Contrary to what a number of other people have said, I don't find that the game focuses just on deer. Other strategies have worked really well for me, and other types of cards generate a lot of points. If I'm lucky enough to get two ferns in the first 1/3 of the game, for example, I'll go for amphibians much more than for deer. Tree-focused decks - yes, with a couple of red deer, but not a lot of deer combos - have been among the strongest games for me.
But one thing is pretty clear: Insects are underpowered and effectively worthless. I've never seen anyone win by relying on them, and I've given up even considering playing them - I now treat insects as not worth even thinking of playing.
It wouldn't be hard to make a few minor changes that would make bugs viable and worth playing. For example:
* Add one more species of butterfly, and so butterfly sets can score higher.
* Add a host plant, played under trees, that works similarly to ferns for amphibians. Maybe score 4 points per butterfly + 1 point per card with insect symbol (so it's actually 5 points per butterfly). Milkweed might be a good choice because it is well know for its association with monarchs.
* Bats, instead of scoring 5 points each once you have 3 different species, should score 2 points per insect card you have (but only when you have at least 3 bat species).
I think that alone might fix it, and make insects strong enough to hold their own with the other strategies.
But one thing is pretty clear: Insects are underpowered and effectively worthless. I've never seen anyone win by relying on them, and I've given up even considering playing them - I now treat insects as not worth even thinking of playing.
It wouldn't be hard to make a few minor changes that would make bugs viable and worth playing. For example:
* Add one more species of butterfly, and so butterfly sets can score higher.
* Add a host plant, played under trees, that works similarly to ferns for amphibians. Maybe score 4 points per butterfly + 1 point per card with insect symbol (so it's actually 5 points per butterfly). Milkweed might be a good choice because it is well know for its association with monarchs.
* Bats, instead of scoring 5 points each once you have 3 different species, should score 2 points per insect card you have (but only when you have at least 3 bat species).
I think that alone might fix it, and make insects strong enough to hold their own with the other strategies.