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Table #429010417

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Let's learn how to play Moon River!

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This tutorial exists thanks to: Nekonyancer0

Nekonyancer[img]https://x.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/img6785ed4260a960.55117881.jpg[/img] You just inherited a ranch along the famous Moon River! Explore the area and locate the best plots of land, then harness their valuable resources to help your herds thrive in the Wild West! [green][tip] This tutorial is best viewed on a computer![/green]1maintitlebar_content

NekonyancerEach turn, several [red]*plots*[/red] will be laid out. Players can acquire these and combine pairs of them to form dominos, which are then added to their ranches. These plots often come with cows or [blue]*partners.*[/blue]2phtoken_27

NekonyancerAt the end of the game, points are awarded for resources and for having cows on large territories. Some partners grant additional bonus points. [green]Whoever has the most points wins![/green]3phtoken_27

NekonyancerThe game starts with a short setup round. Each player will select one of the available plots and place their *ranchero* on it, claiming it as theirs. [green]In a 2-player game like this one, each player gets 2 rancheros.[/green]4current_tiles

Nekonyancer[red]Let's try it![/red] *Click on the bottom plot to place a ranchero!*5current_tiles

NekonyancerGreat! [blue]Now our opponent will place their two rancheros...[/blue]1current_tiles

NekonyancerFinally, we'll place our second ranchero! There's only one plot remaining, so we don't have a choice. =/ *Click on it!*1current_tiles

Nekonyancer[green]That's it for the setup round![/green] At the end of each round, a [blue]*new line*[/blue] of four plots is laid out, face down.1inner_tile_52

NekonyancerAs you can see, there's a *number* on the back of each plot. BGA automatically arranged them in numerical order, from top to bottom. [green][tip] The higher a number is, the better the plot is![/green] Now they'll be flipped over!2future_tiles

NekonyancerNow we can start the first real round! In each round, players will take turns in the order their rancheros are in, from top to bottom. [blue]Looks like our opponent will take the first turn.[/blue]3display_tiles

NekonyancerAlright, now it's our turn! [blue]Each turn in Moon River has three steps:[/blue] *1. Collect your plot* (Mandatory) *2. Expand your ranch* (Optional) *3. Select a new plot* (Mandatory)1inner_tile_27

Nekonyancer[blue]*Step 1: Collect your plot*[/blue]---The plot our rancher is standing on will move to our [red]*reservation board.*[/red]2inner_tile_27

NekonyancerAs you can see, your reservation board has room for *3 plots.* [blue]*Step 2*[/blue] involves combining two plots, but we only have one right now, so i'll skip it for now.3reserve_92143487_2

Nekonyancer[blue]*Step 3: Select a new plot*[/blue]---The ranchero that used to be [blue]*here*[/blue] must now be moved onto a new plot in the next column. Obviously, we'll want some plots more than others, but keep in mind that the plots you select will determine the *turn order* for the next round!4display_tiles

NekonyancerThe plot at the bottom looks pretty good to me. *Click on it to select it!*5inner_tile_6

NekonyancerOkay, time for our second ranchero's turn! First, we'll collect the plot. [blue](Step 1)[/blue]1inner_tile_82

NekonyancerNow that we have two plots, I can explain... [blue]*Step 2: Expand your ranch*[/blue]---We can take any two plots on our reservation board and combine them to make a domino. This domino can then be placed into our ranch, according to two placement rules...2reserve_92143487_3

Nekonyancer*1.* The domino must occupy two spaces within a 5x5 grid above the reservation board. [img]https://x.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/img6785ed4284ab06.84478349.jpg[/img] [green][tip] In a 2-player game like this one, players instead have 5x10 boards.[/green]3reserve_92143487_3

Nekonyancer*2.* [blue]The domino must connect to one of the following:[/blue] - a *bridge* on your reservation board. [img]https://x.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/img6785ed42a54cb1.18016592.jpg[/img]--- - a *previously placed domino* so that at least 1 plot on the new domino touches a matching plot on the old domino. [img]https://x.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/img6785ed42c689e3.43746498.jpg[/img]4reserve_92143487_3

NekonyancerLet's try it! *First, select the plot on the right.* If you look closely, you'll see that a *circular arrow* appeared on the plot. *Click on it again to rotate it 90 degrees.*5inner_tile_82

Nekonyancer*Good!* All the legal placements for the plot should now be shown in gray. As I mentioned before, it must connect to one of the bridges or a previously placed plot of the same type. *Click here to place the plot!*1phtile_92143487_1_5

NekonyancerAlright. Now we must select a second plot to complete the domino. We only have one other plot. *Click on it!*1inner_tile_82

Nekonyancer*Excellent!* By the way, we didn't have to connect two plots of the same type together. All kinds of terrain can connect together. However, it is advantageous to have plots of the same kind touching each other because they form *territories.* [blue]This is now a wasteland territory with 2 plots. Later, we can place more wasteland plots next to it to make it larger![/blue]1inner_tile_27

