Dominant Species

2010

Enter the prehistoric world of Dominant Species, a strategic board game where players embody different animal classes. Battle for survival and dominance as the ice age approaches!

240
minutes

2 - 6
player(s)

14+

Heavy

About the game

Dominant Species is an engaging and immersive board game that takes you back in time to the harsh and unforgiving era of the Ice Age. During this game, you don’t just play, you live in the prehistoric era, representing one of the six major animal classes – Mammal, Reptile, Bird, Amphibian, Arachnid, or Insect. This game is a fascinating blend of strategy, survival, and dominance, all packaged in a brilliantly thematic and visually appealing setting.

In the frostbitten lands of the Dominant Species, survival is not just about being the fittest, but the smartest. The game’s core mechanics revolve around the concept of ‘area control’. This means that players must strategically spread their species across different terrain tiles, adapting to new environments, and outcompeting their opponents in the race for survival. The game integrates other mechanics such as action selection, tile placement, and variable player powers, which add layers of complexity and depth to the gameplay.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The game of ‘Dominant Species’ includes several components, each playing a unique role in the game’s mechanics. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each component and their function within the game:

1. Game Board: The main playing surface, representing Earth during the last Ice Age.

Function: The game board is the central stage where all actions take place. It is divided into several areas such as tundra, desert, savannah, etc. Players will place and move their species on this board to compete for dominance in each area.

2. Wooden Cubes: These represent the animal species that players control.

Function: Wooden cubes are used by players to represent their species. They are placed on the game board and moved around as players compete for dominance in different areas. The number of cubes a player has on a tile determines their dominance in that specific area.

3. Wooden Cones: These represent the players’ action pawns.

Function: Wooden cones are used to select actions from the action display on the game board. The number of cones a player has available determines the number of actions they can take in a round.

4. Card Decks: These include the Dominance cards and the Event cards.

Function: Cards introduce random elements and special effects into the game. Dominance cards are used to determine dominance in an area, while Event cards trigger various events that can affect the game’s progress.

5. Player Mats: Each player receives a player mat which represents the type of animal they control.

Function: Player mats provide information about the specific animal a player controls and serve as a personal management area where players track their species, available actions, and more.

6. Food Tokens: These represent the different types of food sources available.

Function: Food tokens are used to determine which areas of the game board a player’s species can inhabit. Each species has a specific food preference, and can only inhabit areas where that food source is available.

7. Element Tiles: These are used to represent different elements that can be exploited by the species.

Function: Element tiles are added to the game board and can be utilized by species to increase their dominance in an area. The more of an element a species can utilize, the greater its dominance.

8. Dominance Markers: These are used to track each player’s dominance in specific areas.

Function: Dominance markers are moved on the dominance track on the game board. The player with the highest position on the dominance track in an area is considered the dominant species in that area.

9. Ice Age Card: This card represents the impending Ice Age.

Function: The Ice Age card is placed at the bottom of the Event deck and signals the end of the game when drawn. It represents the harsh conditions of the Ice Age that ultimately determine the survival of the species.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Dominant Species is a strategic board game that requires careful planning and decision-making. The game allows players to take on the roles of different animal classes struggling for dominance in a changing environment. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up ‘Dominant Species’.

Step 1: Assign Player Roles

Each player chooses an animal class to represent. The options are mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, arachnids, or insects.
Each player receives a player board, a set of action pawns, and a set of scoring cubes in their chosen animal class color.

Step 2: Set Up the Main Board

Place the main game board in the center of the playing area.
Sort the six types of terrain tiles (wetland, desert, mountain, forest, savannah, and tundra) into separate stacks and place them next to the board.
Choose a starting hex tile (usually tundra) and place it in the center of the board.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Each player receives a set of species cubes. The number of cubes depends on the number of players: 60 for a two-player game, 50 for three players, 40 for four, 35 for five, and 30 for six.
Each player places one of their species cubes on the “0” space of the scoring track.

Step 4: Random Elements

Shuffle the domination cards and place them in a deck near the game board. Reveal the top five cards and place them in a line next to the deck.
Place the glaciation card face up on the glaciation action space on the game board.
Place the available element tiles in a bag or container. Draw a number of tiles equal to the number of players plus three and place them on the corresponding element circles on the game board.

Step 5: Arrange Elements on Animal Classes

Draw 12 element tiles from the bag and arrange them on the matching circles on the animal class displays. Each display should have two tiles to start.
The players then take turns to select an additional element tile from the remaining tiles and add it to their animal class display. Continue until all displays have four tiles.

Step 6: Populate the Earth

Starting with the player who will go last in the first round and proceeding in reverse turn order, each player takes turns placing their species cubes on the starting hex tile.
The number of species cubes each player can place depends on turn order: the last player places seven, the second to last places six, and so on, with the first player placing only one cube.

After these steps, you are now ready to start playing the game. Remember, the key to winning ‘Dominant Species’ is to adapt to the changing environment and outcompete your opponents.

