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Gamesnight ….. ‘Dominant Species’ by Chad Jensen
For a second time over the Christmas break, Dicken has commitments to meet elsewhere, so Kendall shows up at the Esher Gaming Group’s HQ (aka Peter’s ‘cottage’) on his own. Phil C is already ensconced, having (apparently) repaired Peter’s printer rather than singing for his supper. Nick is the next to arrive and then Harry, who promptly rolls on his back encouraging all and sundry to tickle his tummy (as West Highland terriers are wont to do).
Tonight’s game is in the Eagle’s Nest, rather than the customary conservatory. Two storeys up, so Peter’s games collection is also providing exercise for his much repaired hip. Games are floor to ceiling on two walls and there’s also a fridge stacked with beers; cue the Carlsberg advert. Peter’s copy of the game is laid out, but Nick is providing customised counters (wooden discs replacing card tiles) as Dominant Species is already a strong favourite with the Guildford gaming fraternity. Kendall is the only un-initiated player, so Phil is assigned the job of explaining the rules. Then Phil is deputed to fetch a table from the conservatory, so Peter starts the explanation. Peter is also busy with drinks, so (finally) Nick takes over.
Dominant Species is a rule rich game, so (as you will probably have guessed) there will only be a limited over-view of them in this review. The theme is survival of ‘animals’ in six categories (insects, spiders, amphibians, birds, reptiles, mammals). These appear on hex tiles that are gradually laid on the map. Chasing the animals towards extinction (actually, they don’t go extinct in the game) is an expanding glacier that from turn to turn destroys one hex-tile, be it sea, waterland, jungle etc. Some animals prefer one habitat to another, hence the domination of each hex-tile is recorded as well as the number of species (cubes) a player has on each. Should a player score for ‘dominance’ of a tile (gaining victory points) then that player will also be able to take an event card. And the event cards are the sort that make your eyes water.
There’s a whole lot more to it than that, but as Nick first points out this game is of the ‘worker placement’ variety. Players can choose only so much to do from the different phases of the game, and the order in which things happen is a critical element.
Kendall’s brain is gradually ‘evolving’. Under the pressure he barely has wit to respond to the cheery New Year’s greeting of the evening’s fifth player (James) as he arrives. Nick finishes by expostulating the ‘beautiful rule’ that player’s must ‘police’ dominance of hex tiles and, should someone make a mistake, then tough ! - seems a long time since the Ragnars allowed games to be played so vindictively.
Kendall is an Insect – quite appropriate – and therefore goes first. Having little idea of any strategy, Kendall plays safe and opts for a Dominance ‘eye’ (place to put a worker). Being the Insect (and therefore often going first) this option is a good for most of the evening – Kendall is assured of the ‘best’ event. Other players opt for ‘Wanderlust’ – placing a new tile and ‘element’ (Nick’s counter that helps species to survive on and dominate hexes). Kendall places his second cylinder (APT ??) to follow this example and with his third APT opts for speciation which will allow him to place species on up to three hex tiles. His last APT goes on ‘Adaptations’, earning him an Element to go on his player board, which in turn gives better survival chance on the map.
The beer has been poured; let play begin.
Within minutes of start, James is ‘policing’ the board for dominance of hexes. There seems to be nothing Nick can do about it. The ‘beautiful rule’ is kicked into touch as James merrily asks if anyone minds. Players have cones (‘pongles’ – that’s just Peter’s terminology) to record who dominates where.
…. Lots of things happen as players build their positions. Rather more species appear on the map and some extra land materialises for them to wander on to. The glacier lurches west and animals scatter off the ensuing tundra. Event cards are played and some death happens and some animals evolve (a bit).
Phil and James swap pongles. Then re-calculate and swap them back again.
Turn two …. Rather less species appear as a quick glance at the event cards has everyone quaking – much death is coming. It comes.
Meanwhile Kendall has started to tackle the calculation for dominance. However his Insect brain is struggling to remember that (1 x 1) + (1 x1) is not equal to 2 x 2 (and other such complications).
Kendall (to everyone’s surprise) has something of a healthy lead. Being an Insect, Kendall has tended to deal out the death cards rather than try to evolve. A good short term tactic, but ask any giant millipede (they grew to two metres in length, you know) ….
Phil C has written his own obituary several times – in fact every time that one of his species dies. Peter really is struggling – all his species are hanging on to a single hex-tile like lemmings on a life-raft. Nick has gone all morose – spending far too much time hanging around the tundra. And James, well … what is James doing?
Mid-game (and that’s two hours since the start) and there’s some more beer and then back to the brain-work. The Insect finally masters some mathematics – but only briefly. Nick tries to make a pact with Phil; ‘Spiders talking to mammals?’ guffaws Phil. ‘Haven’t you heard of Charlotte’s Web?’ retorts Nick (very good - one he prepared earlier ???).
Kendall’s front-running is brought to an abrupt and potentially acrimonious end. Kendall’s dominance in Savannah has not been challenged and he is about to score there. Peter (correctly) points out that his amphibians are dominant and swaps the pongles. Kendall queries the ‘policing’ rule (without the dominance there is no event card, and what is an Insect without that?) and the ‘beautiful rule’ is duly read out…. Er, there isn’t a beautiful rule after all and Peter is quite entitled to swap the pongle whenever he chooses. He chooses. The Insect plan is shattered. To make it worse, Kendall has mis-read the event card he would have taken – Insects aren’t good at reading (especially up-side down).
Phil C is now the tall poppy.
Fast forward two hours…. Peter pulls a fast one on Nick, scuppering Nick’s slow burning glacier plan. Phil grabs dominance of yet more hex-tiles. James agrees a pact with Nick and then finds he does have to kill Nick (and not Phil) after all. Nick migrates to the tundra. Kendall fails to realise that all hex-tiles will be scored for at game end and therefore doesn’t fully speciate (idiot Insects that don’t know the theme of the game / Darwin / meaning of life).
Mass scoring occurs and James makes a surprising recovery – to fourth place, pipping Nick. Peter is an amphibious third, Kendall a strong second, but the ‘fittest butcher’s dog’ is Phil ‘Mr Mammal’ C.
Handshakes all round – we’ve survived a four and a half hour brain burner. Good game – Dicken will have his hands, mandibles, flippers full when he gets a chance.
Nick hasn’t time for supper, but the rest do partake and also able to enjoy some leisurely overs of the first day of the final test. Cue various tales of ‘cricket in my youth’. ‘Til the next time…
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