My Current Favorite Game Is Ark Nova

Normally, I do not purchase games until I have played them first; however, I made an exception for Ark Nova.  I found it on Amazon for $58 after using my cashback bonus of $16 and ordered it for my husband to give it to my for my birthday.  After getting to play it at a library game day, I couldn't wait and asked him to give it to me for sweetest day instead.  My birthday wasn't until December so this way I got it two months earlier and have been playing it ever since!  

I like the theme of building a zoo with animals, buildings, conservation projects and sponsors.  It has a very unique scoring system with two scoring tracks:  conservation points and appeal points.  When the first player whose marker on the appeal track passes their marker on the conservation track, the end of game is triggered.  The other players get one last turn and whoever has the biggest difference between their markers that passed each other wins.

Players have five action cards (Association, Sponsors, Animals, Building, Cards) and can choose to play any of them when it is their turn.  Forming associations with zoos in other countries gives you discounts when placing animals from that country as well as giving opportunities to advance on the conservation track.  The Association action also helps players meat research requirements necessary to play certain cards and can give allow a player to hold 5 cards instead of only 3 at the end of rounds.  Sponsors give various benefits that can help players advance on both tracks.  Animals primarily give appeal points (more animals and different bigger animals attract more people to come to your zoo).  Acquiring animals to fulfill conservation projects is another way to get conservation points.  Players build enclosures based on animal sizes before they can place animals.  The cards action gives players more cards in their hand.  At the beginning, all players get two secret objective cards that give opportunity to earn conservation points at the end of the game but must discard one when any player reaches 10 conservation points.

When playing with beginners, they get an easier map that gives bigger benefits than some others.  Everyone can play with the same map or advanced players can choose from 9 other different maps that give different benefits.  This game works best with 2 or 3 players but I also enjoy playing the solo version if I have no one to play against.  The game lasts between 2-3 hours depending on the number of players.  

There are lots of decision to make along the way and players must manage their money to build enclosures and play the animals they want to put into their zoos.  I love playing this because it's fun to see your zoo develop.  Even if I don't win, this is a game I enjoy.  It's a challenge to make your turns count and be efficient.  It takes some planning ahead and is a race to get the conservation projects done ahead of your opponents if possible to get a choice of additional bonuses.

This is a game I play a lot.  I certainly got my money's worth from this one!  It can be a bit intimidating at the beginning because there are a lot of rules; however, they all make sense and it's worth sticking with it.  My one friend said "I really like this game!  I wish I had learned it sooner so  I could have been playing it all this time."

Check out this video to learn to play and get some tips:

So, have you played Ark Nova?  What do you think of it?  What is currently your favorite game?

10 Reasons Why I Like Playing Board Games

I enjoy playing board games.  There are so many more now than when I was a kid.  Pictured here is my collection but it is small compared to others I've seen posted on Facebook board gamer groups.  Growing up, my mom would encourage us to play board games at least once a week.  She loved Scrabble but we also played Rook, Canasta, Monopoly, poker, Pig, I Doubt It, Life, Chess and more.  There were four of us kids and every Christmas, each of us would get a new game for about five or six Christmases.  

I gave some of those old ones away to make room for my new ones.  I plan on blogging about different games in upcoming weeks because now that I am retired and have lots of free time, I invite people to come and play several days a week!

Here are several reasons why I love to play games:

1.  I am competitive.

2.  It builds friendships, it's very social.

3.  There are a lot of different types so I don't get bored.

4.  I like to share what I have with others so they can have fun too.

5.  I feel a sense of accomplishment if I build something like a zoo in Sanctuary or Ark Nova, like an estate in Obsession, like a cool forest in Forest Shuffle, like a city in Foundations of Metropolis or Foundations of Rome, like a vineyard business in Viticulture or a city in Everdell or Akropolis.

6.  It helps keep my mind active.  Some games involve planning ahead or thinking of words.  Learning new games helps fight against Dementia and Alzheimers.

