Haven't played with any Ark Nova expansions, just the base game over and over on BGA, so I would like to know whether any expansion fixes my one nagging problem with the game: that the deck RNG kind of picks the winner since you can't really do much about one player getting an exceptional set of cards from time to time, if you don't get some sometimes yourself?
The wave mechanic I mentioned definitely churns through the deck a lot faster, showing you more cards. There is also a new university tile that gives you an animal tag and lets you dig through the deck for an animal with that tag. That can help if you are struggling to find specific cards.
That said, I've played a bunch of games without the expansion and I never felt like RNG was a huge issue in the game. If I can't find the cards I want, I'll just change my strategy up to work with what I have. My 2 player games with my wife are generally pretty close.
I’ll look into that wave feature. I also haven’t played a lot of 2P, mostly various 3P+ matches. In those, it’s incredibly common for someone to either get a fantastic set of 2 or 3 cards from the start and everyone can do nothing but play catch-up, or the game is pretty even for a while until you have a few turns of the card library not displaying anything that works at all well with your strategy you’ve otherwise played well, and it’s too late or expensive to pivot effectively.
I’ll look into that wave feature. I also haven’t played a lot of 2P, mostly various 3P+ matches. In those, it’s incredibly common for someone to either get a fantastic set of 2 or 3 cards from the start and everyone can do nothing but play catch-up, or the game is pretty even for a while until you have a few turns of the card library not displaying anything that works at all well with your strategy you’ve otherwise played well, and it’s too late or expensive to pivot effectively.
I find that if someone else gets a "good card" as a starter it's generally money, when the real aim to get started quickly is to not ignore supporting conservation projects, even if it's just a 2 or 3 point project, so you can flip another card to level 2. There's just a lot of counter-options to play by focusing different tracks for universities, or partner zoos, but the benefits of supporting a conservation project to gain an immediate bonus (like 12 money) is big.
After about 40 years, I have finally gotten hold of a copy of one of my favourite board games from my youth
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A weekend of counter punching and rule reading awaits.
After about 40 years, I have finally gotten hold of a copy of one of my favourite board games from my youth...
Wow - just took a look at an unboxing video, and that looks way better than my battered-and-mangled 1979 edition.
davet010 wrote:After about 40 years, I have finally gotten hold of a copy of one of my favourite board games from my youth...
Wow - just took a look at an unboxing video, and that looks way better than my battered-and-mangled 1979 edition.
It's GORGEOUS! I've already played four times and of course my friend and I are condensing and streamlining the rules for future plays. Still haven't played over ten turns.
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