Game flow Round and round we go

Dominant Species is an engaging board game that simulates the survival and evolution of different species. The game is divided into several rounds with each round having four main phases: Planning, Execution, Retirval and Extinction.

Planning phase: In this phase, players place their action pawns on the action display board. This is done in a sequential order, and players can’t place more than one pawn on a particular action unless all other actions have been filled.

Initiative: The first player begins by placing one of their action pawns on any action space. The process continues clockwise until all players have placed all their pawns.
Selection: Each player selects an action by placing a pawn on the corresponding space on the action display board.

Execution phase: During this phase, the actions chosen in the planning phase are executed. Actions are executed in the order they appear on the action display board. Each action can only be performed once per round.

Adaptation: Players can gain dominance in certain types of terrains by adapting their species to new types of elements.
Competition: Players can remove opposing species from the board by performing a competitive action.
Wanderlust: Players can expand their species into new tiles by performing the wanderlust action.
Migration: Players can move their species from one tile to another by performing the migration action.

Retirval phase: In this phase, players retrieve their action pawns from the action display board, starting with the player who has the most action pawns remaining and proceeding in descending order.

Recovery: All players retrieve their action pawns from the action display board.
Preparation: Players prepare for the next round by resetting their action pawns.

Extinction phase: During this phase, any species that does not occupy a tile with its required element becomes extinct and is removed from the board.

Elimination: Any species that is not adjacent to a tile with its required element is removed from the board.
Survival: Species that remain on the board after the extinction phase are considered to have survived.

Game play continues in this manner, round after round, until the ‘Ice Age’ card is drawn, signaling the end of the game. At this point, victory points are tallied and the player with the most points is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Dominant Species is a strategy board game where players aim to evolve and adapt their species to dominate different territories. During a player’s turn, they can take a range of actions that can significantly influence the game’s progression. Understanding these actions and their potential strategic implications is key to mastering the game.

Here’s a thorough breakdown of all possible actions during a player’s turn:

Dominance: Dominance is the action of comparing the total number of elements on a tile to the total number in a player’s species. The player with the highest total dominates the tile. Dominating a tile can give you control over that specific territory and its resources, which can lead to accruing more points.
Adaptation: During Adaptation, players can choose an element from the Earth’s draw bag to add to their display. This action allows a player’s species to survive in more diverse habitats and potentially dominate more tiles.
Competition: Competition allows a player to remove an opposing species from a tile where both species coexist. This action can be strategically used to weaken opponents and secure dominance over specific territories.
Glaciation: The Glaciation action allows a player to place a glaciation tile on the board, which removes all but one species from the tile. This can be a strategic move to disrupt opponents’ dominance on certain tiles.
Speciation: With the Speciation action, players can add more species to tiles adjacent to a chosen element. This can be a strategic way to populate more territories and increase dominance.
Migration: Migration allows a player to move their species from one tile to another. This can be used strategically to escape competition or glaciation, or to populate and dominate new territories.
Evolution: Finally, the Evolution action allows a player to score points by moving up the evolution track. The player selects a tile they dominate and moves their marker up the matching evolution track, scoring points based on their position. This action is a key way to accumulate points and can be a decisive factor in winning the game.

In Dominant Species, strategic choices revolve around balancing survival and dominance. Players must be mindful of the changing environment, competition from other species, and opportunities for evolution. The player who best adapts their species and dominates the most productive habitats will ultimately lead their species to victory.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘Dominant Species’ ends when the Ice Age card is drawn from the deck. This card is always placed at the bottom of the deck, ensuring that it comes up last. As such, the game’s end is both predictable and inevitable, but the exact timing is not known until the end is upon the players.

Upon drawing the Ice Age card, it is important to note that the game does not end immediately. Rather, the current round is played to completion, ensuring that all players have an equal number of turns. Once the round is over, final scoring begins.

Victory Conditions

The goal of Dominant Species is to have the most Victory Points (VPs) at the end of the game. VPs are primarily earned by dominating different types of terrain and by surviving extinction events, but can also be gained through other means.

The primary ways to earn VPs are as follows:

Dominance: At the end of each round, players score VPs based on the number of terrain tiles they dominate. The player with the most species cubes on a tile is considered the dominant player for that tile. If there is a tie, the player with the most cubes in the surrounding area is considered dominant.
Survival: Players can earn VPs by surviving extinction events. These events are triggered when certain cards are drawn from the deck. If a player’s species survives an extinction event, they earn a number of VPs equal to the number of their species cubes that survived.
Special Cards: Certain cards give players the ability to earn extra VPs. These cards are drawn randomly from the deck and can significantly impact the outcome of the game.

End of Game Actions

Before final scoring, there are a few actions that players must take:

Complete the current round: As mentioned earlier, the round in progress when the Ice Age card is drawn is played to completion. This ensures that all players have the same number of turns.
Resolve final dominance: After the round ends, players check each terrain tile one last time to determine who is dominant. These players earn VPs as usual.
Survive the Ice Age: The Ice Age card triggers a final extinction event. Players must ensure that their species survive this event to earn VPs.

