The year's first new Imperium: Horizons civilisation spotlight blog is the Tang...

A banner reading "Imperium Horizons Civilisation Spotlight: The Tang, designed by Nigel Buckle and Dávid Turczi" alongside an illustration of a woman from the Tang Dynasty of China drinking tea

Today on the blog we are looking at the Tang Dynasty of Imperial China. It ruled from 618 to 907 CE and oversaw expansion, cultural developments and economic growth with blossoming trade along the Silk Road. In Horizons, they are another trader nation and require the Trade Routes expansion to play. Like the other Chinese civilisation, the Qin Dynasty before them, playing the Tang means you put population onto market cards rather than progress.

A sample spread of cards from the Tang deck of the board game Imperium: Horizons, named from left to right: Tang, Rebellion, Chang'An, Cosmopolitan Culture

Two things define the Tang deck more than anything else: cities and Unrest. The largest cities of the world at the time were in China, so naturally the deck comes with plenty of cities, including two metropolises and their bustling Cosmopolitan Culture. The second is the constant instability, represented by the threat of Rebellion even from your own cities and your unusual relation to Unrest.  You do not have any in your deck, instead adding 3 copies to the supply, but every solstice you’ll take an Unrest!

This is not entirely a drawback, as you can use Taoism to get an action once you have a Civilised card. Fortunately, you have two in your starting deck – Imperial Examinations and Scholar Officials. These two cards also give you access to resources on cards in the market and a way to acquire more Civilised cards, with an added bonus that you can continue to use them once you become an Empire. Your Unrest management is made far easier once you play Chan Buddhism.

A sample spread of cards from the Tang deck of the board game Imperial Examinations, Scholar Officials, Chan Buddhismerium: Horizons, named left to right; Taoism, Impe

Of course trading is a part of this deck too, with the Eastern Silk Road as a key development, along with the Salt Industry Commission, which (at a steep, but manageable cost) will allow you to benefit from multiple Trade Routes. If your dynasty has the Mandate of Heaven (a card familiar from the Qin deck), it even provides a Goods income! Finally, do not overlook the fun side of life in the Tang cities either, with Tea Drinking and Fireworks, both of which can help you to draw the right card at the right moment.

A sample spread of cards from the Tang deck of the board game Imperium: Horizons, named Eastern Silk Road, Salt Industry Commission, Tea Drinking, Fireworks

We have barely scratched the surface of what this deck contains and offers. Like the Qin before, when playing the Tang you will be pulled in multiple directions and the timing of what you do is vital for your success.

Find previous civilisation spotlights for the Japanese, Taíno, Mayans, Inuit,
 Magyars, Polynesians, Cultists, Abbasids, Guptas and Aksumites.

High res versions of all teased cards are available on the the game's
BoardGameGeek page under the images section.

Imperium: Horizons is out February 2024. Pre-order now.