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:''This article is about '''Zendo''', the inductive logic game. For other uses of '''Zendo''' see [[Zendo (disambiguation)]]'' |
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{{Infobox game |
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| name = Zendo |
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{{Infobox Game |
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| subtitle = The Game of Inductive Logic |
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| title = Zendo |
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| image = Zendo game.jpg |
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| image_link = [[Image:zendo_game.jpg|300px]] |
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| image_size = |
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| image_caption = The beginning of a game of ''Zendo''. According to the marker stones, the koan on the left does not follow the Master's rule, but the one on the right does. |
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| image_alt = |
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| caption = The beginning of a game of ''Zendo''. According to the marker stones, the koan on the left follows the Master's rule, but the one on the right does not. |
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| width = |
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| label_width = |
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| other_names = |
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| AKA = |
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| manufacturer = |
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| designer = Kory Heath |
| designer = Kory Heath |
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| illustrator = |
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| publisher = [[Looney Labs]] |
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| actor = |
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| players = 3–6 |
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| voice_over = |
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| ages = All ages |
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| publisher = [[Looney Labs]] |
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| setup_time = < 5 minutes |
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| date ={{Start date and age|df=n|1999|12|31}} |
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| playing_time = 5–30 minutes |
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| years = |
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| genre = [[Guessing game]] |
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| language = |
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| players = 2—6 |
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| setup_time = < 5 minutes |
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| playing_time = 15—60 minutes |
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| random_chance = Low |
| random_chance = Low |
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| skills |
| skills = [[Inductive reasoning]], [[Pattern recognition]] |
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| materials = [[Icehouse pieces]] for the first edition or custom plastic blocks for later editions; rule cards; black, white, and green stones |
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| bggid = 6830 |
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| media_type = |
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| blank_label = Ages |
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| blank_data = 12 and up |
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| website = {{url|http://www.koryheath.com/zendo/|Designer}}<br>{{url|http://www.looneylabs.com/games/zendo|publisher}} |
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| footnotes = |
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}} |
}} |
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'''''Zendo''''' is a [[game]] of [[inductive logic]] designed by [[Kory Heath]] in which one player (the "Master") creates a rule for structures ("koans") to follow, and the other players (the "Students") try to discover it by building and studying various koans which follow or break the rule. The first student to correctly state the rule wins. |
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'''''Zendo''''' is a [[game]] of [[inductive logic]] designed by [[Kory Heath]] in which one player (the "Master") creates a rule for structures ("[[Kōan|koan]]s") to follow, and the other players (the "Students") try to discover it by building and studying various koans which follow or break the rule. The first student to correctly state the rule wins. |
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The rules were published in 2001 after more than a year of [[playtest]]s and changes.<ref name=zendohist>{{cite web |
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| last = Heath |
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| first = Kory |
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| authorlink = Kory Heath |
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| coauthors = |
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| title = Zendo—Design History |
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| work = |
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| publisher = |
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| date = [[2004-09-08]] |
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| year = 2004 |
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| url = http://www.wunderland.com/WTS/Kory/Games/Zendo/DesignHistory.html |
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| format = |
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| doi = |
