The Periodic Table Of Components: A Board Game Podcast

In this episode I do a deep dive into the board game Ark Nova and its real world history and science. We will learn about the history of zoos and how they evolved from menageries to modern day conservation parks, followed by the game rules designed by Mathias Wigge, followed by a look on how the mechanisms integrate with the theme. We'll wrap up with rating this euro-style game on our "Thematic Scale". Check out pictures of this game @periodictablepix on Instagram.

Overview

Segment 1: The Intro (00M13S)

Segment 2: The Game Breakdown (03M32S)

Segment 3: The History (08M16S)

Segment 4: The Gameplay (25M46S)

Segment 5: The Mechanisms (57M:49M)

Segment 6: The Final Verdict (01H:05M)

Segment 7: The Outro (01H:17M)

Links

Gmail: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BT3wVmjXB/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/periodictablepix?igsh=MmgwdmZnMXE4MmFq

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/tptocpodcast.bsky.social

Sources

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/342942/ark-nova

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoo

https://bigcatrescue.org/conservation-news/from-captivity-to-conservation-the-evolution-of-zoos-and-what-it-means-for-wildlife

https://ppc.animalbehaviorcollege.com/pdf/zap/zap-sneak-peek.pdf

https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/4/4/46

https://www.pas.va/en/publications/scripta-varia/sv146pas/kauffels.html

https://zooatlanta.org/why-zoos-matter-educate-and-take-action/

https://www.softplay.com/blog/how-to-boost-attendance-at-your-zoo/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8300318/

https://humansandnature.org/how-can-zoos-promote-education-and-conservation-while-remaining-entertaining/

https://www.billingsproductions.com/post/3-proven-zoo-exhibit-ideas-to-boost-guest-engagement-aza-insights-2025

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/zoo.21812

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8300174/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6682629/

https://www.thenatureofcities.com/TNOC/2014/01/22/what-is-the-point-of-zoos/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159105001255

https://jzar.org/jzar/article/view/422?articlesBySimilarityPage=9

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6682629/

https://zoomedianetwork.com/top-10-creative-services-ideas-to-turn-zoo-visitors-into-brand-fanatics/

https://www.zoochat.com/community/threads/what-do-zoos-need-to-improve-for-visitors.488664/

https://www.softplay.com/blog/how-to-boost-attendance-at-your-zoo/

https://dl.acm.org](https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/2832932.2837009)

https://www.nassal.com](https://www.nassal.com/insights/zoos-aquariums-trends-a-pulse-on-immersive-animal-welfare-and-guest-engagement)

https://wdmarchitects.com](https://wdmarchitects.com/newsroom/etfe-construction-in-zoo-exhibits-benefit-animals-and-improve-guest-experience/

In this episode I do a deep dive into the board game Marrakesh and its real world history. We will learn about the influential North African city in Morocco, followed by the game rules designed by Stefan Feld, followed by a look on how the mechanisms integrate with the theme.

Join your lead Gamist Greg in the lab to inspect all the elements of Planet Unknown.

