Dominant Species: A Guide to Strategy, Winning Tips & Rules

Introduction

Dominant Species is a game that’s all about animals trying to survive and be the top dog before the last Ice Age hits. The game was made by Chad Jensen and came out in 2010. It’s for 2 to 6 players and can take a few hours to play. The idea is to control different areas on the board and adapt your species to survive. You get points for being the most dominant species on different tiles, and the player with the most points at the end wins.

Set against the backdrop of a prehistoric Earth, players assume the roles of different animal classes vying for dominance in a dynamic ecosystem. From amphibians and mammals to reptiles and birds, each class possesses distinct abilities, creating a diverse and competitive environment. The game unfolds across a hexagonal tile board, representing various terrain types such as tundra, jungle, and wetlands. Throughout the game, players strategically place action pawns to adapt their species to environmental changes, migrate to new regions, and compete for limited resources.

What sets Dominant Species apart, I find, is the unique “dominance” mechanism, where players strive to become the dominant species in specific regions, influencing the outcome of evolutionary events. As the climate shifts and ice ages dawn, species must adapt or face extinction. The game’s dynamic nature ensures a high level of replayability, as strategic choices and player interactions shape the unfolding narrative of survival and dominance.

Rules for playing Dominant Species

Okay, let’s dive into the rules. Each player picks an animal group like mammals, reptiles, or birds. The game board has a bunch of hexagon tiles that represent Earth’s surface. You’ve got different actions like adapting, migrating, or competing to control these tiles. The game goes through a bunch of rounds, and each round has different phases. You plan your moves, do your actions, and then score points based on where you’re dominant. There’s also cards that can mix things up, like causing a volcano or an Ice Age to come faster. The game ends when the Ice Age card is played, and then you see who has the most points.

Equipment and Setup for Dominant Species

For this game, you need the board, a bunch of wooden animal pieces, some cones that represent dominance, cards for the different actions, and smaller bits for elements and other stuff. You set up the board with a few starting tiles and put the Ice Age tile at one end. Each player gets their animal bits and some starting elements. You also shuffle the action cards and get them ready.

How to Play Dominant Species and Game Mechanics

The game has a few key parts:

1. Planning Phase: You put your action pawns on the actions you want to do later.
2. Execution Phase: You do the actions in the order they’re on the board.
3. Scoring Phase: You get points for tiles where you’re dominant.
4. End of the Game: When the Ice Age card is played, you finish the round and then score one last time.

How to Win at Dominant Species

Winning is about getting points. You get points for being dominant on tiles, surviving when the Ice Age hits, and for some of the action cards. You need to spread out, adapt to have the right elements, and sometimes mess with other players to stop them from scoring.

To win at Dominant Species, you’ll need to effectively manage your species’ presence on the board, expand their adaptive traits, and score points through dominance over different terrain tiles. Success in this game requires a careful balance between aggression and expansion, as well as foresight in planning. Players must adapt to the shifting environment and the actions of their opponents by selecting actions that allow them to spread their species, acquire new adaptation traits, and control key areas of the board. Scoring opportunities through dominance and survival events are critical, so maintaining a strong presence on the board and minimizing your species’ vulnerabilities are key strategies. It’s also important to watch the glaciation tile, as it can drastically alter the landscape and affect dominance.

Ultimately, we often find that the player who can best anticipate changes, manage their action pawns, and exploit opportunities will outcompete their rivals and emerge as the dominant species on the planet.

Best Strategies for playing Dominant Species game

Some good strategies are to focus on spreading your species to new tiles, making sure you have the right elements to be dominant, and using the action cards to help you or hurt others. You can also try to predict what other players will do and block them or make moves that will mess up their plans.

One key strategy is to focus on adaptability by acquiring diverse food sources for your species, which makes it easier to thrive in various habitats and resist catastrophic events. Players should also pay close attention to the initiative track, as acting earlier in the turn can be critical for executing plans before opponents. Maintaining a presence in multiple terrain types can be beneficial for scoring, but overextension can leave your species vulnerable to competition and predation. Timing is crucial—knowing when to expand, when to consolidate, and when to trigger the glaciation and dominance cards can turn the tide of the game.

Players should also be prepared to form temporary alliances, using the threat of mutual enemies to their advantage, but always with an eye towards betrayal when it suits their interests. Balancing these elements while keeping an eye on the end-game scoring opportunities, such as dominance in terrains rich in food types and survival in the face of the encroaching ice age, is key to mastering Dominant Species.

Scenarios

If you’re behind, you might need to take some risks like spreading out more or using action cards to change the board. If you’re ahead, you might want to play it safe and make sure you keep control of your tiles.

Frequently Asked Questions about playing Dominant Species game

Q: How long does a game take? A: It can take a few hours, depending on how many people are playing.

Q: Can I play with just two people? A: Yes, but it’s a bit different than with more players.

Q: What’s the best animal to play? A: They’re all balanced, so it’s more about how you play.

Additional Tips

Remember to keep an eye on the elements and try to have a good mix of actions. Don’t forget to watch what other players are doing and be ready to change your plans if you need to.

External Links

For more info on Dominant Species, check out the official game page and the official rules.