Ark Nova

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Details

Sourced from: https://github.com/crustymonkey/playeraid_modules

Player Aid Author: Jay Deiman, with edits for expansion content from Jarrod Moore

Description

Build your zoo and contribute to conservation efforts

Expansions in Use

  • Marine Worlds

  • Place the game board in middle of table, along with other component trays
  • Place the Break token on start space according to player count
  • Prepare bonus tiles:
    • Place random tiles on each of 4 open yellow spaces
    • Place 1 random tile next to space 15 of reputation track
  • Prepare zoo cards:
    • Shuffle cards and place them face down on the board
    • Deal 6 cards face-down cards to spaces on board
  • Prepare Association board:
    • Place next to game board
    • Place 1 partner zoo of each continent
    • Place 1 of each university on their spaces
    • Prepare Conservation project cards:
      • Shuffle deck of starting cards
      • Place 3 cards in first 3 spaces below game board
      • 4P: Place 1 extra card below game board
    • 2P, take 6 player tokens of an unused player and cover:
      • On the base Conservation project cards:
        • the left level on the left card
        • the middle level on the middle card
        • the right level on the right card
      • Cover the 3 spaces in the left column of the donation area on the Association board.
  • Randomly determine a start player
  • For each player:
    • Take a zoo map board:
      • All players use Map A for standard game
      • All players use Map 0 for more advanced game
      • Use Maps 1-8 when you want each player to have a different map:
        • Deal 2 maps to each player
        • Player chooses which map they want to use for game
    • Follow any instructions on selected map board
    • Prepare action cards:
      • Each player takes 5 standard action card set
      • Draft alternate action cards:
        • Receive 3 random alternate action cards
        • Choose 1 action card to keep and pass remaining 2 to player on left
        • Of 2 cards received, keep 1 and pass remaining card to player on left
        • From 3 alternate action cards, choose 2 to use in this game:
          • Selected cards must be for two different action types
        • Replace 2 standard action cards in card set with selected alternate action cards
      • Place Animals action card in space 1 under game board with blue side up
      • Randomly place remaining 4 action cards under game board with blue side up
    • Take all components of a chosen color
    • Place conservation marker on space 0 of conservation track
    • Place reputation marker on space 1 of reputation track
    • First player places appeal marker on space 0 of appeal track, second player on space 1 and so on
    • Place 7 conservation markers on spaces on the left side of zoo board
    • Place following on notepad area of zoo board:
      • 1 Association worker meeple
      • $25
    • Place 3 remaining Association worker meeples on spaces below notepad
    • Draw 2 random Final Scoring cards
    • Prepare starting Zoo cards:
      • Draw 8 cards
      • Discard 4 of them, keep the other 4
  • Reveal 6 cards in display:
    • If any revealed cards have wave icons on them, cards are NOT rotated out of display

The game is played in a series of turns that are interrupted for breaks, when things are put on hold for administration, then resumed with the next player.

Each turn consists of performing 1 action (which may trigger effects and bonuses). The action is performed by executing one of the 5 action cards below your zoo map.

This is where you'll build your zoo. There are some key things to know:

  • You are not allowed to build on rock and water.
  • Some animals require water or rock touching their enclosure.
  • You cannot build on level 2 spaces until you have upgraded your build action to level 2.
  • Some spaces show a yellow ⬠ bonus space, which you receive when the space is covered.
  • When you support a conservation project, you will take one of the player tokens (cubes) on the left side of the board and place it on a Conservation card. You'll take the uncovered bonus at that time.
  • Partner zoos and universities are placed on the right side of your zoo map from the bottom to the top. Spaces showing a yellow ⬠ bonus space are activated when covered.
    • Your Association card must be upgraded to take a 3rd partner zoo.
    • Each partner zoo reduces the cost of playing an animal card by 3 money for matching continent icons.
    • Universities grant the bonuses shown on them.
  • Association workers are also used from the bottom to the top. When hired, they are placed standing on your notepad.
  • You may have a maximum of 5 X-tokens.

The Break token is moved via different means during the game. When it reaches the last space on the track, a break occurs with the steps below at the end of that player's turn. The player that pushed it to the end receives 1 X-token.

  1. Everyone discards down to their hand limit of 3, or 5 if they have the appropriate university.
  2. Remove any Multiplier, Venom, and/or Construction tokens on your Action cards and return them to the supply.
  3. Everyone returns all their Association workers to their notepads on their zoo maps.
  4. Replenish any missing partner zoos and universities.
  5. Discard the bottom 2 cards of the display (folders 1 and 2), move the remaining cards down, and replenish the display.
  6. Take income. Some effects (e.g. take cards from the display) will require things to be executed in turn order, otherwise, these items can be done simultaneously.
    1. Collect income according to the appeal of your zoo. This is indicated by the darker color above the appeal spot on the board.
    2. Take 1 money for each unique building, special enclosure, occupied standard enclosure, and pavilion adjacent to each kiosk.
    3. Collect income indicated by the income icon on Sponsor cards and your zoo map.
  7. Return the Break token to its starting space for your player count.
  8. Continue the game with the next player's turn.

