Otsuki Designer & Artist Andy Farkas On Making His First Board Game

About Otsuki, from BoardGameGeek:

Play as an animal balancing their relationship to the elements and attempting to reach their spiritual potential allowing them to become Otsuki (guide) to help others realize their highest self. Players play tricks with element suited cards. Trick winners must balance (or unbalance) elements within tricks and choose cards from hand to pay as offerings in hopes of moving up the spirit board at the end of the round. Each player's chosen animal has specific abilities related to their animal nature that can be used during the play to alter the course of each trick. The first player to balance all four elements AND reach the top of the spirit board to reveal your spiritual nature wins the game. -description from the designer