7.  Sometimes, I just want to relax and have some fun with games of luck like Quacks, Paper World, Pit or UNO.

8.  Sometimes, if I don't feel like watching TV or going to bed, I'll play a solo version of a game.  Games I have that have solo versions included are First in Flight, Ark Nova, Sanctuary, Castles of Mad King Ludwig, Dune Imperium, Wyrmspan, Everdell and Viticulture.

9.  I like a challenge.  

10.  It is cheap entertainment.  My most expensive game is Obsession incl. expansions for $170 but most are in the $40 or less range.  Some games can last from 1-4 hours depending on the game and number of players.  If you compare the cost of eating out, going to the theatre or movies, attending a professional sporting event, or golfing or bowling, I get more for my buck in hours of entertainment with board games.

So, let me know if you like playing board games and which ones or why in the comments.

Happy 2-Year Gotcha Day to Bear!

 

The picture above is Bear on the first day I got him.  I am so glad I took him in and made him part of our family.  He is a great companion, pretty much following me everywhere and laying on my lap when I read or watch TV.  I never once regretted getting him!  I am pleased to report that he and I have adjusted to our new routine to handle his Diabetes.  He is now eating all his new food within 1/2 an hour (or even less) and he lays nice for me to give him his Insulin.  He doesn't try to hide or run away when I pull out the needle and the bottle.  I am amazed at how cooperative he is.  I will go play pickleball this morning, but then will spend the rest of the day with Bear to celebrate his second gotcha day.  Unfortunately, he can't have treats extra food and is not big on toys so just being together is the best gift I can give him.  He is now 6 years old.

Now sooner had I finished writing this about how good a cat he is, I went upstairs and found a big hole in his window screen.  Must have tried to get at a bird or squirrel.  UGH!  Got it patched up right away with old reliable duck tape.  Never fear, I still love you, Bear!

Ever Play Spots?

Last night I met up with four other game lovers at Panera Bread to play some games.  I play three different new games I never heard of.  My favorite was Spots.  It's a doggie game where you try to match numbers on the dog cards to numbers you roll on dice.  The winner is the first to complete six dog cards.  Each player also gets a backyard where you have to bury dice you can't play.  If you get a total of more than 7, you go bust and have to start over.  You can also acquire bones which are good for being able to reroll if you get a number you can't use and don't want to bury.  There are cards to choose from on your turn that give different options as to how many dice to roll or how to get more bones or dog cards.  It was easy to learn and fun to play.  I was so close to winning the first game but took a chance that got me stuck and didn't pay off.  The second game I played with a different strategy and won in one long last turn just before we had to quit!

Bear is Eating but . . .

 

Well, I've got Bear on a schedule for eating and his Insulin but it requires me changing my normal routines.  In order to still feed him after my shower and my early pill, I need to get up 15 minutes earlier at 4:45 now.  Furthermore, to keep him on schedule so I can give him Insulin at 6:05 - 6:10, I need to watch him eat and cheer him on.  If I leave him to eat alone, he loses focus.  If I leave him to eat while I get dressed, pretty soon he's downstairs with me! 

 So, this morning I decided to just wait until he's all done eating to get dressed and pray and read my Bible as I hold up his dish for him and cheer him on.  The Insulin should be given every 12 hours so if I want to go anywhere in the evening, I need to be done giving him the Insulin early enough for me to leave to get there on time.  If left on his own, it takes him about an hour or more to eat but if I stay with him and cheer him on, he gets done in less time.  The good thing is he even ate most of his dinner yesterday without the appetite stimulant pill and finished all his breakfast this morning!  With the appetite stimulant pill, there were days he finished in just 30-43 minutes, but the vet says as long as he's eating (regardless of how long it takes), I shouldn't give him the pill.  If he should stop eating or starts just picking at his food, then I need to give it to him.    

I miss the evening walk with my dog though because I need to make sure Bear eats within the timeframe for the insulin.  I guess the nights I don't go anywhere, we could walk the dog later after the insulin is given.  Otherwise, my husband will be walking the dog without me until I can get Bear to eat on his own.  Don't know if that is going to happen.  I sure hope it does!  He has come a long way eating only the right food and only two flavors.  It sure would make things easier if he'd eat without me watching!