150 - 180 ELO player looking for help, please

[Z-Type]

Hello,

I am asking for help there and here time to time, I try to watch some of No Wonder streams, i did watch some videos.
But it still seems not really working for me. if there was any person who could take a look at some of my matches, like any, and point out mistakes - would really appreciate it. I am trying to find asnwers, but end up in same losses withouth idea what i could have done in particullar match in order to not lose.
I have discord, if 'you' wish to connect to just talk through.
Many people say need to rush project supporting, but...opponent is always kind of faster. But i dont think it really matters, i am sure there are other crucial mistakes that i am doing.

https://boardgamearena.com/archive/repl ... s=54370796;

I really ask for someone to review at least one game, 'general advices' will not work for me, i've heard them already -.-

Thanks.

[sorryimlikethis]

I'd recommend joining the Emu Friends discord if you haven't already.
https://discord.gg/wQGhZERxTr
Link is an open invite to everyone. It has most of the top Ark Nova players on BGA, and nearly all of them are happy to discuss strategies and ideas about the game. There's also a thread for game reviews, so feel free to post some there.

Regarding this game in particular. It's a bit of an outlier because your opponent has a great start. They are first player so they can secure the Partner Zoo they want. They get Species 5 first which enables them to get a Partner Zoo on 5CP and a Uni on 8CP for free. That kind of advantage can be insurmountable at times. With perfect play this game may not have been winnable, but there were some pretty apparent mistakes to point out anyway.

The generic "rush supporting projects". Your path to an early project would be taking Europe Partner Zoo, playing the Deer and supporting Europe 2 at the start of round 2. Yes, you don't get to play Meerkat Den first, but the advantage of an early project is such a huge deal it is a fine tradeoff to make.

Snapping too much, and snapping "bad" cards. The first snap of Primatologist does very little for you. On its own it is not a good sponsor. The advantage it has in this game is that it gives a unique Species tag for free. But you're not in a position to fight for Species that well with only Herbivores in your hand. This card would absolutely be snappable if it got you from your 4th Species to your 5th Species. But only getting you a 2nd Species makes it useless.

The second snap of Release of Patents is also not great. Ok, it gives you 3CP, but think of everything you traded for that. You snap it from the display, meaning you miss out on seeing 3 other cards instead. You have to take the 2 science uni instead of hand size, which also costs you an immediate upgrade from 5 rep. You have to spend an action to play it, giving your opponent all the time they want in the round. And you give them 6 money.

Snapping feels comfortable because you know what you are getting. It allows you to follow a gameplan. The common mistake players tend to make is snapping cards that lead to mediocre gameplans. Sometimes (a lot of the time) you have to let Jesus take the wheel and hope for something better.

Break timing / being aware of when the opponent can cause the break. End of round 1 you spend an x-token to play Primatologist. Opponent then breaks before you get to play a single animal. You might argue that it's efficient because you can start off next round by playing 2 animals instead of 1. But you miss out on a huge amount of income not playing that first animal. Then what happens is, you play 2 animals to start off round 2, and have no money left to do anything else in the round.

There's also some tempo issues at the end, like playing Quarantine Lab when opponent is basically ending the game in 2 or 3 moves. Waiting until your Assoc hits 5 to grab a Partner Zoo is also not ideal, Assoc is one of those actions you want to cycle through as quickly as possible towards the mid/end game. But the first 3 points were the main ones. And to be fair to you, it's not a great starting hand with any sort of clear direction to go in.

[Z-Type]

I'd recommend joining the Emu Friends discord if you haven't already.
https://discord.gg/wQGhZERxTr
Link is an open invite to everyone. It has most of the top Ark Nova players on BGA, and nearly all of them are happy to discuss strategies and ideas about the game. There's also a thread for game reviews, so feel free to post some there.

Regarding this game in particular. It's a bit of an outlier because your opponent has a great start. They are first player so they can secure the Partner Zoo they want. They get Species 5 first which enables them to get a Partner Zoo on 5CP and a Uni on 8CP for free. That kind of advantage can be insurmountable at times. With perfect play this game may not have been winnable, but there were some pretty apparent mistakes to point out anyway.