NekonyancerWe have to confirm our domino placement. *Click on "Confirm" at the top!*2archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment

Nekonyancer[red]Did you see that brown thing that just flew across the screen?[/red] It's a *cow!* Whenever a tile with a cow symbol - like [red]*this one*[/red] - is placed in a ranch, a cow appears on it. [img]https://x.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/img6785ed42e65f60.47610621.jpg[/img]1inner_tile_82

Nekonyancer[blue]Cows are an important part of endgame scoring.[/blue] Each territory will score points equal to the number of plots in the territory multiplied by the number of cows in the territory. Right now, this wasteland territory has two plots and one cow, so it will score [green](2 x 1) points[/green] at the end of the game!2inner_tile_27

NekonyancerThe plot also has a gold nugget in the bottom-left corner, which is a type of *resource.* (The other types are furs and corn.) [green]Each resource in your ranch is worth 1 point at the end of the game.[/green]3inner_tile_82

NekonyancerAnyway, [blue]Step 2[/blue] is finished. We still need to perform [blue]Step 3: Select a new tile.[/blue] Looks like we don't have a choice. *Click here!*4inner_tile_95

Nekonyancer[blue]The round is over![/blue] Just like last round, a new column of plots will now be laid out.1future_tiles

NekonyancerLooks like we go first this round! [blue]First, we'll collect this plot...[/blue]2current_tiles

NekonyancerWe skipped Step 2 because we only had 1 plot. For Step 3, *place the ranchero on this tile!*3inner_tile_94

NekonyancerWe have enough plots to place a new domino now, but [red]there's a problem.[/red] *This plot* has a skull in the corner, symbolizing *drought.* Whenever plot with a skull is placed into a territory, one cow in that territory *dies.*1inner_tile_95

NekonyancerIf we placed a domino now with these two plots, the plot would gain a cow, [red]which would immediately die.[/red] Let's pass for now. If we're clever enough, we can find an opportunity later to play the skull plot without losing a cow. *Click on "Pass" at the top!*2inner_tile_6

NekonyancerStep 3. *Click on the bottom tile to place your Ranchero.*1inner_tile_59

NekonyancerNext round! [blue]I'm going to skip forward just a few steps...[/blue]1archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment

Nekonyancer*Okay!* Now look at our reservation board. We already had 3 plots, and we just took a fourth. At this point, we *MUST* make a domino, but we don't have to place it in our ranch if we don't want to. We can throw it away instead. [blue]Um... you usually don't want to do that.[/blue] ^_^;1inner_tile_94

NekonyancerRemember, it would be best to connect this wasteland plot to other wasteland plots to create a larger territory, but we don't want the skull to kill one of our cows. [blue]I have a plan.[/blue] *First, select this plot. Click on it to rotate it.*2inner_tile_95

Nekonyancer*Rotate it again!*1inner_tile_95

Nekonyancer*And again!*1inner_tile_95

Nekonyancer*Now place the plot here.*1phtile_92143487_2_3

Nekonyancer*Select this plot as the second half of the domino.*1inner_tile_94

Nekonyancer*Confirm your action!*1Confirm

Nekonyancer[blue]Good![/blue] The brown plot gained a cow because there's a cow symbol there. The skull on the wasteland plot did *NOT* kill the cow because it can only kill a cow in the same *territory,* which means connected plots of the *same type.* If we had placed it next to our other wasteland plots, [red]*this cow*[/red] would have died!1inner_tile_82

NekonyancerThe skull has been safely triggered without killing a cow. Now we can connect it to the rest of our wasteland plots by placing another domino. [green][tip] If you have four plots at your disposal, you can place two dominos in the same turn![/green]2inner_tile_95

Nekonyancer*Select this plot! Click on it to rotate it!*3inner_tile_6

Nekonyancer*Place the plot here!*1phtile_92143487_2_4

NekonyancerNow we have to select the second half of the domino. *Click on this plot!*1inner_tile_59

Nekonyancer*Confirm your action!*1Confirm

Nekonyancer*Great!* Now we have a large wasteland territory with 4 plots, and we didn't lose any cows because we connected them in a clever way! [green]This territory is worth 8 points now![/green]1inner_tile_27

NekonyancerOne of the plots we placed has a large [red]*circle*[/red] on it. Whenever we play such a plot, we must select a [blue]*partner*[/blue] from the supply and place it on the circle.2phtoken_59

NekonyancerThere are two types of partners: [red]*Red*[/red] partners let you take a special action when the partner is taken. [blue]*Blue*[/blue] partners give you points at the end of the game, depending on how many of a certain resource you have. [green][tip] You can hover over each partner for more information![/green]3saloon

NekonyancerHmm... we can't use this fella's ability right now, but let's take him anyway. It's the red guy that let's you swap plots with an opponent. *Click on him!*4token_18

NekonyancerNow that we have him, we can have the option of *flipping* him. Every partner has a *cowboy* on the back. Cowboys allow us to move our ranch's cows a total of 3 spaces. Hmm, I think that's just what we need! *Click on [blue]"Flip"[/blue] at the top!*1token_18

