How to Play Caverna: The Cave Farmers

Grow your food, your animals, and your dwarf family into a prosperous little farming and mining operation in Caverna: The Cave Farmers, a fantasy board game for 1-7 players.
Use these links to skip ahead:
0:00 Introduction
1:09 Farming & Mining
4:55 Round Anatomy
6:53 Action Spaces
13:08 Weapons & Expeditions
16:39 Stage 2 Actions
18:08 Stage 3 Actions
8:51 Stage 4 Actions
21:15 Animal Husbandry
22:58 Harvest
26:16 Endgame
27:07 Setup
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Dance like a cave dweller: • Peer Gynt: Hall of The...

[@topgundk]

12:25 It is important to note at that it is each space can hold a stable. So if you have a large pasture that covers two spaces, you can build a stable in each space, giving it a capacity of 16 animals of the same type. We missed this rule for the first many years we played Caverna :)

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Sorry it's taken so long for me to respond, Michael. i've added a card at that timecode that links to the addenda section on the website, and added detail i missed. Thanks!

[@bakermitchell6209]

I’ve had Caverna for many years. Finally getting it off of my shelf of opportunity. This is the most complete, clear and concise teach I’ve seen. Plus it’s entertaining and kept my attention…. “The Crushing burden of parenthood” made me spit my drink out. Well done, sir!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Baker! Glad you found a chance to enjoy Caverna. If it ever gets stale, the expansion gives it a good shot in the arm.

[@mrajaraven]

Brilliantly explained, please keep doing these! These kind of explanation is by far the best I've seen on youtube

[@lajeit]

You are THE BEST at making how-to-play videos. Please keep doing them. ❤

[@geefc3649]

With Caverna coming to BGA, I was super pleased to see Ryan had a video for it. Great job as always! Seriously the best in the business (for English speakers anyway)

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Geef C! (Forget YOU, Hungarians!)

[@Luke-mt8dr]

This video is so engaging and well-made! Thank you for creating and sharing!

[@GreenGiant2007]

I found yours to be the clearest explanation out of all the ‘how to play Caverna’ videos. Many thanks.

[@Dwiggy4444]

Excellent description and visuals too. Well done!!!

[@emilystout137]

Excellent visuals -- the highlights around pieces as you explain them is SUPER helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to make so many vids! Happy subscriber.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Emily. Welcome aboard! We have cold Dr Pepper in the back.

[@DMExplains]

Well done, as always!

[@josiejams9018]

I know this is an old video, but this is so well organized compared to so many rule videos. I absolutely obsess over 'the teach' and its a part of games I enjoy, and I'll never get why so many youtube channels just basically walk through the rulebook. In this video you did a great job organizing things by importance, and the later parts of the video with the more complex rules are easy to understand because you laid the foundation. Also, leaving setup for last makes so much sense (idk why every video ever starts with setup, I've already set the game up! Teach me how to play it dangit!)

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Josie! i’m glad when someone appreciates the details.

[@josiejams9018]

@@NightsAroundaTable Of course! Got a copy for my friends birthday that we're going to play this saturday, was surprised to get a response! Video absolutely came in clutch, will definitely be checking you out first for future games!

[@KeithKemerer]

Really well done video! Played Caverna last night for the first time after watching your tutorial and it really helped me to teach it to a friend. Great job with the sound effects, occasional humor, and clear visuals. This was my first time watching Nights Around a Table, but I plan to check out more of your stuff. Subscribed!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks so much, Keith! Glad to have you aboard.

[@Poolmow]

I hadn't played Caverna for a few years and needed a refresher. That got me to your channel for the first time. Very impressive! Great content served with a good sense of humour and quality production value. Well done! I subscribed :)

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thank you so much, Poolmow!

[@frankmacri5173]

We just got this game and can’t wait to play! Thanks for this helpful walkthrough.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

You guys are gonna love it! Have you played Agricola?

[@MaxDillon77]

Excellent explanation, great video. Keep up the good work with those videos! 😁👏👏👏

[@NeilMaree]

Excellent video!! Really well done!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Neil! Have you played?

[@elvislucas5087]

Great game and a really amazing tutorial. Thanks for the funny and instructive video.

[@Dr.TurdFartleyBM]

Me: I'd LIKE to play Caverna, but it may be a bit too complicated for me to understand. Ryan, from Nights Around a Table: WE'LL JUST SEE ABOUT THAT Thanks again for another stellar video sir!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

My pleasure! i think it really clicks. The hairiest part of the whole thing is that array of building tiles that do a million different things. Just take it easy, and commit to playing a couple of initial games where everything is a bit mystifying... and that's okay!

[@patn230]

Wow! Excellent explaination, great production, plus it made me grin a few times, so it’s a win-win-win for me ... 😁👍

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Pat! Smash-smash-smash those subscribe, alert, and like buttons! :)

[@kwouters]

I got Caverna for Christmas, and I just discovered your How To Play video (and your channel). This is truly excellent. I immediately subscribed and I look forward to future videos. Thank you!! 😃

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks so much, Kelly! i don't mean to tempt you, but have you checked out the first Caverna expansion yet? kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4e4gplplqepjbM

[@kwouters]

@@NightsAroundaTable Haha! I haven’t had the time to even play the base game yet. I’ve heard good things about the expansion, but I’m not chomping at the bit to get it (yet). 😃

[@NightsAroundaTable]

@@kwouters i hear you. The only reason i bought it was that i was in the game store during Uwe Rosenberg Month, and i wanted to keep my streak going.