Game Summary: 2:38

Components: 5:48

Overview, Objective, & Credits: 11:40

Set Up: 12:46

How to Play & Tile Placement Rules: 18:52

Game End Conditions: 24:41

Resource Tracks Overview: 25:56

Civ Resource Track: 29:05

Water Resource Track: 31:22

Rover Resource Track: 33:06

Tech Resource Track: 37:18

Biomass Resource Track 39:24

Energy Resource: 40:56

End Game Scoring and FAQ: 44:19

Optional Modules: Two Player Variant & Private Objective Module: 47:25

Optional Modules: Event Deck: 49:14

Solo Mode: 52:11

Corporation Boards: Universal, Republic, & Wormhole: 56:34

Corporation Boards: Cosmos & Horizon: 01:03:53

Corporation Boards: Jump Drive & Oasis: 01:07:50

Corporation Boards: Makeshift & Flux Industries: 01:12:47

Planets: KSB-A156 (Universal): 01:17:18

Planets: K-273: 01:18:31

Planets: Gaia: 01:19:38

Planets: Persephone: 01:20:55

Planets: Arashi: 01:22:20

Planets: Petra: 01:23:25

Planets: Tartarus: 1:24:39

Planets: Charybdis: 01:25:37

Planets: K'aax: 01:26:27

Planets: Pajitnov: 01:27:17

Planets: Oblivion: 01:28:26

Planets: Cerberus: 01:29:18

Planets: Lacuna: 01:30:15

Term and Icon Explanation: 01:31:03

Card Clarification: Civ Cards: 01:38:28

Card Clarification: Event Deck: 01:46:16

Card Clarification: Objective Cards: 01:56:27

Outro: 02:04:09

Join your lead Gamist Greg as he inspects the elements of the House Expansions (Ixians & Tleilaxu/CHOAM & Richese) for Dune: A Game of Conquest, Diplomacy, & Betrayal. Follow @periodictablepix on Instagram.

Ixian & Tleilaxu House Expansion Introduction: 02:10

I & T Factions Overview: 03:20

I & T Components & Setup: 06:36

I & T Technology Tokens Variant: 09:14

I & T Special Karama Powers: 15:15

I & T Faction Rules - Tleilaxu: 15:57

I & T Faction Rules - Ixian: 20:26

I & T Synopsis: 25:40

I & T Q & A: 29:00

I & T + Base Game Karama Card Reference Chart: 34:18

I & T Card Clarification: 38:39

I & T Credits 45:30

CHOAM & Richese House Expansion Introduction: 46:53

C & R: Factions Overview: 48:29

C & R Components & Setup: 51:06

C & R New Advanced Rules: 53:34

C & R Faction Rules - Richese: 54:26

C & R Faction Rules - CHOAM: 01:01:37

C & R Variant - Leader Skill Cards: 01:07:28

C & R Variant - Stronghold Cards: 01:10:56

C & R Synopsis: 01:11:54

C & R Q & A: 01:13:04

C & R Card Clarification: 01:20:03

C & R Credits: 01:33:24

Join your lead Gamist Greg as he performs hex-periments in his lab and inspects the elements of Dune: A Game of Conquest, Diplomacy, & Betrayal (2019 edition). Time Stamps provided below. Stay tuned for the House Expansions coming very soon. Follow on Instagram for pictures of this game @periodictablepix. Email at [email protected].

Overview: 1:50

Components: 4:21

Preface: 17:21

Factions: 20:47

edBasic Game Overview: 24:46

Setup: 26:10

Sequence of Play - Phase Overview: 30:36

Phase 1 - Storm: 35:08

Phase 2 - Spice Blow & Nexus: 39:35

Phase 3 - CHOAM Charity: 43:03

Phase 4 - Bidding: 43:43

Phase 5: Revival: 47:30

Phase 6: Force Shipment & Movement: 49:45

Phase 7: Battles: 54:59

Phase 8: Spice Collection: 01:01:49

Phase 9: Mentat Pause: 01:02:40

Nexus: Alliances: 01:03:53

Advanced Game Rules: 01:08:25

Dune Strategy Tips: 01:15:54

Factions - Fremen: 01:20:12

Factions - Atreides: 01:25:50

Factions - Harkonnen: 01:29:59

Factions - Bene Gesserit: 01:33:00

Factions - Spacing Guild: 01:38:24

Factions - Emperor: 01:41:45

Dune Synopsis: 01:44:09

Rules Q & A: 01:59:42

Optional Alliance Rules & Player Aids: 02:07:19

Card Clarification - Spice Deck: 02:11:00

Card Clarification - Treachery Deck: 02:15:35

Card Clarification - Traitor Deck: 02:26:03

Card Clarification - Prediction Deck (Bene Gesserit Faction): 02:27:41

Card Clarification - Alliance Deck: 02:29:03

Card Clarification - Kwisatz Haderach Card (Atreides Faction): 02:31:33

Card Clarification - Storm Deck (Fremen Faction): 02:33:13

Credits: 02:34:54