Arena season 12: go!

[Archduke]

Congratulations to all participants and winners from the previous season!

But wait, what exactly is "the Arena?"

The Arena is the competitive mode on BGA. If you master a game and want to play it competitively, this is THE mode to use, so you can challenge the best players and get the most experience points.

The Arena is organized in seasons of 3 months each. Achievements are awarded to the best players at the end of each season.

To play in the Arena: select "Play" and then choose "Arena" instead of "Simple game."

Read more about Arena mode

Arena format and Gurus

In the last 5 seasons, it was you (more exactly the gurus) who chose the game formats for the Arena: player number, options used, ...

We are very happy to see that this way of doing things contributed to making the Arena more popular: thank you to all gurus for their smart suggestions and their votes!

Rules updates

No Arena rules are changing this season. It does not mean we are 100% satisfied with how the Arena is running, but you seem to appreciate the current rules so we want to keep them as they are for now.

Season 12 is NOW Launched.

The new Arena is now open for its new season.

Some Explanation About: Relegations

At the end of each season, after winners have been awarded, you are relegated.

Some custom relegation rules may have been applied to a game for some reason (ex: we decided to reduce the number of leagues), but in general here is what happens:

• For games with 6 or 5 different leagues, all players are decreased by 3 leagues.
• For games with 4 different leagues, all players are decreased by 2 leagues.
• For games with 2 or 3 different leagues, all players are decreased by 1 league.
• For all games and all leagues, your number of Arena points is reset to 1, and your AES ("Arena Elo") is reset to 1500.

It's up to you to find the way to the elite!

May the odds be ever in your favor!

[Archduke]

Complete list of all Arena format changes:

Race for the Galaxy:

• Expansion: "Rebel vs. Imperium + The Gathering Storm" (prev: "Xeno Invasion (with Invasion)")
• Takeover: "Allow takeovers" (prev: "Random")

Hawaii:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "4")

Color Pop:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")

K2:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "5")

Tournay:

• Mode: "Advanced" (prev: "Normal")

Tzolk'in:

• Number of players: "4" (prev: "3")

Florenza: The Card Game:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")

Colt Express:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "4")

Madeira:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "2")

Oh Hell!:

• Bidding: "Sequential" (prev: "Simultaneous")

Legendary Inventors:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "2")

Eruption:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")

Nippon:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "2")

Lewis & Clark:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "2")

Roll for the Galaxy:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "2")

Krosmaster Arena:

• Format: " BGA Season 12" (prev: " BGA Season 11")

French Tarot:

• Number of players: "5" (prev: "4")
• Bonuses: "Poignées + Misères" (prev: "Poignées only")
• Minimal bid: "Guard" (prev: "Small")

Penny Press:

• Number of players: "4" (prev: "3")

Siam:

• Board variant: "Standard" (prev: "Alternative board")

La Granja:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "2")

Sushi Go!:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "4")

Veletas:

• Board Size: "10 x 10" (prev: "7 x 7")

Papayoo:

• Shifting discard (variant): "Disabled" (prev: "Enabled")

Rallyman: GT:

• Number of players: "4" (prev: "3")

Connect Four:

• Board size: "8x9" (prev: "9x9")

Coinche:

• Game length: "Half-game (1000 points)" (prev: "Classic (2000 points)")
• Score type: "Bid only" (prev: "Points + Bid")

City of the Big Shoulders:

• Public Goals: "Yes" (prev: "No")

Dingo's Dreams:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")

99 (addition card game):

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "2")

Unconditional Surrender! World War 2 in Europe:

• Scenarios: "Mediterranean 1940-1942" (prev: "USSR 1941")

Thurn and Taxis:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")

Fleet:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "4")

Oh-Seven:

• Card-passing variant: "Enabled" (prev: "Disabled")

Hand and Foot:

Carnegie:

• Number of players: "4" (prev: "3")

El Grande:

• Number of players: "4" (prev: "5")

Res Arcana:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")

Bids:

• Color Bids: "Yes" (prev: "No")

Rolled West:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "2")

Chicago Express:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "4")

Uptown:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")

Go Nuts for Donuts:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")

Beyond the Sun:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "2")

Lost Ruins of Arnak:

