Ark Nova Solo Playthrough and Review (with Marine Worlds expansion) | Bits & Biology

[@bitsandbiology]

RULES UPDATE: In new printings of the game, the method of scoring has been changed slightly from what is presented here. You can find more information here: boardgamegeek.com/thread/3057107/2-rules-updates-for-ark-nova

[@IskandarStrategist1689]

❤

[@Esskeau]

Thanks for the vid! I haven't played this in a while and needed a reminder on how to play! What I like about this game is in part how many cards there are. Every time I play it I end up playing quite differently. One day I'm playing heavily into birds and research, next play I'm all over aquariums and African conservation projects. The solo is thoroughly enjoyable. Personally I tend to max out reputation in the solo. I'm a sucker for those rewards! I haven't played this multiplayer a lot. Mostly because it's a bit of a beast to teach someone and once taught, strategy hits you. It really needs a proper test run as first time players are easily destroyed. And nobody likes that (it's awful to lose that bad and it's not fun to win that way).

[@bitsandbiology]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I also love how it is different every time, so much fun!

[@travelinwithTODD]

nice. thank you for this!

[@bitsandbiology]

Thanks for watching Todd!

[@dennisklang]

Hi, don´t you have to upgrade your cards action card before taking cards within rep.? Thanks for sharing!

[@bitsandbiology]

That is true; hopefully the only times I was taking from the display were when I was "snapping" on level 5 (which I do frequently in the solo game), from animal abilities, or after upgrading my card. If you saw a time when that wasn't the case, please let me know so I can pin a comment correction. Thanks! 🙂

[@dennisklang]

@@bitsandbiology 18:50 , This is what I was thinking about. (if it is correct or not) (I am still learning the game) :)

[@bitsandbiology]

@@dennisklang Ah, yes, I should have been more explicit in explaining what I was doing, especially that early in the video. In that case, my Cards action was on level 5, which allows you to snap a single card from anywhere in the display (even outside of reputation range) instead of drawing from the deck. I do this more frequently in the solo game than in the multiplayer game because turns are so limited in the solo game, leaving not much time for relying on "luck of the draw." I hope you enjoy the game! It's one of my all time favorites! Let me know if you have other questions. 🙂

[@dennisklang]

@@bitsandbiology Oh ok, you snapped that card! Thanks. Keep posting! :)

[@erwinnijskens1248]

You but your first kiosk token on the wrong site

[@erwinnijskens1248]

You corrected it later 😂

[@elainetyger]

I don't think the game is unique; it reminds me a lot of terraforming Mars, which is my other favorite game. I like your house rule about getting rid of all eight cards; I would have liked that the last time I played in person, which is almost always with four people at the table: I did not get one animal card in those initial eight cards.

[@bitsandbiology]

I need to get Terraforming Mars back to the table - it's been too long since I played it! Yes, that house rule came about after too many animal-poor starting cards (or too many unplayable animals).

[@Ariranhaa]

Ark Nova is waaaaaaaaaay better than TM, man...

[@georgeresso6835]

@@Ariranhaa id rather play EARTH

[@Ariranhaa]

@@georgeresso6835 Earth is way too abstract to my taste and kinda bland