Lanterns: The Harvest Festival – 101 Guide to Rules, Strategy & Instructions

Introduction

Lanterns: The Harvest Festival is a game that I’ve played a fair few times. It’s a tile-placement game where players decorate a lake with floating lanterns and compete to earn the most honor before the festival begins. The game was designed by Christopher Chung and published by Foxtrot Games and Renegade Game Studios. Since its release in 2015, it has become a favorite for families and friends who enjoy a mix of strategy and luck.

The game is set in imperial China, and the idea is that we are artisans decorating the lake for the harvest festival. Each player has tiles with different colored lanterns on them. When you place a tile, you and the other players get lantern cards based on the orientation of the tile. You can exchange these cards for dedication tokens, which give you points. The player with the most points at the end wins.

It’s a game that’s easy to learn but has enough depth to keep you coming back. It’s also beautiful, with colorful lantern cards and tiles that make the game board look like a vibrant lake as the game goes on.

Rules for playing Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

The rules of Lanterns: The Harvest Festival are pretty straightforward. The game is played in turns, and each turn has three parts. First, you can exchange lantern cards for a dedication token if you have the right set. Second, you place a lake tile from your hand onto the table, which gives everyone lantern cards. Third, you draw a new lake tile to end your turn.

There are three types of dedication tokens you can earn: one for four of a kind, one for three pairs, and one for seven different colors. The tokens are worth different points, and they get less valuable as the game goes on.

When placing tiles, you need to match the color of at least one side to the tile it’s touching. You get a lantern card for the color facing you, and each other player gets a card for the color facing them. If you match multiple sides, you get bonus cards. There are also platform tiles that give you an extra action.

The game ends when all the tiles are placed. You finish the round so everyone has the same number of turns, and then you count up your points from dedication tokens and leftover lantern cards.

Equipment and Setup for Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

To play Lanterns: The Harvest Festival, you need the game box, which comes with lake tiles, lantern cards, dedication tokens, and wooden favor tokens. You also get a starting lake tile with a platform on it.

For setup, you put the starting tile in the middle of the table. Each player gets three lake tiles and one lantern card of each color. You sort the dedication tokens by type and value, and you’re ready to go.

If you don’t have the game, you could try making your own version with paper and markers. It won’t be as pretty, but it could work!

The tiles in Lanterns: The Harvest Festival are square, with each side showing a color. There are seven colors in total, and some tiles have platforms that give you favor tokens when matched.

How to Play Lanterns: The Harvest Festival and Game Mechanics

Playing Lanterns: The Harvest Festival involves a few key mechanics:

1. Setup: Place the starting tile, give out initial lantern cards and tiles, and set up the dedication tokens.
2. Gameplay: On your turn, exchange cards for tokens, place a tile, and draw a new tile.
3. End of the Game: The game ends when all tiles are placed. Finish the round, then count points.

During gameplay, you go through these phases:

1. Exchange: Trade in sets of lantern cards for dedication tokens.
2. Tile Placement: Match a tile from your hand to the ones on the table, get lantern cards based on the orientation.
3. Draw: Take a new tile to have three in your hand again.

How to Win at Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

To win at Lanterns: The Harvest Festival, you need to collect dedication tokens by turning in sets of lantern cards. You want to get the most points from these tokens. To do this, you need to plan your tile placements to get the right cards and prevent others from getting what they need.

At the beginning, the tokens are worth more points, so try to get a dedication token early. As the game goes on, you might need to change your strategy based on what tokens are left and what cards you can get.

Using favor tokens to exchange lantern cards can be a big help. You get these by matching platform sides when placing tiles. They let you swap one card for another, which can give you the set you need for a dedication token.

Best Strategies for playing Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

Here are some strategies for Lanterns: The Harvest Festival:

First, try to keep a balance of lantern cards. This makes it easier to get dedication tokens. Second, watch what cards your opponents have. If you can, place tiles that don’t give them the cards they need.

Also, think about the order of dedication tokens. Sometimes it’s better to wait and get a different type of token that’s worth more points.

And don’t forget about favor tokens. They can really change the game, so try to get them when you can.

Scenarios

Sometimes you might find yourself with a lot of one color card. This can be good or bad. If you can get a four-of-a-kind token, that’s great. But if not, those cards might not be very useful. Try to use favor tokens or place tiles that let you trade those cards for something better.

If you’re behind, look for big moves that can get you a lot of points quickly. This might mean going for a seven-different-colors token or setting up a big combo with favor tokens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions:

Q: Can I place a tile anywhere?
A: You have to match at least one side of the tile you’re placing to a tile that’s already on the table.

Q: What if I can’t match a tile?
A: You always can. The game is designed so there’s always at least one match.

Q: Can I save lantern cards for later?
A: Yes, you can hold onto cards and use them when it’s best for you.

Q: How many players can play?
A: The game is for 2 to 4 players.

Q: How long does a game take?
A: Usually about 30 minutes.

External Links

For more info on Lanterns: The Harvest Festival, check out these links:

Official Lanterns: The Harvest Festival Page