The generic "rush supporting projects". Your path to an early project would be taking Europe Partner Zoo, playing the Deer and supporting Europe 2 at the start of round 2. Yes, you don't get to play Meerkat Den first, but the advantage of an early project is such a huge deal it is a fine tradeoff to make.

Snapping too much, and snapping "bad" cards. The first snap of Primatologist does very little for you. On its own it is not a good sponsor. The advantage it has in this game is that it gives a unique Species tag for free. But you're not in a position to fight for Species that well with only Herbivores in your hand. This card would absolutely be snappable if it got you from your 4th Species to your 5th Species. But only getting you a 2nd Species makes it useless.

The second snap of Release of Patents is also not great. Ok, it gives you 3CP, but think of everything you traded for that. You snap it from the display, meaning you miss out on seeing 3 other cards instead. You have to take the 2 science uni instead of hand size, which also costs you an immediate upgrade from 5 rep. You have to spend an action to play it, giving your opponent all the time they want in the round. And you give them 6 money.

Snapping feels comfortable because you know what you are getting. It allows you to follow a gameplan. The common mistake players tend to make is snapping cards that lead to mediocre gameplans. Sometimes (a lot of the time) you have to let Jesus take the wheel and hope for something better.

Break timing / being aware of when the opponent can cause the break. End of round 1 you spend an x-token to play Primatologist. Opponent then breaks before you get to play a single animal. You might argue that it's efficient because you can start off next round by playing 2 animals instead of 1. But you miss out on a huge amount of income not playing that first animal. Then what happens is, you play 2 animals to start off round 2, and have no money left to do anything else in the round.

There's also some tempo issues at the end, like playing Quarantine Lab when opponent is basically ending the game in 2 or 3 moves. Waiting until your Assoc hits 5 to grab a Partner Zoo is also not ideal, Assoc is one of those actions you want to cycle through as quickly as possible towards the mid/end game. But the first 3 points were the main ones. And to be fair to you, it's not a great starting hand with any sort of clear direction to go in.

Wow, did not expect person of TOP TOP level to reply! Thank you, very impressed and happy by your caring.
Edit: everything you said is very correct.
I was very unhappy with me not playing animlais in 1st round, i agree that i needed income money for round 2. I was too excited getting extra animal icon (Primate) and having chance to get closer to 'Species', but it had huge cost, and i am very unhappy.

You suggest plan with Europe with i like, i did not come up with it.

I did spend a lot effort with that 'release of patients', and it did have cost. I could not come up with anything better, sadly. Again, here, and above, i was driven by your (yeye, i come to your youtube streams and ask my dumb questions, hehe) statement 'must rush CP', so i saw opportunity to rush it that way...apparently it did not work out :S

But all your comments are good. I just need bigger brain to be able to apply this all to my gameplay.
<3

[JDansp]

I would second Sams Idea of joining the emu Discord, tons of top level players eager to help.
There is also a brand new Discord which was created to have frequent seminars looking through people attending games to analyze and improve. https://discord.gg/xmaFgapj . Feel free to pm me if the link expires.

Lastly im obligated to shamelessly plug my own youtube https://youtube.com/@jdsecretpolice?si=eFGjIVpETk-2APNL
but if you Havent had much success from watching nowonders, my guess would be it wouldnt be too beneficial giving it a try. Sam provides higher Quality content and is a toptier player (although i’d still like to believe im slightly stronger). Our playstyle is a bit different from eachother, but i’d say your best bet is joining the 2 mentioned discords

[Z-Type]

I would second Sams Idea of joining the emu Discord, tons of top level players eager to help.
There is also a brand new Discord which was created to have frequent seminars looking through people attending games to analyze and improve. https://discord.gg/xmaFgapj . Feel free to pm me if the link expires.

Lastly im obligated to shamelessly plug my own youtube https://youtube.com/@jdsecretpolice?si=eFGjIVpETk-2APNL
but if you Havent had much success from watching nowonders, my guess would be it wouldnt be too beneficial giving it a try. Sam provides higher Quality content and is a toptier player (although i’d still like to believe im slightly stronger). Our playstyle is a bit different from eachother, but i’d say your best bet is joining the 2 mentioned discords

Hehe, hello JD, seems you are advertising your discord channel. But...i barely manage to watch some of NoWonders. I dont think i have time for both of you