After these actions have been taken, players count up their VPs. The player with the most VPs is declared the winner. In case of a tie, the player with the most surviving species cubes wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Dominant Species is a strategic board game that focuses on the concept of survival of the fittest. The scoring system is designed to reflect this principle. Here is a detailed breakdown of how points are awarded and the tie-breaking rules.

Points Awarded

Points in Dominant Species are awarded through the following mechanisms:

Domination Cards: Players can earn points by playing Domination cards. These cards provide varying amounts of points based on the specific card and the player’s standing in the food chain.
Survival: At the end of each turn, the player whose species has survived in the most number of tundra tiles earns bonus points. This reflects the game’s theme of survival.
Supremacy: At the end of the game, players earn points based on the number of tiles they control on the board. The player who controls the most tiles of each type earns bonus points.

Tie-Breaking Rules

If there is a tie in Dominant Species, the following rules apply:

The player who is higher up on the food chain breaks the tie. This reflects the game’s emphasis on the survival of the fittest.
If the tied players are on the same level in the food chain, the player who has the most species on the board breaks the tie.
If the players are still tied, the player who played earlier in the turn order is the winner.

Through these mechanisms, the scoring system in Dominant Species encourages strategic planning and tactical decision-making, as players must balance the need to survive with the goal of dominance.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Dominant Species is a complex strategic game that requires players to adapt and survive in a constantly changing environment. It’s a game full of interesting twists and turns but also includes some rare rules and exceptions that need to be noted.

1. Dominance: In Dominant Species, dominance is determined by the total number of elements a species has on a tile, not the number of species cubes. This is a common misconception among new players, but the game’s title refers specifically to the dominance of elements and not the number of cubes.

2. Survival Card: The Survival Card is a special mechanic in Dominant Species. This card is only used when the Survival Action is taken. The card gives beneficial effects to the species that holds it, but it can be stolen by other players. Remember, the Survival Action can only be taken if the Survival Card is not in another player’s possession.

Note: If the Survival Card has not been claimed before the start of a new round, it is discarded and a new one is drawn.

3. Extinction: If a species loses all of its elements from a tile, it becomes extinct. However, there are two exceptions to this rule:

If a species cube is on a Tundra tile, it does not go extinct even if it has no matching elements.
If a player has no cubes on the board, they may place one cube on any tile during the Reset Phase.

4. Ice Age: The Ice Age card is a special card that ends the game. It’s at the bottom of the deck, and when drawn, the current round is finished and then the game ends. However, if a player chooses the Glaciation action, they can choose to end the game by placing the Ice Age marker on the Ice Age card.

5. Scoring: During final scoring, the species with the most tiles scores additional bonus points. However, Tundra tiles are not counted for this purpose.

6. Special Pawns: Each player has one special pawn that can be used to take an action immediately. However, it cannot be used on an action space that already contains a normal pawn, and if it is used to take the Domination action, it does not trigger a new Domination.

Note: The special pawn is returned to the player at the end of the round, not during the Reset Phase like normal pawns.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Dominant Species is a complex and strategic board game that mimics the evolutionary struggle for survival among various species. Winning requires the right balance of short-term planning, long-term strategy, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Here are some tips and strategies to help you excel in this game.

Advanced Strategies:

Dominate Early: Aim to dominate species early in the game. This allows you to collect victory points faster and create a lead that becomes difficult for others to overcome.
Adaptation: Always be ready to adapt your species to the changing environment. This is crucial for survival, especially when the board starts to get crowded or when the dominant elements change.
Retreat is Not Always Bad: Sometimes, it’s better to retreat from a highly contested tile to a less crowded one, especially if you can dominate it. This could mean fewer points per turn, but it’s a steady income that can add up over time.

Beginner Tips:

Understand the Scoring: Make sure you understand how scoring works. It’s not just about dominating a tile, but also about the number of elements on it and the tile’s inherent value.
Have a Balanced Approach: Don’t focus solely on either short-term gains or long-term strategy. A balanced approach is key.
Use Special Cards Wisely: Special cards can significantly change the game’s dynamics. Use them wisely and at the right time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Ignoring the Endgame: Many beginners focus too much on the early game and ignore the endgame. Remember, the game’s final rounds often determine the winner.
Not Adapting: The game environment changes frequently. If you stick to your initial strategy without adapting, you’ll likely find yourself at a disadvantage.
Overcommitting: Overcommitting to a single tile can leave you vulnerable elsewhere on the board. It’s often better to spread out and dominate multiple smaller tiles than to fight over one big one.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Plan Ahead: Try to anticipate the actions of your opponents and plan your moves accordingly. This can give you a significant advantage.
Be Flexible: Keep your strategy flexible. The ability to adapt to new situations is one of the key aspects of Dominant Species.
Use Your Actions Wisely: Each action you take is important. Make sure each one counts and contributes to your overall strategy.