Tzolkin: The Mayan Calendar presents a new game mechanism: dynamic worker placement. Players representing different Mayan tribes place their workers on giant connected gears, and as the gears rotate they take the workers to different action spots.

During a turn, players can either (a) place one or more workers on the lowest visible spot of the gears or (b) pick up one or more workers. When placing workers, they must pay corn, which is used as a currency in the game. When they pick up a worker, they perform certain actions depending on the position of the worker. Actions located "later" on the gears are more valuable, so it's wise to let the time work for you – but players cannot skip their turn; if they have all their workers on the gears, they have to pick some up. 

The game ends after one full revolution of the central Tzolkin gear. There are many paths to victory. Pleasing the gods by placing crystal skulls in deep caves or building many temples are just two of those many paths...

COMPONENTS:

game board comprising 6 interlocking pieces (4 pieces in the first edition)

6 gears of various sizes

6 fasteners

1 sheet of stickers

24 workers (6 each in 4 player colors: red, yellow, green, blue)

28 round markers (7 each in 4 player colors)

4 scoring counters (1 each in 4 player colors)

65 wooden cubes representing resources (wood, stone and gold)

13 crystal skulls made of plastic

65 corn tokens of values 1 or 5

28 harvest tiles (16 corn and 12 wood)

21 starting wealth tiles

13 monuments

32 buildings divided into 2 ages

4 two-sided player boards (1 each in 4 colors)

1 starting player marker

1 rulebook

AWARDS & HONORS:

2015 MinD-Spielepreis Complex Game Nominee

2014 Juego del Año Tico Nominee

2014 Games Magazine Best New Advanced Strategy Game Winner

2013 Tric Trac Finalist

2013 Tric Trac d'Argent Winner

2013 Spiel des Jahres Kennerspiel des Jahres Recommended

2013 Spiel der Spiele Hit für Experten Recommended

2013 Nederlandse Spellenprijs Best Expert Game Nominee

2013 Lys Passioné Winner

2013 Ludoteca Ideale Official Selection Winner

2013 Le Lys Passioné Finalist

2013 JUG Adult Game of the Year Finalist

2013 Jocul Anului în România Best Game in Romanian Winner

2013 Japan Boardgame Prize Voters' Selection Winner

2013 International Gamers Award - General Strategy: Multi-player Nominee

2013 Hra roku Nominee

2013 Gra Roku Advanced Game of the Year Nominee

2013 Gouden Ludo Nominee

2013 Golden Geek Most Innovative Board Game Nominee

2013 Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork/Presentation Nominee

2012 Swiss Gamers Award Winner

2012 Meeples' Choice Winner

2012 Meeples' Choice Nominee

2012 Jogo do Ano Nominee

2012 Jocul Anului în România Advanced Winner

2012 Jocul Anului în România Advanced Finalist

BGG link