Teach the Game
A concise introduction to Ludonova's tea-trading game Green Gold.
How you win
Build wealth as a tea merchant in Qing-era China: invest in tea companies, move tea through cities, complete contracts and serve the Crown. When the game ends, the richest merchant wins.
On each turn, move your pawn to a different action, choose a worker from one of the neighboring deposits, then use that worker’s company color to take an action. Grow your resources and share value, while earning dividends and completing contracts.
The boards
The main board links five actions to colored tea companies, a share market, city spaces, contracts, headquarters and Royal Orders. Your player board holds your agents and market posts. See the board’s actions and company tracks.
A turn
- Move your pawn to a different action; pay £1 for each other pawn already there.
- Take a worker from either neighboring active deposit. You may pay to choose from a farther active deposit.
- Resolve the action using that worker’s color.
- Fulfill contracts if you can, then perform maintenance. (Turn sequence)
How the game ends
The end is triggered when the dividend marker reaches its final space or when all shares in three companies have been sold. Finish the current round and play one further round. (End and scoring)
Ways to score
| Source | Final value |
|---|---|
| Money | £1 per pound |
| Company shares | Value at each company’s final quote |
| Majority ownership | £6 for holding the most shares in a company; ties score nothing |
| Royal Mandates | Rewards by majority, with ties receiving the next lower reward |
| Office upgrades | Printed cash value |
| Tea and concessions | £1 per two leftover resources |
| Loan | −£8 per loan |
What each resource is for
| Resource | Why it matters | How you use it |
|---|---|---|
| Workers | Their color selects the company/action space | Choose a worker from a neighboring deposit to act |
| Money | Pays action costs and buys shares or tea | Earn it from city posts, contracts and serving the Crown |
| Concessions | Substitute for money when importing tea | Spend one or two based on tea color |
| Tea boxes | Trade goods for contracts or Royal Orders | Buy in cities, deliver to contracts or the Crown |
| Shares | Raise company quotes and score at game end | Buy during Invest; dividends pay their owners |
| Agents and market posts | Extend your reach and earn income | Place them through Negotiate and Expand |
| Contracts and Mandates | Offer objectives and endgame rewards | Fulfill contracts; compete for Mandate majorities |
Teaching tips
- Explain that a worker’s color, its deposit and the destination action together determine your turn.
- Point out that moving to another action is mandatory, and crowded destinations cost money.
- Keep an eye on company quotes: buying shares raises their value and dividends pay existing owners.
- Show how tea can earn money in cities, fulfill contracts or serve the Queen.