# The Great Wall

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2021
- **BGG Rating**: 7.8
- **BGG Rank**: #519
- **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 3)
- **Duration**: 120-180 min
- **Weight**: 3.91 / 5
- **Designers**: Kamil 'Sanex' Cieśla, Łukasz Włodarczyk, Robert Plesowicz
- **Artists**: Piotr Gacek
- **Publishers**: Awaken Realms, Albi, CrowD Games, Delta Vision Publishing, Korea Boardgames, Maldito Games, YOKA Games
- **Categories**: Economic, Fantasy, Territory Building
- **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Command Cards, Income, Investment, Secret Unit Deployment, Semi-Cooperative Game, Solo / Solitaire Game, Turn Order: Claim Action, Worker Placement, Worker Placement, Different Worker Types

## Verdict
Perfect for those who love heavy management games and the tension of helping a rival to avoid a collective loss.Deep and interesting asymmetryImpressive component productionConstant tension with the AISatisfying engine building combosVery steep learning curveHigh language dependencyFOR GENRE FANS

## Description
Imagine yourself as a General in Ancient China with a critical mission: stop the Mongolian hordes from devastating the land while constructing the Great Wall. In The Great Wall, you lead an asymmetric clan, meaning each leader starts with different resources, units, and production capabilities. But it doesn't stop there: as the game progresses, you hire advisors with unique skills, creating powerful combos and efficiency engines that make your clan increasingly specialized.

The game is divided into 'Years', and each year consists of four seasons. In Spring, the barbarians arrive and position themselves. Summer is the time to mobilize your troops and prepare for the impact. In Autumn, the real strategy unfolds: you use command cards to activate locations and reap various benefits. Finally, in Winter, your defenses are tested. If the Wall is breached, everyone suffers the consequences, forcing players into a tense dynamic: you want to win and earn the most Honor points, but if you don't cooperate with your rivals to hold back the horde, everyone might fail.

The economic side is heavy, featuring worker placement where execution order matters and some buildings only deliver results once all slots are filled by players. You'll need to balance the production of soldiers, archers, and cavalry with the construction of Wall levels to score points. It's a high-complexity game where resource management and the timing of unit placement are the keys to victory. Who will achieve the most Honor without letting the border fall?

## FAQ
### Is the game very complex?
Yes, it's an 'Expert' game. With a BGG weight of nearly 4.0, it requires significant attention to rules and strategic planning.

### Can I play it solo?
Yes, the game includes a Solo/Solitaire mode for those who want to test their strategies against the horde without other players.

### How long does a game take?
Be prepared for long sessions, lasting between 2 to 3 hours, depending on the group's experience.

### Is the game fully cooperative?
No, it's semi-cooperative. You compete for Honor points to win, but must cooperate in defense to avoid collective penalties.

### Is there a high language dependency?
Yes, there is extensive language dependency, especially regarding command cards and advisors.

### Who is this game for?
For veteran gamers who enjoy complex Eurogames, engine building, and historical/fantasy themes.

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