If you’re playing an online version of the game, such as the popular Skud Pai Sho, you have the option of either starting a game with a friend or squaring off against the computer. You can play Skud Pai Sho for free online by visiting http://skudpaisho. com. [2] X Research source Pai Sho is a fun, intelligent, challenging game that anyone can enjoy, not just fans of Avatar or Korra.
While it is possible to capture your opponent’s tiles in Pai Sho, the idea behind doing so is to keep them from forming harmonies rather than to collect the pieces themselves. In Skud Pai Sho, the object is to create an unbroken “harmony ring” that encircles the center of the board. [4] X Research source
Physical fan-made replicas of the game are also available for purchase online. These typically range in price from $30-200, depending on the size and quality of the materials used. [6] X Research source
When you and your opponent are positioning properly, you should each have an open gate to your right and left. Every time you add a new piece to the board during gameplay, you must start it inside one of the 4 gates.
Jasmine tiles can move up to 3 spaces at a time in a single direction. This tile will always start within your home gate. White Lily tiles move 2 spaces vertically and 2 spaces horizontally to form an “L” shape. You can start this tile in either of the open gates on the left or right edges of the board. White Jade tiles can move up to 5 spaces at a time in a single direction. This tile can either be started at your home gate or inside the “mid gate” (the centerpoint of the board), depending on how you prefer to play. Rose tiles can move up to 3 spaces at a time in a single direction. When added to the board, they’ll always start inside the foreign gate (your opponent’s home gate). Chrysanthemum tiles move 2 spaces vertically and 2 spaces horizontally to form an “L” shape. You can start this tile in either of the open gates on the left or right edges of the board. Rhododendron tiles can move up to 5 spaces at a time in a single direction. This tile can either be started at your home gate or inside the mid gate.
The Rock tile cancels harmonies along any lines its placed on. You can place this tile at any open point on the board. Once a Rock tile has been planted, it can’t be captured or moved, even by a Wheel. The Wheel tile rotates all adjacent tiles 1 space, unless doing so would move them off the board or into a gate. You can place this tile at any open point on the board. The Knotweed tile cancels harmonies in surrounding adjacent spaces by “choking” the flower tiles. If you’re playing on a physical board, flip the affected tiles over to show that they’ve been neutralized. You can place this tile at any open point on the board. The Boat tile can either move a flower tile to any other point on the board (taking that tile’s place in the process) or remove an opponent’s accent tile (disappearing from the board along with it). You can only play this tile on other tiles. The White Dragon tile removes active tiles from the board if it lands directly on them. You can place this tile at any open point on the board and move it in either 1 or 6 spaces in any direction on each turn. The White Lotus tile can turn harmonies into disharmonies and disharmonies into harmonies. You can place this tile at any open point on the board and move it up to 2 spaces in any direction on each turn.
One of your tiles can’t occupy the same space as one of your opponent’s tiles. The only exception to this rule is in the case of the Boat and White Dragon tiles, which take the place of another tile. Additionally, you’re not allowed to move any tile through or over any of the gates on the board once it has left its gate of origin. These sections are effectively off-limits except to new pieces. [12] X Research source
Count your tiles carefully as you deal to make sure that both players end up with the same number of each. Otherwise, the game won’t proceed fairly.
Every time you put a new tile into play on the board, you’ll grab a fresh tile from your reserve stock. No player is to ever have more than the designated number of tiles in their hand at any point during the game. [15] X Research source
Keep in mind that the greater your target number of harmonies, the longer it will take to finish the game. Pai Sho can be time-consuming, so setting too high a number could cause your game to feel never-ending.
If you want to up the stakes a little, the guest can win an early advantage by both planting the first tile and taking the first turn. In some versions of the game, the guest gets the privilege of placing a tile on the mid gate at the board’s center. [18] X Research source
From this point on, anytime you add a tile to the board, you must start it inside an open gate. Different tiles originate in different gates.
In Pai Sho, the pieces are played at the points where 2 board lines meet rather than inside the spaces themselves. Harmonies can’t be formed diagonally, or along any of the board’s key mid-lines, which run through the center of the board in an imaginary cross shape. [22] X Research source If you’re playing Pai Sho online, your harmonies will be highlighted on the screen to help you keep track of them.
You only have half the number of accent tiles in your bag that you do basic flower tiles, so use them wisely.
It’s possible to form a harmony of your own with a tile that’s being used to disrupt one of your opponent’s harmonies. The configuration of the board will change constantly, so don’t get discouraged if you’re trailing your opponent in harmonies. By the same token, don’t allow yourself to get too relaxed if you happen to be in the lead.
It can be tough to keep track of how many unbroken harmonies you have on the board when you’re focused on your next move. It may be helpful to pause periodically to look over the board and make sure you or your opponent haven’t missed anything. In a common variation of Ancient Pai Sho, the player who’s behind has 1 turn to disrupt their opponent’s harmony ring once it’s been completed. If they fail to do so, they lose the game. You can play this game with a kid you are babysitting. Even if there are plenty of games in the house, the game you bring will be new and exciting for them. It will also show the parents that you are better than the babysitters who come empty-handed.
