Always behind

[red beardo]

I’ve played a few hundred games of ark nova. I lose ALOT! Especially since the new expansion my opponents are usually always 2x ahead of me before I even begin to get my engine going. I’m feeling like I’m missing a very fundamental element to this game that is causing me to lose this frequently. Im usually trying to aim to get a base conservation ASAP but then after that I find myself meandering waiting for the right cards to fall my way. How is it that everyone I play regardless of rank is this far ahead everytime? Are there Ai assistants people are using? I just don’t get it.

[d3rf1299]

You’re not going to love my answer but there probably isn’t a simple solution for you. It’s likely a turn efficiency problem. Competitive games are anywhere from 25 to 35 turns (per player) so you’re shooting for 6-7 actions of each type (animals, cards, build etc). Animals and association get you the most points, followed closely by sponsors. Cards never gets you points, build rarely does.
You mention in your post that “before I even begin to get my engine going”. It’s not really an engine building game. There are engines to utilize (meerkat den, penguin pool, cable car etc) but they shouldn’t be the sole drivers of your play.
There are some general rules of thumb you can follow if you aren’t sure what to do:
-play you actions at power 5
-don’t overbuild
-draw cards from the deck instead of snapping
-pick one of the 3 base conservation projects to support at 2
Or 3. Then get one of the “income” upgrades first. Snapping, size 2 enclosures, money. Particularly the size 2 enclosures save you build actions and money - very powerful
- don’t be afraid to X down cards or build if you need to play animals or associate
-only play a sponsor (versus breaking 5) if you have more things you can do that round - another worker, money to spend, hand size to fill
-releases are really good. In fact all association cards from your hand are really good

Also, if you have the time go watch No Wonders YouTube channel. He’s an Australian high level player with great analysis. If you make it to his stream you can ask him questions live too.


I

[Monkeyunit]

Good suggestions from d3 here and I highly recommend No Wonders YT stream.

I was going to look at one of your games and something I noticed is you seem to concede a lot of games, probably because you are far behind.
Depending on the state of the game a l( lets say) 30 point difference isn't always saying much.
Later turns can yield a lot of points.

[sorryimlikethis]

Do you find yourself doing the same things every game? e.g. always getting 4 upgrades, always upgrading Build, Cards, Association, Animals...
If you're stuck it's time to change things up.

Ark Nova is mostly a race to 100 points. Upgrades can help with efficiency in getting there. But, if you are spending 2 actions and 2 workers to get Universities, to get an upgrade, which will slightly help your efficiency, then is it really that efficient? A lot of the time the answer is no. People can get too stuck on getting all 4 upgrades when it can be much quicker to cause lots of breaks and do projects.

[mmunbar065]

I feel exactly the same - i already follow the advices that are being posted here and follow several YT channels. It gets really frustrating sometimes

[SiRan90]

Ark Nova is a game where the more adaptable you are to stragey the better you will be. Blindly focusing on getting a conservation early often means you end up missing on better things for your park.

[problematiq]

Here are some feedback based on your stats. Try to be more effective by:

- Use your Card action as little as possible. It gives you no points. You are spending one turn more than average drawing cards.

- Use your Build action as little as possible. It gives you almost no points. You are spending half a turn more than average building.

- Do build pavillions every time you have a chance however. They are very cost/point effective. You build less pavillions than winners average.

- Try to improve your income more - as early as possible. You are building less kiosks than winners average.

- In early-game you want to burn up all your money every turn. Don't start saving for expensive animals before mid-game and don't build enclosures, that you do not need right now.

- Focus much less on completing everything and more on what gets you fastes across the finishing line.

- You don't need all workers, partner zoos, unis. You easily waste 2-3 turns here.

- Try not to upgrade Association to force yourself to try out other strategies. If you do upgrade Association, you often want to upgrade it last. You are upgrading it way more than winners average.

- Try to always upgrade Animals and do it as fast as possible for those free reputation. You are upgrading it less than winners average.

- You don't need to upgrade all 4 cards, if it does not bring you closer to the finish line, faster. It is fine to skip that 2nd partner zoo or uni, if you don't need it.

- Always consider which action gives your most points. Don't do actions, which does not give you more points.

- Breaking is underrated. Use it to throw your opponent off - have them throw cards and not use their workers. You don't need a lot of workers, if you break.

- Try to always use your actions at max power. Never use Animals, Cards or Build on less than 5, if you can avoid it. Generally you want to use Sponsors and Association as soon as you have the required strenght.

- For instance don't play a Hyena Compound because you can, if it gives you no points. Just break and take the money and X.

- Close the game as soon as possible, if you are in the lead. Don't tip around the finishing line, while your opponent slowly catches up. Often low-ranking players will let you catch up, when you should have already lost.

- Especially try not to use your Build or Cards late-game, unless you really have to! I see so many players throwing their victory away by this. Late-game is for cashing in your points - a lot of points. Not draw cards out of curiosity, get 1 conservation for an extra partner zoo or make your map look nice.

- Try to have your late-game planned out mid-game. Have your enclosures ready, have those cards ready at hand. You should have the necessarry Xs to use your Association at 5 ready, etc. Don't be drawing cards or pushing cards down for Xs on your last valuable turns.

- Try using a calculator while you play. Add up the animals and conservation projects, you plan to play and see how close you are to the finishing line.

- Often you are much closer to 100, than you think. The game accelerates a lot towards the end. You can go from 70'ish to 100 in just a few turns, if you play effective.

- Do you need to draw more cards, or do you have the animals required? Do you really need to support that project on 5 or can you close by supporting it now on 2? Possibly denying your opponents more points.

- For instance you might get 9 more points (3 conservation) by supporting a conservation project on 5 rather than 2. But it is not worth it, if your opponent gets 10 points or more in the meantime.