Nekonyancer*Now confirm!*1Confirm

NekonyancerNow we can use the Cowboy's ability to move cows. We can maximize our points by moving all our cows into the same territory! *Select [red]this cow.[/red] Then click [blue]here[/blue] to move it!*1phtile_92143487_3_5

NekonyancerOkay, that's one movement. Two more. *Select [red]this cow.[/red] Move it [blue]here.[/blue]*1phtile_92143487_3_5

Nekonyancer*Great!* We have four cows on the same territory, so it's now worth [green]16 points![/green] (4 cows x 4 plots.) There's just one problem. At the end of the game, *cow overpopulation* will kick in. Each plot can only accomodate 1 cow. Any extra cows on a plot are ignored.1inner_tile_27

NekonyancerWe should use our last point of cow movement to move one of these cows to the right... ... but I forgot to do that in the replay. Oops. *Click on [red]"Pass"[/red] at the top!*2inner_tile_6

NekonyancerAt the end of our turn, the supply of partners was refilled. [red]Next, our opponent will use a partner. Pay attention...[/red]1saloon

Nekonyancer*Omg!* They used the *Cattle Thief* partner to steal one of our cows! In the future, we should try to find a wasteland plot with a partner on it. You see, every partner (cowboy or not) also functions as a *herder,* protecting all the cows in their territory from cattle thieves.1phtoken_95

Nekonyancer[blue]Alright, just a couple more things to mention.[/blue] First of all, do you see this [blue]*hole*[/blue] we created? It's very difficult to fill this because plots are usually placed in pairs, as dominos.2phtile_92143487_1_4

NekonyancerFurthermore, by the end of the game, each player will receive [blue]exactly as many plots as they need to completely fill up their boards.[/blue] If we make many holes in our boards, we may not be able to place all the plots we get, which will lead to a lower score!3phtile_92143487_1_4

NekonyancerFinally, these two plots up here are called [red]*landscape bonus tiles.*[/red] They are the only plots in the game that are placed *independently.* That's why they don't have jigsaw bits! Whenever a player places a plot in the *top row* of their ranch for the first time, they must take one of the available landscape bonus tiles and immediately place it in their ranch.4inner_tile_97

Nekonyancer*Okay, that's everything!* The game will continue as you've seen until all the plots have been distributed, which, again, is just enough to fill up everyone's ranches! [green]Then we go to scoring![/green]5archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment

NekonyancerRemember, each player scores... • 1 point per plot in a territory multiplied by the number of cows in that territory. • 1 point for each resource. • Points for [blue]blue[/blue] partners. [green]Whoever has the most points wins![/green]6archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment

NekonyancerWhat's that you say? The game is too simple? Well, luckily for you, there's an *Advanced Mode!* In this mode, players will use asymmetric boards. They differ in the number of bridges and slots they have on their reservation boards. When you play in Advanced Mode, you must also select 1 of 4 different *scenarios,* each of which offers a different scoring opportunity. [green]I'll briefly go over each one.[/green]7archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment

Nekonyancer[green]*Scenario 1: Timber Rafting.*[/green]---Each forest territory that touches the river and has at least 3 plots in it is worth [green]10 points.[/green] Each connected forest plot after the 3rd is worth an additional [green]10 points.[/green] [img]https://x.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/img6785ed43132306.84450055.jpg[/img]8archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment

Nekonyancer[green]*Scenario 2: Gold Rush*[/green]---3 orthogonally adjacent plots containing gold nuggets form a *gold vein.* Each vein is worth [green]10 points,[/green] plus an additional 10 for each connected plot after the 3rd that also contains nuggets. [img]https://x.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/img6785ed433e4f39.19912704.jpg[/img]9archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment

Nekonyancer[green]*Scenario 3: Outlaws*[/green]---3 orthogonally adjacent partners form a *gang.* If at least one of the gang members has a [red](red background),[/red] the gang scores [green]10 points.[/green] Every additional adjacent partner after the 3rd is worth another [green]10 points.[/green] [img]https://x.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/img6785ed43602775.21607798.jpg[/img]10archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment

Nekonyancer[green]*Scenario 4: Moon River City*[/green]---3 orthogonally adjacent farm plots (brown) form a *town,* worth [green]10 points.[/green] Every additional connected farm plot after the 3rd is worth another [green]10 points.[/green] [img]https://x.boardgamearena.net/data/tutorials/img6785ed43888fa3.19815768.jpg[/img]11archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment

Nekonyancer[blue]*Thank you for playing through this tutorial for Moon River!*[/blue] If you have any questions or comments about the tutorial, feel free to send *Nekonyancer* a message! A big thank you goes out to *adrienle38* for bringing this game to BGA! Have fun! :D12archivecontrol_editmode_centercomment

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Moon River

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Moon River

Complete rules:

Game help:

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Ambient music for Moon River

Help

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Ranking
Current Season

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