• Board side: "The Snake Temple (advanced)" (prev: "The Bird Temple (standard)")

Conspiracy:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "2")

Iwari:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "4")
• Expedition cards: "Enabled" (prev: "Disabled")

Happy City:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")

Sobek: 2 Players:

• Treasures of the Pharaoh expansion: "Enabled" (prev: "Disabled")

New Frontiers:

• Goals: "On" (prev: "Off")

Patchwork:

• Edition: "Original" (prev: "Americana")

King of Tokyo:

• “Even more wicked!” event: "Enabled (orange side)" (prev: "Enabled (green side)")

Railways of the World:

• Game Map: "Railways of the Eastern U.S." (prev: "Railways of Western U.S.")

Boss Quest:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "2")

Spot it:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")
• Mini-games: "Triplet" (prev: "Towering inferno")

Simplicity:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "4")

Ultimate Railroads:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")

The Isle of Cats:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")

Gaia Project:

• Number of players: "4" (prev: "3")
• Game Setup: "Variable map" (prev: "Random map")

SteamRollers:

• Game Difficulty: "Hard" (prev: "Medium")

Chromino:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")

Blood Rage:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "4")

Tigris & Euphrates:

• Scoring: "Hidden Scoring" (prev: "Open Scoring")

Equinox:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")

Ticket to Ride:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "4")

Noah:

• Use bonus card : Frog: "Enabled" (prev: "Disabled")
• Use bonus card : Crocodile: "Enabled" (prev: "Disabled")

Hydroracers:

Get on Board: New York & London:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "2")

Dice Theme Park:

• Number of players: "2" (prev: "3")

Barrage:

• Number of players: "4" (prev: "3")

Lifeline:

• Board Size: "6" (prev: "7 - Standard size")

MOW:

• Number of players: "3" (prev: "4")

Reflection:

• Rounds: "3 rounds" (prev: "1 round")

Wingspan:

• Language-dependent bonus cards: "Include" (prev: "Exclude")

Obsession:

• Market Churn: "Building Boom - Queen Victoria" (prev: "Base")

Look at the Stars:

• Scoring: "Visible" (prev: "Hidden")

[OutOfHabit]

Why are 2 games in the list of Arena changes without a description of the change?

Also, can there please be an option for gurus to set up an automatic rotation between 2 or more different arena setups.
Then gurus can vote to change any of the setups in rotation.
There are many games that would do good to have a different setup, but as a guru, it is sometimes hard to vote for it because I don’t think it should be a lasting change.
And as a player, it can be tough seeing a “crummy” setup but can be easier to manage if I can see there is already a planned rotation.

[Wonderful Plays]

Shouldn't 7 Wonders change to 4 player?
It was 4p,5p,4p,3p alternating before?

[flolem]

I think 7 wonders was in rotation before but I dont see any change this season so maybe it dissapear ?

But yes it is frustrating sometimes...

[Alloran]

Baffled why Fire and Ice factions are STILL not part of Terra Mystica arena. Still holding out hope that one day I will actually want to play it!

[Darkgreenblue]

Terribly frustrating that Love Letter is 4p AGAIN, as people who know the 5+p version know how tremendously more interesting it is.

And when oh when will Carcassonne regulars expand their competitive play to include the first 1 or 2 expansions? (Inns & Cathedrals, and/or Traders & Builders) They add some much-needed complexity to the base game.

[DVC]

Catan still 3-player? Massive sigh

[michaelHastriter]

7 Wonders Duel still does not include a game changing expansion. :/

So sad. At least throw in Pantheon, the first expansion every now and then.

[HankBaskett]

Can we get the Arena ELO requirement raised to 200? Arena is supposed to be a more competitive form of these games, and sub-200 players really throw off the balance of any table they are at. Sure, sometimes it benefits me and sometimes it doesn't. Either way, it ruins the fun of a competitive experience.

We don't see a player's ELO until the post-game score screen, but I can always tell these players during the game. Someone will make completely baffling decisions and I'll immediately realize their skill level is sub-200. Sure enough, this will be confirmed in the post game score screen.

Let's raise the Arena requirement to 200 minimum. It wouldn't prevent these players from growing their skill in a less competitive landscape, but it would prevent their lack of skill from ruining games for more experienced players.