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| accessdate = 2007-08-04 }}</ref> A boxed set of the game was released by [[Looney Labs]] at the 2003 [[Origins Game Fair]] but is now out of print. The set contained 60 [[Icehouse pieces|''Icehouse'' pieces]] in red, yellow, green, and blue, 60 glass stones, and a small deck of cards containing simple rules for beginning players to choose. ''Zendo'' is also published in Looney Labs' ''Playing with Pyramids'', a book of rules and strategies for a dozen popular games playable with ''Icehouse'' pieces. |
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''Zendo'' can be compared to the card game ''[[Eleusis (game)|Eleusis]]'' and the chess variant ''[[Penultima]]'' in which players attempt to discover inductively a secret rule thought of by one or more players (called "[[God]]" or "[[Nature]]" in ''Eleusis'' and "Spectators" in ''Penultima'') who declare plays legal or illegal on the basis of their rule |
''Zendo'' can be compared to the card game ''[[Eleusis (game)|Eleusis]]'' and the chess variant ''[[Penultima]]'' in which players attempt to discover inductively a secret rule thought of by one or more players (called "[[God]]" or "[[Nature]]" in ''Eleusis'' and "Spectators" in ''Penultima'') who declare plays legal or illegal on the basis of their rules. It can also be compared to [[Petals Around the Rose]], a similar inductive reasoning puzzle where the "secret rule" is always the same. |
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The game can be played with any set of colorful playing pieces, and has been sold with a set of 60 [[Icehouse pieces|Icehouse pyramids]] in red, yellow, green, and blue, 60 glass stones and a small deck of cards containing simple rules for beginners. The Icehouse pieces were replaced in the second edition with blocks, single size pyramids and wedges. [[Origami]] pyramids are a common choice of playing piece. |
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== Rules == |
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''Zendo'' is designed for three to six players. One is the Master and the others are Students. |
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== |
==History== |
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The rules were published in 2001 after more than a year of [[playtest]]s and changes.<ref name=zendohist>{{cite web | last = Heath | first = Kory | author-link = Kory Heath | title = Zendo—Design History | date = 8 September 2004 | url = http://www.koryheath.com/zendo/design-history/ | access-date = 2010-02-23 }}</ref> In 2004, the Zendo boxed set won ''Best Abstract Board Game of 2003'' at the Origins Awards.<ref name=icv1>{{cite news|title=Origins Award Winners for 2003|url=http://icv2.com/articles/games/view/5173/origins-award-winners-for-2003|access-date=June 8, 2015|work=ICv2|date=June 28, 2004}}</ref> In 2005, the set won the Mensa Select Game Award.<ref name=icv11>{{cite news|last1=Bunge|first1=Nicole|title='Zendo' Returns|url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/38824/zendo-returns|access-date=February 13, 2018|work=ICv2|date=November 1, 2017|language=en}}</ref> ''Zendo'' is also published in Looney Labs' ''Playing with Pyramids'', a book of rules and strategies for a dozen popular games playable with ''Icehouse'' pieces.<ref>{{cite web|title=Out Of Print (OOP) Pyramid Products|url=http://wunderland.com/icehouse/BlackIce/Default.html|website=Wunderland|publisher=Looney Labs|access-date=June 10, 2015}}</ref> |
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A game will require: |
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* A few dozen building pieces. The game was designed for ''Icehouse'' pieces, but [[LEGO]] bricks, [[Magnetix]], or even words can be used. |
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* Two dozen "marking stones", half white and half black. Alternatively, the Master may designate two halves of the playing space as "white" and "black" and move each koan to the appropriate side. |
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* At least a dozen "guessing stones". These are usually represented by green stones, but coins work just as well. |
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* Two "answer stones" for each player: one white, one black. |
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In December 2017, the company reissued ''Zendo'' game separate from the Looney pyramids line for the first time. The [[Icehouse pieces|Icehouse pyramids]] were replaced by blocks, single size pyramids and wedges. Buddhist terminology were also removed from the instructions.<ref name=icv11/> In August 2018, ''Zendo Rules Expansion'' #1 was released, adding 10 rule cards to the game.<ref name=icv14>{{cite news |last1=Bunge |first1=Nicole |title='Star Trek Fluxx' Gets Foil Expansion That Breaks The Timeline |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/40649/star-trek-fluxx-gets-foil-expansion-that-breaks-the-timeline |access-date=December 17, 2018 |work=ICv2 |date=June 14, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> |
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=== Choosing a rule === |
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The Master must devise a secret rule for koans to follow. Rules may refer to anything about the pieces or their contact or alignment with the playing surface, but may not refer to external conditions such as the posture or words of any player, or their aligment relative to anything outside the koan. A koan will "have the Buddha-nature" and be marked white if and only if it complies with the rule; otherwise, it will be marked black. Rules should be formulated in very specific terms so that the Master does not accidentally misjudge koans or wait until the middle of a game to ponder an ambiguity. |
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==Gameplay== |
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Some example rules, listed in increasing difficulty, are: |
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Within Zendo, most players are known as Students, who will build structures of pieces known as [[Kōan|koan]]s. Before play, one player (known as the Master) will invent a secret Rule, such as "a koan has the Buddha-nature if and only if it contains one or more green pieces".<ref name="kory"/> The Master then builds two koans - one which follows the rule and one which does not. These are marked with a white and black stone respectively. |
