Legend has it that in a time long past, humanity was shrouded in ignorance, unable to count or distinguish one year from another. It was during this era of uncertainty that the benevolent Jade Emperor decided to extend his helping hand to mankind. He pondered upon a solution, a way to bring order to the chaos of time. And thus, the concept of a twelve-year cycle, each year named after an animal, was conceived.

The Jade Emperor faced a daunting task - choosing twelve animals to represent this celestial cycle from the multitude of creatures that roamed the Earth. To ensure impartiality, he devised a grand plan. On his birthday, he summoned all animals to participate in a race, a race that would determine their place in the Zodiac. The first twelve animals to successfully cross the river and reach the Heavenly Palace would be bestowed with the honor of having a year named after them, their order determined by their finishing position. And so, The Great Race was born, and the twelve-year cycle became known as the Chinese Zodiac.

"Race for the Chinese Zodiac" is a captivating board game that reenacts The Great Race. Each player is armed with a hand of eight action cards, numbered from 1 to 8, along with energy cards of varying values and karma tokens. To add a personal touch, players select an animal token, accompanied by its corresponding animal card, which grants unique advantages during the race. All players position their animal tokens at the starting line of the racetrack. The centerpiece of the game is the dual-layered and double-sided action wheel, which determines the effectiveness of each action, strategically placed at the center of the table.

During their turn, players make choices by selecting an action card and an energy card from their hand, both revealed simultaneously. If the chosen action card has a value one lower than the player's previously played action card, a karma token must be expended; if the difference is two or more values, then two karma tokens must be spent. Players then execute their chosen actions according to the wheel's orientation, aiming for movement, replenishing energy cards, and accumulating karma. All played cards are displayed face up in front of the players before the wheel is rotated clockwise by one space, ushering in a new turn.

The stakes are high, as the first animal to triumph in the race earns the prestigious right to be the namesake of the first year in the Chinese Zodiac! Race for the Chinese Zodiac is a thrilling journey through ancient legend and strategy, where players compete to etch their name in the annals of time. Will you be the one to secure your place in history?

Race for the Chinese Zodiac - engl.