Great video, love Ark Nova and my wife got me the exac for Christmas waiting to play it because I am waiting on sleeves to arrive. Can't wait sound great.
When Tom vassel gave this a 10/10 I didn’t fully buy the review. The review didn’t manage to explain to the point why it is 10/10. More cards, yeah but that doesn’t mean it’s an auto buy for me. But your review is much clearer now I also would aim to get it! Thanks!
Just one main call out that I don’t think was stressed enough…the search ability for the new Universities is an animal tag, not an animal card. So it may result in drawing a sponsor card or an animal (it’s an important distinction). Also I may have missed it but I can’t recall any mention of the new bonus tiles…both the new tiles (including some that you can choose when to activate its once-off effect), and also that an additional one gets placed at the end of the reputation track that you can choose to claim instead of gaining 1 appeal after 15 reputation. Overall it’s a good expansion…did well to offer more options without changing the core experience. I do still wish that there was more ways to cycle/search through the deck though (or even the discard pile). The wave icon just means the additional cards don’t increase the time to go through the deck compared to the base game, and the new universities are a welcome addition but there’s still room for improvement. Since they changed the Association board, they could have also added an extra effect on strength 2 and 5 association tasks (e.g. for 2 either gain 2 reputation OR flush one card from the market, and for 5 either support a conservation project OR flush all cards from the market). This would also open up more options for when you already have reputation maxed at 9 or 15, or when you can’t or don’t want to support a conservation project. Just a thought :)
Why do you want to flush the market for your opponent? Seems odd. AN is another card spam game. The game mechanics is such that it doesn't make a great difference what cards comes out
Great vid as always, I would have been shocked if this wasn't a 10/10 for you as well. This and most likely everything (official) related to Ark Nova is a "shut up and take my money" -situation.
Yeah though there would be grounds for the expansion to fail. If the action cards were too complicated, or if they didn't tweak the card decks to filter through the new cards quickly for dilution it could have failed.
Looks like it's a matter of play style. I usually don't have problems with fulfilling Conservation Zoo card, but I don't remember a game that i have more then 5 sponsors :)
No it doesn't mitigate that aspect, but I'm enjoying myself despite that length.........unless you get AP players.......but then I hate those anywhere! :P
I was hoping they would also improve the solo mode which is rather basic. Well, guess I will have to continue using my improved DIY version of it then. Other than that: waiting for the “Zoo map pack 2” being released ! (there has to be one at one point giving the naming of the first map pack…)
There is also the ARNO solo variant if you dont like the official solo mode. Its just like playing against an opponent and you can add multiple of them.
Great explanation about the game. The background music is distracting, just makes to harder to hear and understand.... I don't understand why people talk overtop of music.
@@TheBrokenMeeple to normal people, this is probably true. But people with hearing disabilities and/or require an electronic hearing aid, background noise makes the video almost unwatchable. Even just white noise.
Yep, very excited for this expansion, ARK nova does look great, hopefully can buy the base game and expansion all at once.
Great video, love Ark Nova and my wife got me the exac for Christmas waiting to play it because I am waiting on sleeves to arrive. Can't wait sound great.
Have fun!
A superb expansion for an extraordinary game!
When Tom vassel gave this a 10/10 I didn’t fully buy the review. The review didn’t manage to explain to the point why it is 10/10. More cards, yeah but that doesn’t mean it’s an auto buy for me.
But your review is much clearer now I also would aim to get it! Thanks!
Thank you, yeah he didn't give as much detail as I would have liked.
Thank you for teaching me the expansion at Gridcon. Hoping for a rematch next year.
He he deal!
Ark Novarrrr. Pirate Meeple.
Just one main call out that I don’t think was stressed enough…the search ability for the new Universities is an animal tag, not an animal card. So it may result in drawing a sponsor card or an animal (it’s an important distinction).
Also I may have missed it but I can’t recall any mention of the new bonus tiles…both the new tiles (including some that you can choose when to activate its once-off effect), and also that an additional one gets placed at the end of the reputation track that you can choose to claim instead of gaining 1 appeal after 15 reputation.
Overall it’s a good expansion…did well to offer more options without changing the core experience. I do still wish that there was more ways to cycle/search through the deck though (or even the discard pile). The wave icon just means the additional cards don’t increase the time to go through the deck compared to the base game, and the new universities are a welcome addition but there’s still room for improvement. Since they changed the Association board, they could have also added an extra effect on strength 2 and 5 association tasks (e.g. for 2 either gain 2 reputation OR flush one card from the market, and for 5 either support a conservation project OR flush all cards from the market). This would also open up more options for when you already have reputation maxed at 9 or 15, or when you can’t or don’t want to support a conservation project. Just a thought :)
I forgot the bonus tiles but they are a minor part anyway.
Why do you want to flush the market for your opponent? Seems odd.
AN is another card spam game. The game mechanics is such that it doesn't make a great difference what cards comes out
Great vid as always, I would have been shocked if this wasn't a 10/10 for you as well. This and most likely everything (official) related to Ark Nova is a "shut up and take my money" -situation.
Yeah though there would be grounds for the expansion to fail. If the action cards were too complicated, or if they didn't tweak the card decks to filter through the new cards quickly for dilution it could have failed.
I hope they put out some more map packs soon.
Yeah I'd like a few more.
Looks like it's a matter of play style. I usually don't have problems with fulfilling Conservation Zoo card, but I don't remember a game that i have more then 5 sponsors :)
I hunt down sponsors like gold coins!!
great expansion which sadly doesn't fix the problem that this game is still too long for what it is at 3 or 4 ;)
Good at 2p or solo!
No it doesn't mitigate that aspect, but I'm enjoying myself despite that length.........unless you get AP players.......but then I hate those anywhere! :P
I was hoping they would also improve the solo mode which is rather basic. Well, guess I will have to continue using my improved DIY version of it then.
Other than that: waiting for the “Zoo map pack 2” being released ! (there has to be one at one point giving the naming of the first map pack…)
There is also the ARNO solo variant if you dont like the official solo mode. Its just like playing against an opponent and you can add multiple of them.
10/10 for me too!
A solid expansion for sure. Raised my Ark Nova rating from 6 to 7.5; from “meh, I’d rather not” to “sure, I’ll play.”
I really enjoyed this expansion! Probably one of my favorites. With all those upgrades...did you grab some metal coins?
No I use clay chips
Great video! Any chance you’ll take a look at the most recent vindication expansions + odyssey module this year?
Very interested in your thoughts
If I did it likely would only be the Chronicles expansion, the main one. Most mini expansions are not played often.
did you notice any visible difference in the color of the back of the cards (between the base game cards and expansion)?
No
Nothing tangible and in a monster deck of cards it would make no difference.
Great explanation about the game. The background music is distracting, just makes to harder to hear and understand.... I don't understand why people talk overtop of music.
The music should be quiet enough to be background white noise. It also makes a video less boring I find then just talking with nothing else.
@@TheBrokenMeeple to normal people, this is probably true. But people with hearing disabilities and/or require an electronic hearing aid, background noise makes the video almost unwatchable. Even just white noise.