SGS Online: Registration Guide

If you are not familiar with the Chinese Language, finding your way around the all-Chinese SGS website can be a nightmare!

In this short post, I'll guide you through how to register for your SGS Online account. With this account, you can then play SGS Online or the new SGS iPhone app.

By the way... you can access the SGS Online website at http://sanguosha.com.

Ready? Here we go!!

When you first arrive at the SGS Online website, you should be greeted by this landing page shown above. Look for the button that I have highlighted for you called "Register New Account".

SGS iPhone Quick Guide

Hello! Hope all of you have been enjoying you Xmas holidays! :D

An anonymous reader left a comment on my previous "iPhone for SGS" post and requested some help with the application. So, here's a quick start guide to get you up and running with the game.

Note: This guide is not as thorough as I would like it to be, such as I did not cover the Menu buttons and various other details. The reason for this is (believe it or not) I don't have an iPhone, and I don't have access to this app!! Every image you see here comes courtesy of my friend and fellow SGS fanatic "JY Lek".

So... no more rambling! Let's go!!




The first thing you see when you launch the app is the Welcome screen... duh.

Stratagem 3: Outsourcing Murder 借刀杀人 (jiè dāo shā rén)

Literal Translation:
To kill with a borrowed knife


Tactical Classification:
Leverage


Historical Basis (Wikipedia):
Various sources. There are numerous examples of this in Chinese history. Wikipedia does not quote any specific examples.

Stratagem 2: Take a Hostage 围魏救赵

Literal Translation:
Besiege the Kingdom of Wei so as to rescue the Kingdom of Zhao


Tactical Classification:
Distraction


Historical Basis (Wikipedia):
The origin of this proverb is from the Warring States Period 战国时代 (435 - 221 BC). The Kingdom of Wei 魏国 attacked the Kingdom of Zhao 赵国 and laid siege to its capital Han Dan 邯郸. Zhao turned to the Kingdom of Qí 齐国 for help, but the Qí general Sun Bin 孙膑 determined it would be unwise to meet the army of Wei head on, so he instead attacked their capital at Da Liang 大梁. The army of Wei retreated in haste, and the tired troops were ambushed and defeated at the Battle of Gui Ling 桂陵之战, with the Wei general Pang Juan 庞涓 slain on the field.

SGS iPhone App Released!

Dear readers,

You know this game is popular when its released on the iPhone. SanGuoSha goes onto iPhones!!

Check out this post on the Apple iTunes store.

Translation Cards ON SALE NOW!!!!

Finally! The translation cards created for your playing reference! Introducing the beta trial version of the SGS English translation cards for characters.

All 8 characters (Front side) of the Woods Pack plus the 2 Demi-God characters.

A sample of the reverse side of one of the cards. 

Introducing: SGS 36 Stratagems Series

Dear readers,

Recently I've been reading the Historical Chinese "textbook" known as the 36 Stratagems (三十六计). It is a marvelous collection of tactics accumulated over 3000 years. Ever since I started playing SGS I have become quite a fan of Chinese history.

The book I'm reading. It is a modern day abridged version of 三十六计, complete with present day corporate world examples.

As I read the tactics, it suddenly dawned on me that some of these strategies apply in SGS very well. I'm no expert player but i thought it would be cool to write up about these strategies applied to SGS.

Please feel free to add in your comments and opinions to my posts!

Hope you will continue to visit this blog. I'll constantly update this to make this site the most complete SGS site on the net!

Have fun!! and 杀!

Stratagem 1: The Open Feint 瞒天过海 (mán tiān guò hǎi)

Decepticons: The literal versions of "The Open Feint"

Literal Translation: 
Deceiving the heavens to cross the ocean


Tactical Classification: 
Deception

Historical Basis (Wikipedia):
This stratagem references an episode in 643 AD, when Emperor Tang Tai Zong 唐太宗, baulked from crossing the sea to a campaign against Goguryeo (present day North Korea). His general Xue Ren Gui 薛仁贵 thought of a stratagem to get the emperor across and allay his fear of seasickness: on a clear day, the emperor was invited to meet a wise man. They entered through a dark tunnel into a hall where they feasted. After feasting several days, the Emperor heard the sound of waves and realised that he had been lured onto a ship! General Xue drew aside the curtains to reveal the ocean and confessed that they had already crossed the sea: Upon discovering this, the emperor decided to carry on and later completed the successful campaign.

New Category: "Unofficial 民间"

Dear readers,

I have created a new category of cards labelled as "Unofficial 民间". This new category will contain as many unofficial cards as i know about. These will include

- Demon Characters 鬼牌
- Wraith Characters 妖牌
- Other unofficial characters that fall under Shu/Wei/Wu/Heroes
- Special Roles such as the "Soul 魂牌"
- Playing cards such as "+2 Elephant" and other strange stuff.

Yes this will probably keep me busy for a while... but your readership has kept me going! So, thank you!

Have fun! and 杀!

Demon Zhū Gě Liàng 鬼诸葛亮

Translated Description:
"The Loyal Spirit at Wu Zhang Hills 五丈原忠魂 (wǔ zhàng yuán zhōng hún)"

(Note: Zhu Ge Liang died at Wu Zhang Hills before he could fulfill the wishes of the late Liu Bei 刘备)

(Double note: This description is probably the HARDEST to figure out. Seriously! Look at the simplified chinese characters listed above versus what is actually written on the right column of the card. Ridiculous!!)

Why is he a Demon:
Oh come on!!! How many damn versions of Zhu Ge Liang do we need in one game?! This is version number 4 already!! But at least all the other versions have nothing to do with his death.

Strangely, there is almost no supernatural mention of Zhu Ge Liang after his death. Given his superstar status, most would have thought the author would throw in some paranormal occurrence. With a come-back as dramatic as Guan Yu 关羽's ghost possessing Lu Meng 吕蒙, it would not have been far-fetched for Zhu Ge Liang's ghost to wreak havoc on earth. Yet, none of that happened. You kind of get that surreal sense of mourning after his passing, like the world will just never be the same without him.

So for some extra flavour, what kind of ridiculously powerful abilities would you give a supernatural Demon who was already omni-potent in life? Well... THE MOST RIDICULOUSLY POWERFUL ABILITY in the entire game!!!

So... what can I get you?

Dear readers,

I've been getting some questions lately about selling Unofficial Cards (such as the Demon Cards) as well as purchasing the Demi-God cards separately. I know it's tough getting the entire collection of Demi-Gods since there can be only 1 (or sometimes none!) per expansion pack.

Well i guess i might as well do a market survey! Do tell me what you would like to purchase from the SGS BlogShop in future. The poll is on the left column. Here are some pictures to help you out with your selection.

Demi-God Cards