Like most versions of the game, it is for two players and can be played online through the Garden Gate Community at https://skudpaisho. com. Rulebook and Rule Summaries, alongside explanations for how Key Pai Sho matches the portrayal in ‘Avatar: the Last Airbender’ can be found at https://keypaisho. wordpress. com.
They form when one of a Player’s Flower Tiles lies in a potential movement path of one of their Key Flower Tiles. They are ‘Blocked’ if an opponent’s Flower Tile is between the two Flowers attempting to Harmonize. There needs to be at least one open space between Harmonizing Flowers. Harmonies cannot form between Key Flowers of the same type.
Lily and Rose Tiles can each Move and Harmonise up to 3 steps per turn, Vertically, Horizontally, or Diagonally. Jasmine and Chrysanthemum Tiles can each Move and Harmonise up to 5 steps per turn, Vertically, or Horizontally. Jade and Rhododendron Tiles can each Move and Harmonise up to 5 steps per turn Diagonally.
Gates are where Flower Tiles are ‘Planted’, when first placed on the board. They can start their first movement in any of the squares surrounding the Gate, as indicated by Blue. Key Flower Tiles are either Light (white) or Dark (Red). Light Key Flowers can never land in Dark Garden Squares and Dark Key Flowers can never land in Light Garden Squares. However, all flowers can move through Gardens of the opposite color.
And that’s all there is to it! However, in addition to these basic rules, there are 12 Effect Tiles that add elements of creativity and surprise to the game.
Special Flower Tiles act much Like Key Flowers – They need to be planted in Gates before moving into the Garden – however, each has a unique ability that can be employed to assist your preferred play strategy. Accent Tiles are non-Flower Tiles and function very differently. Instead of being Planted in Gates, Accent Tiles are ‘Placed’ in the Garden by switching them with one of their Player’s Flower tiles that are already in a Garden Square. The Accent Tile is placed in the square that the Flower previously occupied, and the Flower returns to its Player’s collection to be re-used later. Each Accent Tile has a unique effect on the game. A Player can Place 1 Accent Tile per turn, at any point during their turn, before or after Planting or Moving. Accent Tiles are the only ones capable of moving over other Tiles.
Lotus: The Lotus Tile ignores all usual Harmony rules and Harmonizes over any distance with either Player’s Flower Tile. This Tile can therefore be used by either Player to complete their Harmony Ring. It can move 2 steps in a turn, with each step being in any direction. Orchid: If a Player moves the Orchid Tile during their turn, they are allowed one additional move that same turn. It can move 1 step in any direction per turn. Dahlia: The Dahlia can move any distance Vertically, Horizontally, or Diagonally, and can even move over other Tiles, however, when it lands, it must always do so beside another Tile already in the Garden. Fire lily: The Fire lily cannot form Harmonies (except with the Lotus), but it only Block’s opponent’s Harmonies. It can move 6 steps in a turn, with each step being in any direction.
The Stone: This Tile can be Placed anywhere in the Garden when switching for a Flower, not just in the original position of the Flower, but it is unable to Move by itself. It allows any of its Player’s Key Flowers to enter any square in its quarter of the Garden, ignoring whether the Garden is Dark or Light. The Knotweed: Once it has been placed, all surrounding Flowers are rendered unable to Move themselves or to Harmonize as long as they are beside the Knotweed (this affects Flowers belonging to either Player). The Knotweed is able to move up to 2 steps per turn, Vertically, Horizontally, or Diagonally. The Wheel: This is the only Accent Tile that must be Placed by switching with another Accent Tile, not a Flower Tile, allowing that Accent Tile to be recycled. Once per turn, during their turn, its Player can rotate all surrounding tiles up to 3 squares either clockwise or anticlockwise. All surrounding Tiles must rotate the same amount and be capable of landing in the final square of the Wheel effect’s motion. The Wheel is able to move up to 3 steps per turn, Vertically, Horizontally, or Diagonally. The Boat: When the Boat Tile moves it can activate its effect and carry all surrounding Tiles with it, placing them in the same positions relative to it at the end of its motion as they were in at the beginning of its motion. All must be able to land effectively in the final positions in order to use this effect. The Boat is able to move up to 4 steps per turn, Vertically, Horizontally, or Diagonally.
The Dragon: The Dragon Tile can land on another Tile to return it to its Player (That Tile can be re-used later). However, any Effect Tile can land on the Dragon to completely remove it from the game. Once removed it cannot be used again for the duration of that game. The Badgermole: The Badgermole can Land on a Tile and be placed beneath it. When below a Tile, the above Tile is completely unaffected by Accent Tile effects. The Badgermole can move while below a Tile and may carry the above Tile with it as it goes. The Skybison: The Skybison can Land on a Tile and be placed beneath it. When below a Flower, the above Tile cannot have its Harmonies blocked by opposing Flower Tiles. The Skybison can move while below a Tile and may carry the above Tile with it as it goes, and once it has finished moving, the Tile that it carried may make an additional Move, off of the Bison. The Koi: The Koi Tile can swap the position of Tiles on opposite sides of it (Vertically, Horizontally, or Diagonally). If they are in line and the Koi is between them, their positions can be switched, but only if both Tiles are able to land in the other’s square (eg Light Flowers cannot land in Dark Gardens).