The number on the slot of each action card indicates its strength when used. Once the action has been completed, the action card is removed, all cards to the left are slid to the right to fill the space, and removed action card is put in slot 1.

  • You can use X-tokens to increase the strength of the action by 1 for each token used.
    • These are returned to the supply when used.
    • Note: This may allow you to increase the strength of your action to more than 5!
    • You cannot use X-tokens that would be gained from the action to increase the strength of the action.
  • Some zoo cards have an effect "after finishing". These are done after the action is complete and action cards have been moved.

Level 1

Advance the Break token 2 spaces. Then draw cards from the deck OR snap.

  • 1st advance the Break token 2 steps. If you get to the end of the track, see the instructions for resolving the Break track at the end of your turn.
  • Compare the strength of the action with the table on the card to find the number of cards to draw.
  • If you execute the action with a strength of 5+, you may instead take 1 card from the display (Snapping). You may take any card, regardless of your reputation.

Level 2

Advance the Break token 2 spaces. Then draw cards from the deck or within reputation range OR snap.

  • You may draw cards from within your rep. range and/or from the top of the deck (in any order).
  • You may also snap with a strength of at least 3. and like the Level 1 action, this allows you to take any card, regardless of reputation.
  • This will also let you progress past 9 on the rep. track.

Important Notes

  • When taking cards from the display, regardless of how, the cards are only replenished at the end of your turn!. This is done by sliding existing cards down and refilling any open spaces at the top.
  • You may not look through the discard pile.

Level 1

Build exactly 1 building of your choice with maximum size of on your zoo map. Pay 2 money per space.

  • Available: Kiosk, pavillion, standard enclosure, and Petting Zoo.
  • The size of the building is equal to the number of spaces it covers.
  • Each zoo can only contain 1 Petting Zoo.
  • Enclosures are used to accommodate animals.
  • Building a pavillion increases the appeal of your zoo by 1.
  • The building cost (money) is payed to the supply.
  • The building must be built adjacent to an existing building.
    • If it is your 1st building, you can build it such that 1 space must be on a border space.
  • You can only build on empty spaces. You cannot build on rock or water spaces.
  • You can't build on level 2 (level 2) spaces.
  • A kiosk must be at least 3 spaces from another kiosk.
  • Standard enclosures are built with the empty side face up. Note that the Petting zoo is the same on both sides.
  • If you cover a space with a yellow ⬠, you immediately take the bonus.

Level 2

Build as many different buildings as you like with a maximum total size of on your zoo map.

  • Newly available: Large Bird Aviary and the Reptile House.
    • If built, you may immediately move animals from standard enclosures to the the new building.
      • You are not allowed to do this at any other point in the game.
  • Each zoo can only contain 1 Reptile House and 1 Large Bird Aviary!
  • This action does not allow you to build unique buildings, those come into play via Sponsor cards.
  • You can now build more than 1 building with 1 action. You can not build 2 identical buildings though. The total size cannot exceed the .
    • Each building should be built in its entirety before building the next building, which includes taking bonuses.
    • Note that any "after finishing" bonuses only trigger at the end of the Build action.
  • You can now build on level 2 (level 2) spaces.
  • If you cover every space in your zoo, not including water/rocks, immediately increase the zoo appeal by 7.

Level 1

Play Animal cards from your hand.

  • Compare the strength of the action with the table on the card to determine the number of cards that can be played.
  1. Check the conditions on the left side of the card to make sure you meet them.
  2. Pay the cost to play the animal in the upper left of the card.
    • If you have a partner zoo matching the continent, pay 3 less per continent icon.
    • If the card gives you money for playing the animal, you can not use this money to pay for the animal.
  3. Fill an empty enclosure.
    • The standard enclosure must be at least the size required by the animal (upper left of card). Flip the enclosure to its occupied side. Make sure any water/rock requirements are met for the enclosure.
    • Petting zoo animals can not be put into a standard enclosure.
    • All reptiles and birds can be put in the Reptile House and Large Bird Aviary, respectively.
  4. Place the animal card next to your zoo map.
  5. Execute all effects.
    • Increase your appeal as indicated on the card.
    • Check for any conservation project points or reputation increases on the card.
    • If the text effect says "after finishing", do this after you've completed your Animals action. All other effects on the card should be finished before moving on to the next Animal card.
    • If multiple effects trigger simultaneously, you decide the order to execute them.

Level 2

Play Animal card from your hand or within reputation range.