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* A koan has the Buddha-nature if and only if it has at least one blue piece. |
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* A koan does not have the Buddha-nature if and only if it has any green pieces. |
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* A koan has the Buddha-nature if and only if it has an odd number of blue pieces. |
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* A koan has the Buddha-nature if and only if the number of blue pieces touching at least one green piece is odd. |
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Students then take turns to build koans. After building a koan, a student may call either "Master" or "Mondo":<ref name="kory">{{Cite web|url=http://koryheath.com/zendo/|title=Zendo | Kory Heath}}</ref> |
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It is worth noting that rules are often harder for Students to solve than the Master expects, and that extremely short games are not as disappointing to Students as extremely long ones are frustrating. |
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*'''Master''': The Master determines whether that Student's koan follows or breaks the Rule (also stylized as: "possesses or lacks the [[Buddha-nature]]", in fitting with the game's philosophical theme<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.critical-hits.com/blog/2005/11/16/game-review-zendo/|title = Game Review: Zendo|date = 16 Nov 2005|access-date = 9 Sep 2015|website = Critical Hits}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.fairplaygames.com/gamedisplay.asp?gameid=720|title = The Fun and Beauty of Game Design: An Interview with Kory Heath.|date = 3 Jul 2015|access-date = 9 Sep 2015|website = Fair Play Games|last = Petty|first = Mike}}</ref>) and marks it with a white or black stone accordingly. |
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=== Initial koans === |
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*'''Mondo''': Each Student guesses whether the koan follows or breaks the rule, by holding a black or white stone in their hand. The Master marks whether the koan follows the rule, and stones are revealed simultaneously: Students who guessed correctly are awarded a Guessing Stone.<ref name="kory"/> |
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Once the rule is created, the Master will create and mark one white koan and one black one. This pair will give the Students some idea of where to start in inducing the rule. A helpful pair has many similarities, and an unhelpful one has few or none. The Master is encouraged to ask the Students whether they want a helpful or unhelpful pair of initial koans, but the Master should decide how helpful he or she wants to be. |
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At the end of their turn, a Student may spend Guessing Stones to guess the Master's Rule. If the guess is wrong, the Master may build and mark a new koan (which either fits the Master's Rule but not the Student's guess, or vice versa) to prove this. The first student to correctly state the rule wins that round and becomes the new Master.<ref name="kory"/> |
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After this, the Master will take the role of a moderator and judge, and the Students will begin to play, beginning with whomever the Master picks and proceeding clockwise. |
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== Philosophy of play == |
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Zendo encourages inductive reasoning and [[scientific thinking]] due to the nature of the guessing process. Players are encouraged to [[Critical thinking|think critically]] while playing the game.<ref name=":0" /> |
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In a turn, a Student should: |
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# '''Build a koan''' using pieces from the box. Koans may be built in any way as long as they do not touch other koans or objects other than the table. If a piece the Student wants is not available, he or she may ask the Master to break a koan down. The master is encouraged to consider the input of other players in making a decision and may deny the request. |
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# '''Say "Master" or "Mondo"'''. "Master" is a request for the Master to mark the new koan white or black. "Mondo", on the other hand, requires all Students to guess whether the new koan is white or black. Each Student, including the one who called Mondo, should hide an answering stone in one fist, hold that fist over the playing field, and reveal the stone when everyone is ready. The Master will then mark the koan appropriately and award a guessing stone to each Student who guessed correctly. |
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# '''Guess the Rule''' (optionally) by giving a guessing stone to the Master and clearly stating a guess of the rule. If the guess is ambiguous, the Master will ask the Student questions about the guess until it is clear. The Master will return the guessing stone if any koan on the table violates the guess, or if the Student is unable to articulate a guess which is clear to the Master. It is the Master's responsibility to make sure guesses are unambiguous and not contradicted by existing koans, but help from other Students is encouraged. Once a clear guess is made, the Master will try to disprove it by building and marking either a white koan which the guess would rule black, or a black koan which the guess would rule white. If the Master disproves the guess, the Student may repeat the guessing process until he or she runs out of guessing stones. |
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Although it is possible to 'win' Zendo by correctly stating a rule, there are no [[Zero-sum game|losers]]. Every player benefits from observing and following play. Furthermore, Masters may 'win' as well, by choosing a challenging, yet simple Rule.<ref name="zendohist" /> |
