Board Game - Gzhel

"Gzhel" – is a board game where each turn allows you to feel like a true master of painting. Players compete for the title of the best creator by combining tokens with colors and ornaments to create beautiful patterns. The... game offers a unique blend of strategy and creativity, while also connecting players with art by providing a bit more about the history of Russian folk art. The game was created in collaboration with experts from the All-Russian Museum of Decorative Art, ensuring a deep connection with traditions and adherence to style!
How to play?
The game consists of eight rounds, each of which includes several key stages. Start by choosing and announcing one of five figurines – a hedgehog, a horse, a swan, a fox, or a fish. The decision is made by the active player (this status rotates among players each round). After that, all players simultaneously take the flower tokens surrounding the chosen figurine and lay them next to their game boards.
Next, pay attention to the game board and the goal card decks. Your task is to place the taken tokens in a way that fulfills as many of these goals as possible. They may be related to specific ornaments, flowers, or combinations. In total, there are three goals in a round: two are related to the flowers on each of the game boards, and one is related to the ornament. At the end of the round, the goals are moved between the boards, and only one of them is updated, allowing you to plan your actions in advance. You are not required to use all the flower tokens. Some of them can be saved for the next turn – then they will become stamps.
 
Stamp tokens are special free actions that can elevate your strategy to a new level. By sacrificing one of the stamps (that is, placing it on the board), you can change the choice of figurine (for example, if the active player chose the hedgehog figurine, and you have few tokens there, but many with the swan), move any flower token to any place on the board, or swap two of them. It is important to plan your actions so that you can effectively achieve goals, earn points, and prepare for the next rounds.
At the end of each round, points are counted. Since there are three goals, there are also three "stages" of counting: for each of them. For convenience, use special tokens, moving them along the numerical edge of the game board: this way, you won’t get confused. Then the goal cards are shifted, and a new round begins.
Who won?
The winner of the game is the one who manages to score the most points after eight rounds. Points are awarded for achieving goals. At the end of the game, each stamp token on the boards brings an additional 2 points. In case of a tie, the player with fewer stamps wins. If the tie persists, all contenders share the victory.
 
Contents: 
- 100 double-sided flower tokens
- 8 double-sided game boards
- 36 goal cards
- Active player figurine
- 4 tokens for counting victory points
- 4 "50/100 points" tokens
- Game board
- Game rules

Game duration: from 30 minutes
Number of players: from 1 to 4