Trails of Tucana Variant Rules

Variant Rule: Path Extensions

I’d like to introduce a variant rule called Path Extensions. In this version, you’re not limited to just one cross on each landscape. Instead, you can extend your paths by connecting as many crosses as you want. It’s a simple, yet exciting change that adds a new layer of strategy to the game.

Here’s how it works. As you place tiles and create paths, you can choose to extend a path by connecting it to another cross already on the landscape. By doing this, your path becomes longer, allowing you to score more points. Keep in mind that each new connection must still follow the basic placement rules of Trails of Tucana.

Variant Rule: Rapid Ruins

Another variant rule I’d like to share is Rapid Ruins. With this rule, you’ll be able to accumulate points faster by incorporating the ancient ruins into your paths.

When placing a tile, you can choose to build your path through an ancient ruin. By doing so, you’ll earn an immediate point bonus. However, there’s a catch – once a ruin is incorporated into a path, it cannot be used again.

This variant adds a new level of decision-making to the game. Do you use the ancient ruins quickly for a quick point boost, or save them for potentially larger point opportunities down the line? It’s up to you to decide!

Variant Rule: River Expansion

The next variant rule is called River Expansion. In this version, you’ll be able to utilize the rivers on the landscape to your advantage.

As you place tiles and create paths, you can choose to connect a river to your path. By doing so, you’ll gain extra points for each completed river section. However, keep in mind that rivers can be tricky as they often intersect with multiple paths. You’ll need to strategize and plan your moves accordingly to maximize your points.

River Expansion introduces a new dynamic to the game, as you’ll need to consider not only the placement of the tiles but also the potential connections to the rivers. It adds an exciting twist that will keep you engaged and thinking throughout the game.

Variant Rule: Shortcut Secrets

The final variant rule I’d like to introduce is Shortcut Secrets. This rule adds hidden shortcuts to the game, allowing you to find a quicker path to your goals.

At the beginning of the game, a number of shortcut tokens are randomly placed face down on the landscape. During the game, as you explore and connect your paths, you have the opportunity to reveal and use these shortcuts. When you reveal a shortcut token, you can choose to use it to skip a section of your path, saving you time and potentially earning more points.

Shortcut Secrets adds an element of surprise and strategy. Will you stumble upon a valuable shortcut? Or will you uncover a dead end? It’s a thrilling addition that will keep you on your toes throughout the game.

So there you have it – four variant rules to enhance your Trails of Tucana experience. Whether you choose to incorporate just one or all of these rules, I’m confident that they will bring a fresh and exciting twist to your gameplay. So gather your friends, set up the game, and let the trails of Tucana take you on an extraordinary journey!

If you want to play the game with a twist, here’s how to do it. We’ll play with the Isla Grande side of the map sheet and make a few changes:

• We’ll play 3 rounds instead of 2. At the end of each round, don’t forget to score all the sights you’ve collected so far. After the third round, write down your sight score in the “III” space of the Final Scoring Box.
• Instead of having 2 sights of each type on the sheet, we’ll have 3. When you connect a sight to a village, circle the leftmost available number for that sight in the Sight Scoring Box.
• You’ll only get to draw a bonus trail segment when you connect the 3rd sight of the same type to a village.

Now, let’s see how this plays out. Mary just connected the 3rd yeti to a village. Guess what? She gets to draw a bonus trail anywhere on her map right away!

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Hey there! Let me tell you about Mary’s amazing scoring in the game. In the first round, she got 8 points for her sights. And she didn’t stop there! In round 2, she went all out and scored a whopping 24 points. Talk about impressive! But wait, there’s more! In round 3, Mary raised the bar once again and racked up an impressive 33 points. Wow, she really knows how to bring her A-game!

But wait, there’s a twist…

Now, let’s talk about a special variant of the game. It’s called the Special Bonus round, and it adds a little spice to the regular rules. Here are the changes you need to know:

• When getting ready, I separate the Red Bonus Cards. Depending on how many people are playing, I draw cards from this deck and put them next to the Blue Bonus Cards:
  • 2-4 player game: I draw 1 Red Bonus Card
  • 5-8 player game: I draw 2 Red Bonus Cards
• If I’m the first one or if someone else is lucky enough to connect two of the sights shown, we score the bonus points shown on the card. I make sure to write down these points in a Bonus Scoring Box, and then the card is thrown away.

More Ways to Customize Your Game

If you’re looking to spice up your game even more, here are some additional options for you to consider:

Random Start: To add an extra element of surprise, the Mayor can pick a random number between 1 and 10 and start writing in the corresponding village. The other players can then proceed to write in the villages clockwise, starting from the next one.

Go Against the Clock: Instead of writing the village letters clockwise, you can mix things up by going counter-clockwise around the island. This adds an interesting twist to the game.

Perfect Symmetry: For a fully symmetrical game, each player can write their letters in the exact same villages. This ensures that everyone has the same starting position and equal opportunities.