Differences between the BGA implementation and the Physical game

1. Initial Captain, Cards and Resources selection

In the BGA implementation, you select the Captain you play, the cards you start with (4 out of 8) and your additional starting resources (unless you're the starting player) all at once. Once all players have made their selection its all revealed to the other players. If you follow the rules to the letter, selecting starting resources should happen after Captain + Card selection. This results in a faster set-up phase, and players can start playing more quickly.

2. VP track

In the BGA implementation, your score marker will stop moving on the score track once it reaches 50 points. You can still gain additional points during the game but your marker wont move any further. Your score marker will always reflect your current VP value in side the marker. In the physical game you would take another lap around the track, but this can be confusing for some players as you don't gain additional bonuses from the track by taking another lap.

Game Overview

As explorers, we scout a mysterious island to discover rare creatures and settle them in our reserve. The game blends worker placement (crew members) with engine building (creature cards). The core mechanic is collecting icons on cards to fulfill scientific goals (Achievements).

Core Concept: Icons & Eggs

• Icons: Each card in your reserve shows icons (e.g., Magnifier, Paw). These are required for achievements but are not spent.
• Eggs: These act as wild icons. When used for an achievement, flip them to the "hatched" side (they stay in your reserve but lose their wild property).

Gameplay

On your turn, perform exactly 1 of these 4 actions:

1. Deploy Crew Member (Explore)

Place your crew member so it straddles the line between two hex tiles.

• Cost: Plains are free. Mountains cost 1 resource of your choice.
• Gain: From all adjacent habitats (hexes), you may EITHER take 1 resource OR take 1 matching creature card from the Wilderness (market) into your hand.
• Bonus: Collect all eggs on the two hexes covered by your crew member. Activate any action icons on those hexes.

2. Play Cards (Expand Reserve)

Play up to 2 cards from your hand into your reserve.

• Cost: Pay the resources printed in the top-left corner of the card.
• Effects: "Instant" lightning bolts trigger once. "Permanent" infinity symbols are active from now on. "Recharge" icons only trigger during the "Recharge" action.

3. Claim Achievement

Choose one of the 3 face-up achievements.

• Requirement: Your reserve must display all required icons (on cards or eggs).
• Reward: Take a trophy (victory points), place your marker, and unlock your Captain ability. You cannot play any more cards during this turn.

4. Recharge (Reset)

Only possible if all 3 of your crew members are on the board.

• Retrieve: Return all figures to your supply.
• Time Stone: Advance the time stone. If it reaches an egg symbol, replenish eggs on the board and refresh the card market (Wilderness).
• Effects: Activate all cards in your reserve that have a "Recharge" icon. Hand limit: 5.

End of Game & Scoring

The game ends when a player takes the last trophy and finishes their turn, and then every other player has taken one more turn.

Final scoring adds points for the following:

• Creatures in your reserve with an end game ability
• Creatures in your reserve with an end game score
• Achievements
• 3 points per trophy
• 1 point for every 4 leftover resources and/or butterfly nets

BGA always shows the cumulative instant score for all players (with a brown icon) during the game. If Live Scoring is enabled, you will also see the total score (with a red icon).