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=== Winning === |
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If a Student makes an official guess which the Master cannot disprove, that Student has discovered the rule, achieved enlightenment, and won the game. |
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== Koan attributes == |
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[[File:Icehouse pieces paper and plastic.jpg|thumb|A selection of commercially-made plastic Icehouse pieces, and home-made paper pyramids]] |
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Pieces tend to be objects with multiple discrete distinguishing attributes; for example, [[Icehouse pieces]], folded paper pyramids or [[Lego blocks]]. Using these, it is possible to create many different parts inside a koan. A partial list<ref name=":0" /><ref name="zendohist" /> of koan attributes is below. |
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# Size of pieces |
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# Shape of pieces<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://new.wunderland.com/2017/08/02/first-sample-zendo-pieces/|title=First Sample Zendo Pieces | Wunderland|date=2 August 2017 }}</ref> |
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# Color of pieces |
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# Number of pieces |
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# Relative orientation ("pointing at another piece/parallel to another piece") of pieces |
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# Groundedness (pieces supported entirely by other pieces are not "grounded") of pieces |
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== Awards == |
== Awards == |
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* ''Zendo'' won the [[2003 Origins Award winners|2003 Origins Award]] for "Abstract Board Game". |
* ''Zendo'' won the [[2003 Origins Award winners|2003 Origins Award]] for "Abstract Board Game".<ref name=icv1/> |
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* ''Zendo'' was named one of the |
* ''Zendo'' was named one of the 2005 Mensa Select games by [[Mensa International|American Mensa]].<ref name=icv11/> |
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==Reviews== |
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*''Family Games: The 100 Best''<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/familygames100be0000unse/page/358/mode/2up | isbn=978-1-934547-21-2 | title=Family games : The 100 best | date=2010 | last1=Lowder | first1=James | publisher=Green Ronin }}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* |
*{{url|http://www.koryheath.com/zendo/|Designer}} Zendo page |
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* |
* {{url|http://www.looneylabs.com/games/zendo|publisher}}, Looney Labs Zendo site |
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*[http://icehousegames.org/wiki/index.php?title=Zendo ''Zendo''] at IcehouseGames Wiki |
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*{{bgg|6830|''Zendo''}} |
*{{bgg|6830|''Zendo''}} |
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*[http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?id=4920 Zendo-san] (a freeware game of ''Zendo'' where the computer takes the role of master) at the-underdogs.info |
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*[http://okasaki.blogspot.com/2008/02/games-for-programmers-zendo.html Zendo as debugging] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zendo (Game)}} |
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[[Category:Icehouse games]] |
[[Category:Icehouse games]] |
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[[Category:Mensa Select winners]] |
[[Category:Mensa Select winners]] |
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[[Category:Origins Award winners]] |
[[Category:Origins Award winners]] |
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[[Category:Games of mental skill]] |
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[[Category:Games with concealed rules]] |
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Latest revision as of 03:29, 19 June 2024
| The Game of Inductive Logic | |
|---|---|
 The beginning of a game of Zendo. According to the marker stones, the koan on the left follows the Master's rule, but the one on the right does not. | |
| Designers | Kory Heath |
| Publishers | Looney Labs |
| Publication | December 31, 1999 |
| Genres | Guessing game |
| Players | 2—6 |
| Setup time | < 5 minutes |
| Playing time | 15—60 minutes |
| Chance | Low |
| Skills | Inductive reasoning, Pattern recognition |
| Materials required | Icehouse pieces for the first edition or custom plastic blocks for later editions; rule cards; black, white, and green stones |
| Ages | 12 and up |
| Website | Designer publisher |
Zendo is a game of inductive logic designed by Kory Heath in which one player (the "Master") creates a rule for structures ("koans") to follow, and the other players (the "Students") try to discover it by building and studying various koans which follow or break the rule. The first student to correctly state the rule wins.
Zendo can be compared to the card game Eleusis and the chess variant Penultima in which players attempt to discover inductively a secret rule thought of by one or more players (called "God" or "Nature" in Eleusis and "Spectators" in Penultima) who declare plays legal or illegal on the basis of their rules. It can also be compared to Petals Around the Rose, a similar inductive reasoning puzzle where the "secret rule" is always the same.
The game can be played with any set of colorful playing pieces, and has been sold with a set of 60 Icehouse pyramids in red, yellow, green, and blue, 60 glass stones and a small deck of cards containing simple rules for beginners. The Icehouse pieces were replaced in the second edition with blocks, single size pyramids and wedges. Origami pyramids are a common choice of playing piece.