[@kaba9926]

Very complete. Love it !

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Like a balanced breakfast!

[@bushibayushi]

you are the best teacher Ryan!

[@justarandompenguin]

This is incredibly well explained. It really is. I’m about to get a copy of this game, I’ve been in love with it since the first time I played it, and this video helped me review all of the rules again!.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thank you! If you love it that much, i think the expansion makes it super interesting, with variable player powers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4e4gplplqepjbM

[@justarandompenguin]

@@NightsAroundaTable Very interesting, I didn't know it existed. Thanks for the info!.

[@count3r3xampl39]

Love your tutorials

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thank you so much!

[@benzrecycler]

Excellent job!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thank you, benzrecycler!

[@michalposadovsky9949]

LOVE this game. I've had it a long time. Tuned by insert and stickers of dwarves. Just a TOP. After these years I still really enjoy HTP. Btw, one of the best on YT. Thanks! edit: IMHO: Caverna > Agricola (You can hate me...:)

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks, Michael! A dark horse choice, i think... but we'll see how other people comment. i don't have the stickers, but i did grab The Forgotten Folk, and the Halflings board + wooden mushrooms and gemfruits: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4e4gplplqepjbM

[@oddinaryme6503]

I got this game a while ago and was kind of intimidated by the rules and haven’t played it yet, not really any videos that go in depth with the rules either. Now that you did a video though I’ll finally get to break the game out! Your guides are always the best!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Thanks so much, Yo Gamer Boi! Planning to play it solo, or with others?

[@oddinaryme6503]

@@NightsAroundaTable With 3 people, family of course👍 sorry I didn’t reply sooner! Love that you actually reply to comments!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

@@oddinaryme6503 Great! Have a nice welcome! f̶̨̧͙͈͓̖̭̪̯̠͇̥̪̬̈́̉̏͋̎ã̷̧̙̤̓͑w̵̡̻͍̱͑̔͆͗͒̐̔̃̎̚̕ȅ̴̡̢̦̯̥͍͋͋͊̊̀͗̀̒͘͘͝r̵̡̛̥̯̘̥̂͆͑ä̸̡̭̯͇̫͈͍́̏̿͛̆͂̓̍̓̀̾̽͠ͅẃ̵̡̨̦̦̩̠̈́̔ͅd̶̢̜̼̻͔̣̘̲̄̐̀͆̿̄̾́́̀̀͛͐͜͝͠NAatBot9000 response error 0xF44g^

[@lesliescudiere9578]

Whoa! I better take a rest before attempting this one!

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Here - i have a bottle of water and a warm blanket.

[@MartinLetendre]

I was waiting for this vidéo.😎

[@NightsAroundaTable]

i could feel your breath on the back of my neck.

[@MartinLetendre]

@@NightsAroundaTable 😂

[@wenchwogg8843]

Yesss 👏 you weren’t kidding you were writing it

[@NightsAroundaTable]

i wrote it for yoooooooouu

[@wenchwogg8843]

@@NightsAroundaTable I played my first game finally. Solo - terrible score of 54. lol. But I had fun EDIT: realized I made a mistake with the Wish for Children card so I didn't get extra dwarves until endgame

[@virtualmartini]

I like how when you have maximum level 14 armed dwarfs you can force animals to breed through threat of force.

[@johncog4886]

thanks for tutorial

[@NightsAroundaTable]

You're welcome!

[@Lortagreb]

17:15 technically you can buy that dwelling whenever you want, but it can only house a dwarf if you already have 5 dwarves

[@bushibayushi]

by the way, this has 3 times more rules and exceptions than Agricola - it always makes me laugh when someone says that Caverna is the streamlined sequel ;)

[@jrobinson5053]

Hello. Great video. I wish i had time for involved games like this. Is this a game where you spend a lot of time reviewing rules each time played?

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Not with such a helpful video like this one to guide you through it! ;)

[@jrobinson5053]

@@NightsAroundaTable Ha ha! that's great.

[@brunowelte-maiben6383]

10:30 "...and then take two more grain from the general supply OR one more veggie from the general supply and place them on top". I am confused why you said OR instead of AND. Can't you get all of them? i.e. If I plant 2 grains, I get 4 more (2 on top of each one I planted times 2), and if I plant 2 veggies I get 2 more (1 on top of each one I planted times 2), for a total of 4 grains and 2 veggies that were added on top of my initial 2 grains and 2 veggies.

[@NightsAroundaTable]

It's more like "take 2 grains if you're growing a grain field, and 1 veggie if you're growing a vegetable field." The "OR" was more meant to indicate that you grow a different number of tokens depending on the type of crop. So it's "two OR one," not "grain OR veggie." Hope that helps! :)

[@teypan]

@@NightsAroundaTable thank you!

[@thegametrainer9004]

Any plans for the expansion?

[@NightsAroundaTable]

Did you catch my unboxing? kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4e4gplplqepjbM

[@thegametrainer9004]

@@NightsAroundaTablethanks! Usually avoid unboxings - 😂

[@NightsAroundaTable]

@@thegametrainer9004 But mine are different. They're stupid AND pointless!

[@thegametrainer9004]

@@NightsAroundaTable haha fair enough, I’m sure yours will be funnier

[@Lortagreb]

wahts up with his eyelids

[@NightsAroundaTable]

He has xanthelasma. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqqbdZuXbqaifJY