# Ark Nova: Zoo Map Pack 1

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2022
- **BGG Rating**: 8.2
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 2)
- **Duration**: 90-150 min
- **Weight**: 3.11 / 5
- **Designers**: Mathias Wigge
- **Artists**: Christof Tisch, Dennis Lohausen, Loïc Billiau, Steffen Bieker
- **Publishers**: Feuerland Spiele, Capstone Games, Cranio Creations, Gémklub, Korea Boardgames, Lautapelit.fi, Maldito Games, MINDOK, MIPL, Regatul Jocurilor, Super Meeple, White Goblin Games
- **Categories**: Animals, Environmental, Expansion for Base-game
- **Mechanics**: End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Hexagon Grid, Income, Open Drafting, Set Collection, Solo / Solitaire Game, Tile Placement, Variable Player Powers, Variable Set-up

## Verdict
Essential for those who want to vary their placement strategy without changing core rules. Great for veterans!New layout challengesIncreases game longevityQuick and easy setupChanges scoring dynamicsNo new cards includedRequires external translationRECOMMENDED

## Description
If you've already mastered the art of building your zoo in Ark Nova but feel that the standard board has become too predictable, the Zoo Map Pack 1 is here to breathe new life into your experience. This expansion doesn't add new cards or animals, but it delivers something fundamental: new ways to plan your space. The pack introduces two new maps, Map #9 (Geographical Zoo) and Map #10 (Rescue Station), which are not just visual changes but introduce different dynamics to your park's layout.

Each of these maps alters how you interact with the hexagonal grid, forcing you to rethink where to place your enclosures and how to optimize your scoring. The Geographical Zoo, for instance, encourages organization by regions, while the Rescue Station focuses on other management priorities. It's the perfect tool for those who want to test new strategies without having to learn complex rules from scratch, as the core essence of the game remains the same, but the spatial 'puzzle' changes completely.

For fans of Ark Nova's depth, these maps add layers of variability that make every session unique. If you enjoy planning every inch of your terrain to extract maximum efficiency, these new layouts will challenge you to step out of your comfort zone. It's the kind of upgrade that transforms the game feel, turning space management into a renewed strategic challenge. Get your planning ready, organize your animals, and see how these new maps can shift your final score!

## How to Play
Objective of the Game
Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção.

Setup
This guide focuses on the specific setup requirements for the Zoo Map Pack 1 maps:

Map 9: Geographical Zoo

    This map consists of 5 areas, each containing 6 spaces.
    Each area is color-coded to a specific continent.
    At the start of the game, place 1 player marker on each of the 5 spaces that belong to these areas (specifically on the color-coded space with the black outline of the respective continent).


Map 10: Rescue Station

    Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção.


Game Flow
Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção.

Actions and How to Play

Geographical Zoo Mechanics
When you play an animal into your zoo, if at least 1 space of the enclosure you place the animal in is in an area belonging to the same continent as the animal, you may perform the following:

    Remove the player marker from that continent area.
    Gain one of the 5 bonuses depicted.
    Put the player marker back into your supply.

Important Rules for Geographical Zoo:

    Enclosures: This works for both standard enclosures and special enclosures.
    Limitations: You can gain a bonus once per continent icon/area. If you have already removed the marker for a continent, you cannot gain that bonus again.
    Choice: Each time you gain a bonus, you can choose any 1 of the 5 bonuses. You may choose the same bonus multiple times during the game.
    Special Buildings: When building a Reptile House or Large Bird Aviary, if you move an animal from a standard enclosure into it, you can gain the continent bonus if the animal shares a continent symbol with an area this building is in.
    Flock Animal: When taking this bonus on the left side of your zoo map, you can remove any 1 player marker from 1 of the 5 continent areas without having to play a matching animal. You gain 1 bonus as usual. Note: When using this ability, you cannot gain a continent bonus because you are not using a specific enclosure.


Rescue Station Mechanics
When gaining the Digging 1 bonus, you choose up to 1 of the following options:

    Discard 1 card from the display and replenish.
    Discard 1 card from your hand and draw 1 other from the deck.

Special Rule for Animal Cards: If the discarded card is an animal card (except for a Petting Zoo animal), you may slide it underneath your zoo map at one of the 3 slots marked by an O that does not have a card yet. 

    The animal counts as "in your zoo" from that moment on and triggers any other card that looks for icons or animals being played into your zoo.
    You do not gain any effects from the animal card itself.
    You do not need to fulfill any conditions, pay the money cost, or provide an enclosure.
    The animal card still counts as its specific type (large or small animal) and its icons (e.g., predator, Asia, water) count as being in your zoo.
    You may not release the animal into the Wild.

Capacity: You can have up to 3 cards at the top of your zoo map. If you gain the bonus more than 3 times, you can only use Digging 1.

End of Game and Scoring
Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção.

Tips for Winning

    Geographical Zoo Strategy: When you remove the 5th and final player marker, you gain 1 Conservation point in addition to the bonus you receive.
    Rescue Station Strategy: Use the Digging 1 ability to slide animal cards under your map to trigger powerful abilities (like Hunter X) without paying the full cost or meeting all requirements.

## FAQ
### What exactly comes in this pack?
It contains two new zoo boards (Maps #9 and #10) with specific placement rules.

### Do I need the base game to use it?
Yes, absolutely! This is a map pack and doesn't work standalone; you need the original Ark Nova.

### Does it significantly change the game's complexity?
No. The weight of the game remains the same, but the placement strategy changes, requiring new spatial reasoning.

### Are there new cards or animals included?
No, the focus here is exclusively on the map layouts and the placement mechanics they introduce.

### Is it worth it for beginners?
I'd recommend playing a few games with the base map first. Once you get the logic, these maps are great for variety.

### Is the content translated?
The content has moderate language dependency, so you might need community translation spreadsheets.

## Price Comparison
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