History
[edit]The rules were published in 2001 after more than a year of playtests and changes.[1] In 2004, the Zendo boxed set won Best Abstract Board Game of 2003 at the Origins Awards.[2] In 2005, the set won the Mensa Select Game Award.[3] Zendo is also published in Looney Labs' Playing with Pyramids, a book of rules and strategies for a dozen popular games playable with Icehouse pieces.[4]
In December 2017, the company reissued Zendo game separate from the Looney pyramids line for the first time. The Icehouse pyramids were replaced by blocks, single size pyramids and wedges. Buddhist terminology were also removed from the instructions.[3] In August 2018, Zendo Rules Expansion #1 was released, adding 10 rule cards to the game.[5]
Gameplay
[edit]Within Zendo, most players are known as Students, who will build structures of pieces known as koans. Before play, one player (known as the Master) will invent a secret Rule, such as "a koan has the Buddha-nature if and only if it contains one or more green pieces".[6] The Master then builds two koans - one which follows the rule and one which does not. These are marked with a white and black stone respectively.
Students then take turns to build koans. After building a koan, a student may call either "Master" or "Mondo":[6]
- Master: The Master determines whether that Student's koan follows or breaks the Rule (also stylized as: "possesses or lacks the Buddha-nature", in fitting with the game's philosophical theme[7][8]) and marks it with a white or black stone accordingly.
- Mondo: Each Student guesses whether the koan follows or breaks the rule, by holding a black or white stone in their hand. The Master marks whether the koan follows the rule, and stones are revealed simultaneously: Students who guessed correctly are awarded a Guessing Stone.[6]
At the end of their turn, a Student may spend Guessing Stones to guess the Master's Rule. If the guess is wrong, the Master may build and mark a new koan (which either fits the Master's Rule but not the Student's guess, or vice versa) to prove this. The first student to correctly state the rule wins that round and becomes the new Master.[6]
Philosophy of play
[edit]Zendo encourages inductive reasoning and scientific thinking due to the nature of the guessing process. Players are encouraged to think critically while playing the game.[8]
Although it is possible to 'win' Zendo by correctly stating a rule, there are no losers. Every player benefits from observing and following play. Furthermore, Masters may 'win' as well, by choosing a challenging, yet simple Rule.[1]
Koan attributes
[edit]
Pieces tend to be objects with multiple discrete distinguishing attributes; for example, Icehouse pieces, folded paper pyramids or Lego blocks. Using these, it is possible to create many different parts inside a koan. A partial list[8][1] of koan attributes is below.
- Size of pieces
- Shape of pieces[9]
- Color of pieces
- Number of pieces
- Relative orientation ("pointing at another piece/parallel to another piece") of pieces
- Groundedness (pieces supported entirely by other pieces are not "grounded") of pieces
Awards
[edit]- Zendo won the 2003 Origins Award for "Abstract Board Game".[2]
- Zendo was named one of the 2005 Mensa Select games by American Mensa.[3]
Reviews
[edit]- Family Games: The 100 Best[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Heath, Kory (8 September 2004). "Zendo—Design History". Retrieved 2010-02-23.
- ^ a b "Origins Award Winners for 2003". ICv2. June 28, 2004. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
- ^ a b c Bunge, Nicole (November 1, 2017). "'Zendo' Returns". ICv2. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
- ^ "Out Of Print (OOP) Pyramid Products". Wunderland. Looney Labs. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
- ^ Bunge, Nicole (June 14, 2018). "'Star Trek Fluxx' Gets Foil Expansion That Breaks The Timeline". ICv2. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Zendo | Kory Heath".
- ^ "Game Review: Zendo". Critical Hits. 16 Nov 2005. Retrieved 9 Sep 2015.
- ^ a b c Petty, Mike (3 Jul 2015). "The Fun and Beauty of Game Design: An Interview with Kory Heath". Fair Play Games. Retrieved 9 Sep 2015.
- ^ "First Sample Zendo Pieces | Wunderland". 2 August 2017.
- ^ Lowder, James (2010). Family games : The 100 best. Green Ronin. ISBN 978-1-934547-21-2.
External links
[edit]- Designer Zendo page
- publisher, Looney Labs Zendo site
- Zendo at BoardGameGeek