3 on the north end and 5 on the south; your score would be 15. However, if you scored only 1 waterway on the north end and 7 on the south end, you'll still only score 7 points. For younger players, don't hesitate to score simply by the number of waterways; but your older players will stretch their brains by playing it as designed. In addition to that, if you study your game board you will find that certain spots are worth extra points. Pay attention to those, and be sure to block your opponent there if possible!
Play As Partners For More Complexity
While there are three- and four-player variants for Tayu, I prefer the easier two-player version. However, I will concede that the four-player version, where players work together in partnership, adds a layer of complexity some families will enjoy even more.
The Top Quality We've Come To Expect
Tayu is a gorgeous game with sturdy, elegant tiles that are both tactilely and visually pleasing, making it a satisfying game both from an intellectual and aesthetic perspective.
Right Out Of The Box Play
Plus, Tayu is one of those perfect games for new or non-game players because you can be playing and plotting within minutes of opening the box. For 2-4 players, ages 7+. Game play usually takes 30+ minutes. |
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Features
Manufacturer: Goliath Games
Made In: China
Time To Play: 10-30 minutes (we found 30+ minutes to be more accurate for our family, but it will depend on your family's pace.)
Players: 2-4
 CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts. Not for children under 3yrs.
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