Ark Nova · Board game rules
how do I set up the game
Summary
Game setup involves two main phases: placing the shared components on the game board and organizing personal components for each player. This includes setting up the map, cards, tokens, tracks, and money before the first turn begins.
Global Setup
First, place the game board in the center of the table and position the Break token on the start space corresponding to your player count (e.g., space (3) for three players). Shuffle the 9 Bonus tiles and place one face-up on each of the 4 blank yellow Bonus spaces on the board, returning the remaining 5 to the box. Shuffle the Zoo cards to create a face-down deck, deal 6 face-down cards to the display spaces on the board, and turn them face-up at the end of setup. Place the 2 organizers next to the board as the general supply, filling one with enclosures and the other with remaining tiles and tokens. Place the Association board next to the game board, putting 1 partner zoo of each continent and 1 university of each kind on the provided spaces. Shuffle the Final Scoring cards and place them face-down next to the Association board. Shuffle the Base Conservation Project cards to create a deck, placing the top 3 or 4 face-up below the board depending on the player count. In a 2-player game, cover specific levels on the Base Conservation Projects and Association board to block them. Finally, randomly determine a start player, with turn order proceeding clockwise (Page 4: # SETUP).
Personal Setup
Each player takes a random Map A zoo map, places it with that side up in front of them, and returns the remaining maps to the box. Take one set of 5 Action cards (Build, Cards, Animals, Association, and Sponsors) and place one card side 1 up under each of the five card slots on your map, with the Animals card furthest to the left. Choose a color and take all components of this color, placing appeal, conservation, and reputation counters on their first spaces; the start player starts on space 0 on the Appeal track, with subsequent players starting on spaces 1, 2, and 3. Take 7 player tokens of your color to place on designated spaces on your map, keeping the rest nearby. Take 4 association workers, placing 1 on the notepad as active and the remaining 3 lying down below the notepad. Take 25 money and put it on the notepad. Draw 2 Final Scoring cards to keep hidden, and draw 8 Zoo cards, choosing 4 to keep as hand cards while discarding the remaining 4. Once all players have chosen their hand cards, reveal the 6 cards on the display (Page 5: # SETUP).