Some new power ideas. It’s a bit of a brain dump in an attempt to really flesh out lots of different playstyles and potentials for the game.

I’ve been toying with other ‘playstyles’/ways to win, including a Parasite, a ocean/tidal manipulator, maybe an ‘architect’ style that can modify the board and one that goes all in on a singular powerful critter (demigod/hero creation).

One of the biggest identified elements - are a way to spend 3 different resources. My favourite is the ‘appeasement’ or the stealthy point style.

Appeasement/Hoard

Once per turn, instead of your ‘Buy a tile’ step, you may pay 1 of each unique biome resource (1 Dark, 1 Medium, 1 Light). If you do, gain 2 VPs.

This aims to capture the feeling of calming the volcano gods with a balanced offering to earn their favour.

This would need a separate track to count so I’m not stoked about that. (or just use the winter tokens? May be confusing if ones in your hand are worth 2VP compared to none).

Sacrificial Guidance

Suggested Unlock Slot: L3

"You may spend one critter from your Sacrificial Critter Crater to force the active player to re-roll any single die. This can be a die for a Volcano, Lava Flow Progression. You may use this power during any player's turn, after a roll is made but before its effect is resolved."

Does not affect other Volcanic power rolls? (Lateral Eruption, Magma Bomb, Lava diversion)

Cons: This kind of thing can be annoying to other players when their already at chance move is thwarted.

Pros: Is the ’nope’ card at the cost of 1pt.

Harmonious Resonance

Suggested Unlock Slot: L2-3

(Passive) After unlocking this power, at the end of the game, score 2 bonus points (3 total) for every complete set of three unique biomes you control.

(Passive Scoring Engine)

Controlled flow/water lava something something

If there there is an option for lava to flow into any ocean space on your turn, you may choose this instead of rolling the dice.

Only on your turn?

Magma siphon

Gain any resource when another player plays a volcano Super simple. Probably the best if we’re trying to follow KISS.

In a two player game this may be as little as 3 extra resources. It becomes more valuable in multiplayer games but still not particularly strong. Should volcanoes be cheaper too?

Rule rework

When another player plays a volcano, gain 1 resource for each critter you have on a tile adjacent to the new volcano.

Geothermal tap

Select a biome, the player controlling this biome gains 2 bonus resources from this biome, marked with a token. It is removed when something is played on top of it (a tile, a volcano or lava flows over it). Only 1 biome can be tapped at any one time? Or only 1 per player?

Cons - Adding extra tokens are always annoying.

Geomantic Mastery (name needs workshopping)

Suggested unlock slot: L4

(Passive) At the end of the game, score 4 bonus VPs if you control the single Largest Biome. Additionally, score 4 bonus VPs if you control the single Tallest Biome. (These are in addition to the standard 3pt bonus objective cards).

Rationale: This power heavily rewards achieving superiority on the board in a few key locations. It provides a massive bonus point for executing the strategy of building bigger and taller than anyone else.

Rotational something (name needs workshopping)

Pay one of each resource to rotate an exisiting tile (that sounds kind of devastating) like, too powerful maybe. Still has to connect. Critters on top stay alive unless are ‘spun’ to a contested biome.

Potentially have this as triggering a volcano allows the spin rather than normal volcanoes allowing the spin.

Whirlwind

Select 3 x edges? Or 1 tile? Rotate up to three critters off their current biome.

An agressive mobility, quite chaotic, leaning against this idea.

Final Pilgrimage (or the likes)

Suggested unlock slot: L4

After everyone’s final turn of the game, you may perform one final Sacrifice manouevere. Remove up to 4 of your critters from anywhere on the board and place them in your Sacrificial Critter Crater. Gain 2 VPs for each critter sacrificed this way (8vp - 4vp and board presence). This does not count against your 3-critter crater limit.

Island Forger/Land forger

Suggested unlock slot: L3/4

When you summon an Island, you may take one additional tile (4 total) from the supply to build it. Additionally, you may place your new island immediately adjacent to any existing landmass, ignoring the ‘1 space away’ rule.

This is simple, speeds up the end game, could be used for an intentional rush ending. I like it.

Living Bastion

Suggested unlock slot: L2

(Passive) Your Colossal Critter cannot be removed from the board by an opponent stacking a tile on top of it. Instead, the opponent must pay you 2 an additional 2 resources?

Shockwave Stomp

Suggested unlock slot: L3

Once per turn, when you move your Colossal Critter, you may pay 3 resources. If you do, all regular-sized critters on tiles adjacent to its destination tile are returned to their owners’ hands.

All may be too powerful? Would need to test.

Apex Predator

Suggested unlock slot: L4

(Passive) At the end of the game, your Colossal Critter is worth VPs equal to the height of the tile stack it is on, instead of the standard 4 VPs. Additionally, if your Colossal Critter is on a tile that is tied for the ‘Tallest Biome’, you automatically win the Bonus Objective.

I like the power name, but may need to workshop it thematically.

1. Apex predator
2. Appeasement (instead of your ‘Buy a tile’ step, you may pay 1 of each unique biome resource to gain 2 VPs)
3. Ash shroud/Smog (protect a tile from land placement, move it once per turn(?), must move adjacent, can go in the ocean).
4. Controlled flow
5. Dormant lava tube (Was thinking maybe a fast travel between selected islands, kinda just a worse flying critters)
6. Dormant pressure (trap, only triggers when another tile is on there)
7. Final pilgrammage
8. Geothermal tap (gain +2 resources from this biome the following turn, marked with a token, can be removed (or just stolen?))
9. Geomantic mastery
10. Harmonious resonance (at the end of the game, score 2 bonus points (3 total) for every complete set of three unique biomes you control. )
11. Heat mirage (all opposition are targets - or something.)
12. Island forger
13. Living bastion
14. Magma siphon (gain any resource when another player plays a volcano)
15. Rotational
16. Sacrificial guidance
17. Shockwave stomp
18. Whirlwind