Nippon: Zaibatsu

1 / 49 ~25 min
Welcome to Nippon

Meiji-Era Japan Awaits

Welcome to Nippon: Zaibatsu -- a strategic game set during Japan's Meiji-era industrial revolution. You take on the role of a Zaibatsu, a powerful Japanese conglomerate racing to industrialise a nation emerging from centuries of isolation.

Over the course of 3 Periods, you will build Factorys, produce Goods, develop railways and shipping routes, and compete for regional Influence -- all while managing a growing workforce of coloured Workers drawn from a shared bag.

Tutorial Overview

Glossary

Action

One of the two turn options. When performing an Action, you choose an action space on the Main Board, take a Worker from the Hiring space above it, place that Worker in your Zaibatsu Workers area, and carry out the action.

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Coal

One of the 3 resources. Coal is required during Production (each Factory needs Coal to operate) and is also discarded during Consolidation. Gained primarily through the Energy Department.

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Consolidation

One of the two turn options, available when you have at least 1 Worker. You take a Favor token, discard resources plus Coal, collect Department bonuses and Income, pay salaries (3 Money per Worker colour), and return all Workers to the bag.

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Contract

Fulfilled through the Investment & Contracts action by spending specific Goods. Completed Contracts earn VP and count toward Personal Objectives at Final Scoring.

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Department

One of 6 sections on your Zaibatsu board, each linked to a Worker colour. During Consolidation, each Department whose Worker colour is present in your Workers area provides a bonus. Departments can be upgraded via Ships.

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Expert Worker

A special Worker gained when building a Ship. Expert Workers function like regular Workers but provide enhanced benefits when their Department is activated during Consolidation.

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Factory

A tile placed on your Zaibatsu board that produces Goods. There are 6 types across 3 levels: Level 1 (Cotton, Paper), Level 2 (Bento, Lens), Level 3 (Bulb, Clock). Building a Factory requires spending Money and meeting an R&D level requirement.

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Favor Token

Taken at the start of each Consolidation. Favor tokens serve as markers for Personal Objectives during Final Scoring, tracking how many times you have consolidated throughout the game.

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Final Scoring

Performed after the 3rd Period's Influence Scoring. Includes Personal Objectives (VP from Ships, Machines, Trains, track positions, Factories, and Contracts thresholds) and leftover Resources/Goods/Money conversion.

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Finance Track

One of the 3 advancement tracks. Advanced by spending Goods through the Investment & Contracts action. Higher positions provide better Income during Consolidation and contribute to Final Scoring objectives.

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Goods

Products manufactured by your Factories during Production. There are 6 types matching the 6 Factory types (Cotton, Paper, Bento, Lenses, Bulbs, Clocks). Goods are spent to build Ships, Trains, place Influence tokens, fulfill Contracts, and advance Finance.

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Influence

Your presence in a Region, measured by Influence tokens (1 each) plus Trains (2 each, but only if you have at least 1 token). Higher total Influence earns more VP during Influence Scoring.

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Influence Scoring

Occurs at the end of each of the 3 Periods. Every Region is scored: players compare their total Influence against each other and against Overseas Companies. 1st through 4th place earn decreasing VP.

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Iron

One of the 3 resources. Iron is used primarily for building Machines and other construction actions.

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Machine

A component placed in a Factory to increase its production output. Each Factory has 2 Machine spaces: the first is free to use, the second costs Money. A Factory produces 1 Good base plus 1 per Machine installed.

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Mining Track

One of the 3 advancement tracks. Higher positions provide better Income during Consolidation and contribute to Final Scoring objectives. Advanced by spending Money via the Mining action.

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Money

The game's currency, used to pay for Factories, Machines, track advancement, Worker salaries, and more. Gained through Income (from track positions), Department bonuses, and converting Silk. At game end, every 5 Money converts to 1 VP.

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Overseas Company

Non-player competitors present in each Region during Influence Scoring. You must beat their Influence totals to earn higher placement VP. They represent foreign competition in Meiji-era Japan.

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Period

The game spans 3 Periods, each consisting of several Rounds. A Period ends when a Region tile stack runs out, triggering Influence Scoring for all Regions before the next Period begins.

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Personal Objective

End-game scoring goals tied to Favor tokens. Each objective has VP thresholds: Ships/Machines/Trains/R&D/Mining/Finance score 5/8/10 or 10/16/20 VP based on quantities achieved. Factories and Contracts score VP for the rightmost completed item.

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Production

An action where you spend Resources (including Coal) to produce Goods from your Factories. Each operating Factory produces 1 Good base plus 1 per Machine installed. Coal is required to power production.

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R&D Track

One of the 3 advancement tracks. Your position on the R&D track determines which Factory levels you can build: Level 1 requires R&D 2, Level 2 requires R&D 4, Level 3 requires R&D 6. Advanced by spending Money via the R&D action.

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Region

An area on the Main Board where players compete for Influence. Each Region is scored at the end of every Period. Players place Influence tokens and Trains in Regions to earn VP through Influence Scoring.

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Resource

The 3 raw materials in the game: Coal, Silk, and Iron. Resources are gained through Department bonuses during Consolidation and spent on various actions throughout the game.

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Round

A single turn cycle in which each player either performs an Action or makes a Consolidation. Rounds continue until a Region tile stack runs out, ending the current Period.

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Salary

During Consolidation, you must pay 3 Money for each Worker colour present in your Zaibatsu Workers area. Having multiple Workers of the same colour does not increase the cost -- you pay per colour, not per Worker.

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Ship

Built via the Ships action by spending Goods and Money. Building a Ship grants you an Expert Worker and an Upgraded Department. Ships also count toward Personal Objectives at Final Scoring.

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Silk

One of the 3 resources. Silk can be used to boost R&D advancement or converted into Money. Gained primarily through the Prospection Department.

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Track

A general term for the 3 advancement tracks on the Main Board: R&D, Mining, and Finance. Each track provides Income during Consolidation based on your position and factors into Personal Objectives at game end.

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Train

Built via the Trains action by spending Goods and Money, then placed in a Region. Each Train counts as 2 Influence in its Region (if you have at least 1 Influence token there). Trains also count toward Personal Objectives.

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Victory Points (VP)

The currency of winning. VP are earned through Influence Scoring at the end of each Period, Department bonuses, and Final Scoring. The player with the most VP at game end wins.

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Worker

A coloured wooden piece drawn from a bag and placed in Hiring spaces on the Main Board. When you perform an Action, you take the Worker above that action and add it to your Zaibatsu Workers area. Workers come in 6 colours matching the 6 Departments.

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Zaibatsu

A Japanese industrial conglomerate. In the game, each player controls one zaibatsu, managing factories, workers, and infrastructure to earn Victory Points across three Periods of Meiji-era Japan.

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