There are a few niggles here though. The one exception to the generally high production values are the zoo mats themselves: as in Terraforming Mars, they’re constructed from a flimsy, lightweight card that feels destined to get damaged. Given the game generally has such high production values, this seems like an odd misstep on Feuerland’s part. Playing the card at strength 1 does not provide any benefit. Strength 2 allows players to place one of their association workers to gain 2 reputation point while strength 3 and 4 allows a player to get one partner zoo or university. Note that until a break is triggered and the board replenished, the token taken will not be available for the other players. Each action is determined by its strength, which ranges from 1 to 5. For example, the build action only allows enclosures with a maximum size of the current strength to be built. Each association task requires some threshold of strength; for example, a 2 strength is needed to increase reputation, but a 5 strength is required to gain a conservation project. At the end of each action, the exhausted action slot is moved to the far left and others are shifted right, increasing their strength. Action cards may be upgraded to give players more bonuses; for example, upgrading the build action allows the player to construct numerous enclosures. 'X tokens' can be used to increase the strength of an action, adding one strength for each X token discarded. Players can hold a maximum of five tokens at any one time. Each player has a set of five action cards to manage their gameplay, and the power of an action is determined by the slot the card currently occupies. The cards in question are: To do this the game uses several different mechanisms and cleverly combines them to provide 1 to 4 players with a 90 to 150 minute game. The game includes 1 larger central gameboard, 1 association board, 8 double sided player mats, 255 playing cards, 129 wooden pieces, and more than 250 cardboard tokens and tiles.

Ark Nova is an excellent board game, but too complex for new - Polygon Ark Nova is an excellent board game, but too complex for new

Being my own person who makes my own decisions I immediately found a copy as soon as it hit the UK. While I can see where the comparisons to Terraforming Mars come from, this is not a retheme of the red giant, but its own beast indeed. We Bought A ZooWith the return of Essen Spiele after a few covidy years away, we also saw the return of the game’s convention hype train. Allow with the impressive Boonlake and the gorgeous Bitoku, Ark Nova was one of the chosen ones. Early reports coined the phrase ‘Terraforming Zoo’ commenting on the heavy use of cards and the sheer amount included. If you are wondering how you could achieve this and also beat your opponents in the process, this article may help you to get through your first game. Let’s Plan Your Zoo!

Ark Nova - Capstone Games Ark Nova - Capstone Games

Each player has a set of five action cards to manage their gameplay, and the power of an action is determined by the slot the card currently occupies. The cards are: Once the game end condition is triggered, all players other than the one triggering the end condition will play another round. Once this last round is played, the final scoring will take place. Before even starting the game, you will probably realize that Ark Nova is one of those games that requires a lot of space on the table. As a testament to the game, almost everyone I’ve played with has wanted to own the game after the first play. There is an awful lot of content here including variety and a solo mode. The solo mode is simple to run and doesn’t require a lot of upkeep. For me, I prefer that to a full AI you must run as well as your own turns. Lastly, the Sponsors card lets you play sponsor cards which allow you to play sponsor cards, which can give permanent upgrades, unique buildings, end game scoring and so on. A Fish Called Wanda

4 Reviews

At the heart of Ark Nova are 255 cards featuring animals, specialists, unique enclosures, and conservation projects, each with a particular ability. Use them to increase the appeal and scientific reputation of your zoo and to collect conservation points. Each player has a set of action cards, which you will use and upgrade to carry out your plans. The Association card allows you to send one of your workers to the Association Board which could provide you with partnership opportunities with Zoos from different continents, the assistance of universities, and the ability to complete conservation projects and score big points. When building, each player populates their zoo mat with enclosures made up of differing numbers of hex tiles. And they come in several flavours: single-use enclosures for standard exhibits; petting zoos, aviaries and reptile houses that can house multiple fluffy, feathery and scaly friends; and large, unique building tiles that tie in to specific sponsorship projects. In Ark Nova, you will plan and design a modern, scientifically managed zoo. With the ultimate goal of owning the most successful zoological establishment, you will build enclosures, accommodate animals, and support conservation projects all over the world. Specialists and unique buildings will help you in achieving this goal. Unbox Ark Nova and you’ll likely be greeted by one thought: the artwork and components are stunning. Every card features captivating artwork – I still descend into paroxysms of cute aggression every time I encounter the slumbering fennec fox or floofy alpaca. And while the images aren’t as unique as Wingspan’s inimitable avian illustrations, they do create the feeling of populating a vibrant, three-dimensional zoo.