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Searching for Strong players for training games

Posted: 06 March 2026, 20:30
by Andrei3009
I just recently started playing ark nova and I want to improve my playing skills. I think my current level is around 300 elo, so I'm looking for players with 300+ elo for practice games. It will be good if you make moves that are not very rare so we can finish games in no more then few days.

If you are ready to play write me on forum or private message.

UpD: It's important that I only play in the peaceful mode.

Re: Searching for Strong players for training games

Posted: 07 March 2026, 05:09
by k4r
there are plenty of 300+ elo players, but your @friendly@ mode narrows your search

why friendly>? tell us your sad story :)

Re: Searching for Strong players for training games

Posted: 07 March 2026, 14:22
by Andrei3009
k4r wrote: 07 March 2026, 05:09 there are plenty of 300+ elo players, but your @friendly@ mode narrows your search

why friendly>? tell us yous sad story :)
As far as I understand, what you mean by friendly mode is the absence of attacking cards.

I've never played ark nova with those cards and never will. I think those cards ruin game flow, corrupt euro\engine building theme make most games substantially slower

Unfortunately, such disgusting mechanics are making their way even into new games, it would be good if everyone took an example from the developers of Ark nova and integrated alternative versions into the game. This is one of it biggest advantages over Terraforming Mars

Re: Searching for Strong players for training games

Posted: 07 March 2026, 18:13
by yazavats
To each their own. Game is played competitively with peaceful mode off, so you're kinda hindering yourself. Those interactive abilities add quite a few tactical elements, so I don't think the game is at a loss for including them.

Re: Searching for Strong players for training games

Posted: 07 March 2026, 20:44
by kingdedede745
I'll play with you. I also dislike non-peaceful mode.

Re: Searching for Strong players for training games

Posted: 08 March 2026, 16:02
by Andrei3009
yazavats wrote: 07 March 2026, 18:13 To each their own. Game is played competitively with peaceful mode off, so you're kinda hindering yourself. Those interactive abilities add quite a few tactical elements, so I don't think the game is at a loss for including them.
I would say that ark nova players prefer non-peaceful mode, but I don't think it affects the competitiveness or skill level of the game.

Re: Searching for Strong players for training games

Posted: 09 March 2026, 22:10
by Monkeyunit
As a person who also dislikes attack mechanics in game I feel strongly in favour of them in AN and here is why:

The attack cards are a way to balance the game. You aren't free to attack whomever you like but its always limited to the player who is in the lead on certain points. If that player is actually in the lead in the game itself can be a discussion, but playing around those cards it's part of the skillset required.

Furthermore, the peacefull abilities aren't exactly balanced either.

Re: Searching for Strong players for training games

Posted: 10 March 2026, 01:24
by Andrei3009
Monkeyunit wrote: 09 March 2026, 22:10 As a person who also dislikes attack mechanics in game I feel strongly in favour of them in AN and here is why:

The attack cards are a way to balance the game. You aren't free to attack whomever you like but its always limited to the player who is in the lead on certain points. If that player is actually in the lead in the game itself can be a discussion, but playing around those cards it's part of the skillset required.

Furthermore, the peacefull abilities aren't exactly balanced either.
I agree that playing around attack cards is an important skill; however, you can’t always afford to do so. In a close game, you often don’t have the option to delay or change a move just to avoid an attack, because doing that might simply cause you to lose anyway so you will play than opponent doesn't have those cards

Attack cards are meant to be a catch-up mechanism, but they’re implemented in a rather clumsy way, since there’s no guarantee that the relevant cards will even appear.

I would say that attacks in Ark Nova are somewhat easier to predict, because many of those cards require specific conditions to be played (for example, having a partner zoo), and they are often taken from the open display.

But the main reason for the dislike of these cards is aesthetic. When you think about Ark Nova, you think about hand , money and action order management as well as competing for rewards and cards and not about dodging monkey attacks. I believe that heavy (random discard instead of selected) interacting with another player’s hand is unacceptable unless it is a core mechanic of the game.