Master the Art of PARKS Nightfall

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Overview of Nightfall Expansion
3. New Park Cards
4. Instant Actions
5. Year Deck and Personal Goals
6. Wildlife Friends
7. Setup and Gameplay
8. Campsite Actions
9. Sharing Trail Sites
10. Scoring and Winning

Introduction

Welcome to the Nightfall expansion for the game Parks! In this scenic hike through the rules, we will explore the exciting additions that Nightfall brings to the base game. With new park cards, instant actions, a year deck, and more, Nightfall offers a thrilling experience for players. Join me as we dive into the details and discover what this expansion has in store for us.

Overview of Nightfall Expansion

Nightfall introduces 24 new park cards, including 17 national parks that were not featured in the base game. This means that players now have the opportunity to explore every national park that the U.S has to offer. These new cards not only provide points but also come with exciting instant actions that add depth and strategy to gameplay. But before we Delve into the specifics of these additions, let's walk through the setup and basic gameplay of Nightfall.

New Park Cards

The Nightfall expansion brings a fresh set of park cards to the table. These cards feature stunning national parks and offer unique opportunities for players. When visiting a park, You will need to pay the token cost as usual. However, Nightfall park cards come with new instant actions denoted by a lightning bolt symbol. These instant actions can be activated when you visit the park and provide additional benefits. For example, Grand Teton National Park allows you to visit or reserve another park from the board.

Nightfall park cards may also feature a brown token symbol. To meet the cost of these cards, you can use any combination of your tokens as long as the number matches what is indicated within the brown square. These new park cards offer fresh strategies and exciting possibilities for players to explore.

Instant Actions

One of the highlights of the Nightfall expansion is the introduction of instant actions. These actions can be taken when visiting specific parks and provide immediate benefits. For example, visiting Death Valley National Park allows you to take a photo by paying one mountain token. However, it's important to note that if you have gear that gives you discounts when visiting parks, those discounts only Apply to the specific symbols listed on the card and not to the brown token symbol.

The instant actions provide players with additional choices and opportunities to enhance their gameplay. It's crucial to make the most of these actions as they can significantly impact your strategy and overall success in the game.

Year Deck and Personal Goals

Nightfall introduces a year deck that adds a new layer of strategy to the game. This deck includes personal goal cards that guide your gameplay and provide scoring opportunities. Each player starts the game with two year cards and chooses one to keep while discarding the other. Throughout the game, players can Collect and score multiple year cards Based on their accomplishments.

These cards have secret goals that are revealed and scored at the end of the game. The better you achieve these goals, the more points you can earn. For example, the Stargazer card rewards you with one point for every three suns across all the parks you have visited. The Nightfall expansion allows players to pursue unique strategies and adds an element of excitement by offering a variety of personal goals to strive for.

Wildlife Friends

In addition to new park cards and instant actions, the Nightfall expansion introduces a few new wildlife friends. These friendly creatures add Charm and character to the game while offering additional scoring opportunities. Each player receives a wildlife token at the start of the game, which can be used strategically throughout gameplay.

These wildlife friends Interact with different elements of the game, providing players with advantages and opportunities to earn points. As you explore the parks and encounter these wildlife friends, make sure to consider them as valuable assets in your Quest for victory.

Setup and Gameplay

The setup for the Nightfall expansion is similar to that of the base game, with a few small and easy changes. The Nightfall park cards are shuffled in with the base game cards, and the deck is placed on the board. Three cards are revealed, following the usual setup of the trail and weather tokens.

One significant addition is the inclusion of tint tokens, which are placed on the trail. These tint tokens represent camping overnight with the new "Tent" action. By camping, players can unlock new actions and gain advantages during gameplay. In a four to five player game, an additional tent is added to the trail.

The campsite area also undergoes changes in Nightfall. Campsite tiles are shuffled, and three are randomly chosen for the game. Additionally, in a five-player game, a special "Five Plus" tile is included. Players will interact with the campsite area throughout the game, utilizing its actions and strategizing to gain an upper HAND.

The Nightfall expansion also features a year deck, which replaces the year deck from the base game. Players receive two cards from the Nightfall year deck at the start of the game, choosing one to keep and discarding the other. Year cards provide personal goals that players can aim to achieve for additional points. The scoring of year cards is explained in Detail in the Nightfall rulebook.

Finally, each player is given a wildlife token, which adds an extra element of strategy and scoring potential to the game. The setup is now complete, and it's time to embark on your Nightfall adventure.

Campsite Actions

One of the exciting features of Nightfall is the campsite area. Players have the option to visit the campsite instead of a trail site, gaining advantages and taking special actions. There are different campsite actions available depending on which campsite tiles were drawn for the game.

Among the campsite actions, players can turn in a forest token to gain Water, trade in a mountain token to take a photo (up to two times on a turn if you have the camera gear), or reserve a park and relight your campfire. Each campsite action presents unique opportunities for players to strategize and make tactical decisions.

It's worth noting that campsite actions may change with different seasons. However, the year action on the campsite board remains the same throughout the game. As you progress through the seasons, don't forget to leverage the campsite area and its actions to gain an AdVantage over your opponents.

Sharing Trail Sites

In Nightfall, players have the option to share trail sites when another hiker is already present. By spinning your campfire, you can choose to camp at the same site as another player, effectively sharing the location. This allows you to perform the trail site's action and potentially take weather tokens if they are available.

Alternatively, you can use the tent token to visit an available campsite and utilize its actions. Sharing trail sites adds a competitive element to the game, as players vie for advantageous positions while also creating strategic opportunities for cooperation.

Scoring and Winning

At the end of season four, the game comes to a close, and it's time to calculate scores. In addition to part cards and photo tokens, the Nightfall expansion introduces the scoring of year cards. These cards are scored incrementally based on the goals you accomplished during the game.

Just like in the base game, the player with the most points wins. In case of a tie, the player who visited the most parks takes the victory. If there is still a tie, the players share the victory. Remember to carefully consider your park visits, year goals, and overall strategy in order to secure the most points and claim victory in Nightfall.

With its new park cards, instant actions, year deck, wildlife friends, and exciting gameplay additions, Nightfall expands the scope of Parks and provides a deeper and more engaging experience. So Gather your gear, lace up your hiking boots, and embark on an unforgettable Journey through the national parks of the United States. Prepare to be captivated by the wonders of nature and the thrill of the Nightfall expansion!