Ark Nova · Board game rules
Can a player turn down income at the break?
Quick answer
No, players must take all income during the break; it cannot be declined.
Details
During the break phase, players collect income in three parts:
- Appeal-based income: Players take money based on their current position on the Appeal track (e.g., 11 money at space 7) [p.18 — Break].
- Kiosk income: Players earn 1 money per adjacent building, enclosure, or pavilion for each kiosk [p.18 — Break].
- Icon-based income: Players collect money from the icon on their zoo map or Sponsor cards [p.18 — Break].
The rules explicitly state that players "take" this income, with no mention of optional refusal. For example, the text says, "Take the amount of money indicated next to your counter on the Appeal track" and "Take 1 money for each unique building [...] adjacent to it." The use of imperative verbs like "take" indicates these are mandatory actions.
Watch out: While players cannot decline income, they might strategically manage their appeal or kiosk placement to influence future income amounts. However, during the break itself, all income gains are automatic.