  • When upgraded, you can play animals directly from the display.
    • The card must be in your reputation range.
    • You must pay an additional cost equal to the number on the folder.
    • Do not replenish the display until after your turn.
  • You may increase the reputation of your zoo by 1 if you have a strength of at least 5. This is done at the beginning of your action.
  • You may play level 2 (level 2) Animals.

Level 1

Perform exactly 1 association task

  • You need at least 1 unused worker to perform this task.
  • Place the worker on Association board. If 1 of your workers is already on the task, you must place 2 workers to perform the task. If 3 of your workers are already on the task, you cannot do this task.
  • Make sure you have the required strength for the task.
  • Str. 2: Increase the rep. of your zoo by 2.
  • Str. 3: Take a partner zoo from the association board and place it in the lowest empty space on your zoo board.
    • You can not take a partner zoo you already have.
    • **Your association action must be level 2 to take a 3rd and 4th partner zoo.
    • Each partner zoo reduces the cost of playing Animal cards matching the continent by 3 money per continent icon on the card.
    • Some animals require a partner zoo.
  • Str. 4: Take a university from the board and place it on your zoo map in the lowest spot.
    • Take bonuses and advance your rep. counter if shown on the university.
    • You can not take a university you already have.
  • Str. 5: You may either support a project already in play or play a Conservation project card from your hand and support that.
    • If you play a new project card, place it above the Association board in the leftmost space. If there is a project there, slide all projects to the right first.
      • If there are more projects than you can have for your player count (1 per player), discard the right-most card. Tokens on the card are returned to players' supplies.
    • To support a project, you must fulfill the requirement for the space on the card.
    • You can not support a project that already has your token on it.
    • The token to cover the space on the project card comes from the left hand side of your zoo map, not your supply. Take the uncovered bonus immediately.
    • Take any additional bonuses shown on the project card.

Level 2

Perform one or more different Association tasks. You may make 1 donation

  • You may take more than 1 task if you have the 1 or 2 workers necessary for each task.
  • The total value of all tasks can not exceed the strength of the action.
  • For Conservation projects, you may play a project directly from the display within your reputation range. You must pay an amount of money equal to the number on the folder. Replenish the display at the end of your turn.
  • In addition to association task(s), you may make 1 donation. Pay the smallest amount of money in an uncovered space and cover the space with a token from your supply, not your zoo map. Gain 1 conservation point.
    • If all spaces are covered, additional donations all cost 12 money.
    • To donate, you must have completed at least 1 Association action.

Level 1

Play exactly 1 Sponsor card OR advance the Break token and take money.

  • The strength of the action must be at least the strength shown on the card.
  • You must meet all conditions on the left hand side of the card.
  • Execute the instant or recurring effect of the card and then place it next to your zoo map.
  • Alternatively, you can use this action to advance the Break token steps and take money for doing so. You always take money regardless of how far the Break token moves.

Level 2

Play 1 or more Sponsor cards OR advance the Break token and take money

  • You may play multiple Sponsor cards for 1 action.
  • The strength of your action plus 1 must be at least as high as the sum of the levels on played cards.
  • If you play multiple cards, you complete everything on 1 card before moving on to the next.
  • If cards have "after finishing" in the text, this is executed after your entire action is complete.
  • You may play Sponsor cards from the display within your reputation range. Pay an additional amount equal to the number of the folder. Do not replenish the display until the end of your turn.
  • If you use this action to advance the Break token, take 2x the money.
  • You can now play level 2 (level 2) Sponsor cards.

Take 1 X-token.

  • If you can't do another action or you don't want to do another action, you can use this to take 1 X-token.
    • This is performed using any Action card, but the strength isn't used.
    • Move the selected action card to slot 1 and adjust the other cards as normal.
  • You can only have a max of 5 X-tokens so you can't take this action if you already have 5 tokens.

End of Game Trigger

  • The game end is triggered if, at the end of a turn or during a break, a player's Conservation and Appeal counters are ever in the same scoring area. Note that there are multiple appeal spaces in most conservation areas.
  • If the end of game is triggered at the end of your turn, all other players get 1 final turn, but not you.
  • If the end game is triggered during a break, all players get 1 final turn.

Final Scoring

  • If no player reached 10 conservation points, all players should discard one of their Final Scoring cards now.
  • Gain any conservation or appeal points from Final Scoring cards.
  • Gain any conservation or appeal points from any cards with the hourglass (also, brown stripe in the top left) symbol on them.
  • Your final score is your appeal value minus the lowest appeal value in the space your conservation token exists. This means your score may be negative. The person with the highest score wins.
    • If there is a tie, the tied player who supported the most Conservation projects wins. (Count the number of missing tokens from the left side of player boards)
    • If there is still a tie, the players share the victory.

Thumbnail courtesy of BoardGameGeek and the respective publisher.