- The most important ressource in the game is not money - but time. Every action which saves you time (play 2 animals instead of 1, release an animal instead of building a new enclosure) or gives you an extra turn (eagles, hypnotic snakes, sun bear) are extremely valuable.

- You should be able to finish in less than 32 turns as a rule of thumb, or you are playing too ineffective. For now just try focusing on decreasing your number of turns used, and I am certain it will improve other aspects of your game.

- I hope it helps. Let me know how it goes. And good luck!

[cigma]

Besides all advice, I think flexibility (= adapting to the situation) is key.

I see you played all your last games with fast speed. Maybe change to slow speed or even turnbased for the next few games in order to have more thinking time, and check different possibilities (you might even take notes). Try to make the best out of each turn! I am sure this will increase your learning curve.

You may also review your own games and check replays of better players, in order to learn from them. Good luck!

[SiRan90]

Here are some feedback based on your stats. Try to be more effective by:

- Use your Card action as little as possible. It gives you no points. You are spending one turn more than average drawing cards.

- Use your Build action as little as possible. It gives you almost no points. You are spending half a turn more than average building.

- Do build pavillions every time you have a chance however. They are very cost/point effective. You build less pavillions than winners average.

- Try to improve your income more - as early as possible. You are building less kiosks than winners average.

- In early-game you want to burn up all your money every turn. Don't start saving for expensive animals before mid-game and don't build enclosures, that you do not need right now.

- Focus much less on completing everything and more on what gets you fastes across the finishing line.

- You don't need all workers, partner zoos, unis. You easily waste 2-3 turns here.

- Try not to upgrade Association to force yourself to try out other strategies. If you do upgrade Association, you often want to upgrade it last. You are upgrading it way more than winners average.

- Try to always upgrade Animals and do it as fast as possible for those free reputation. You are upgrading it less than winners average.

- You don't need to upgrade all 4 cards, if it does not bring you closer to the finish line, faster. It is fine to skip that 2nd partner zoo or uni, if you don't need it.

- Always consider which action gives your most points. Don't do actions, which does not give you more points.

- Breaking is underrated. Use it to throw your opponent off - have them throw cards and not use their workers. You don't need a lot of workers, if you break.

- Try to always use your actions at max power. Never use Animals, Cards or Build on less than 5, if you can avoid it. Generally you want to use Sponsors and Association as soon as you have the required strenght.

- For instance don't play a Hyena Compound because you can, if it gives you no points. Just break and take the money and X.

- Close the game as soon as possible, if you are in the lead. Don't tip around the finishing line, while your opponent slowly catches up. Often low-ranking players will let you catch up, when you should have already lost.

- Especially try not to use your Build or Cards late-game, unless you really have to! I see so many players throwing their victory away by this. Late-game is for cashing in your points - a lot of points. Not draw cards out of curiosity, get 1 conservation for an extra partner zoo or make your map look nice.

- Try to have your late-game planned out mid-game. Have your enclosures ready, have those cards ready at hand. You should have the necessarry Xs to use your Association at 5 ready, etc. Don't be drawing cards or pushing cards down for Xs on your last valuable turns.

- Try using a calculator while you play. Add up the animals and conservation projects, you plan to play and see how close you are to the finishing line.

- Often you are much closer to 100, than you think. The game accelerates a lot towards the end. You can go from 70'ish to 100 in just a few turns, if you play effective.

- Do you need to draw more cards, or do you have the animals required? Do you really need to support that project on 5 or can you close by supporting it now on 2? Possibly denying your opponents more points.

- For instance you might get 9 more points (3 conservation) by supporting a conservation project on 5 rather than 2. But it is not worth it, if your opponent gets 10 points or more in the meantime.

- The most important ressource in the game is not money - but time. Every action which saves you time (play 2 animals instead of 1, release an animal instead of building a new enclosure) or gives you an extra turn (eagles, hypnotic snakes, sun bear) are extremely valuable.

- You should be able to finish in less than 32 turns as a rule of thumb, or you are playing too ineffective. For now just try focusing on decreasing your number of turns used, and I am certain it will improve other aspects of your game.

- I hope it helps. Let me know how it goes. And good luck!

I never knew a lot of this, this is excellent thank you

[cigma]

I’m feeling like I’m missing a very fundamental element to this game that is causing me to lose this frequently.

I have checked your last 2 games until the first break, https://boardgamearena.com/table?table=700898169 and https://boardgamearena.com/table?table=700870276 and yes, I think you are missing a very fundamental element to this game. In one of those games, you played one animal, just in order to release it as fast as possible. In the other game, you didn't play any animal at all before the first break.

At the very beginning of the game, the most important goal is to generate you a regular income. As in a real zoo, investment is the base for any development! People normally do this by playing animals and some kind of sponsors.
EDIT: The rulebook itself gives you this advice: "We recommend that you choose 1–2 Sponsor cards and 2–3 Animal cards as your first hand cards." And I may add: pick cards you can play early in the game. Otherwise they just block your hand.

my opponents are usually always 2x ahead of me before I even begin to get my engine going.

Given that you seem to avoid generating income at the beginning, I am wondering which engine you are referring to. In my opinion, getting income IS the engine (or at least an important part of it) in this game.

As a rule of thumb I suggest to play 2 animals per round (break), and to support your first conservation projekt (no release!) in the second round, if possible (or at least in the third round). Starting with the third round, generating income is still important, but then you can play more flexible, searching for good opportunities. EDIT: By my first association action, I usually pick either the university, which allows you to keep 5 cards, or a zoo matching my animal cards.

Just my two cents

EDIT: I really admire your perseverance in playing a game like Ark Nova 900 times nevertheless!