Joined in 2023 
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63 About this deal
When you rescue a cat (or obtain any tile) you must immediately place it on your boat. The first cat (or tile) can go anywhere, but after that, every tile (cat or treasure) must touch at least 1 previously played tile. Touching means orthogonally adjacent. Diagonal is not touching. One of the most generous moments in The Isle of Cats is at the start of each round when everyone gets twenty fish. Just like that you’ve won the piscine lottery. It feels nice. The main focus for players is to cover rats, gain rare treasures and place cats in families (at least three adjacent cats of the same colour next to one another). This is the vanilla goals list for all players. Families of cats score increasing values for each additional cat. Rare treasures gain the player three points per treasure. Rats however lose the player points and, as such, are the focus for removal. Players also lose points for any rooms that are not wholly covered in cats. Though this may seem a heavy consequence, cat families easily compensate for this loss.
A cat board game about cat people, for cat people Cat Lady is a game about rescuing cats and keeping them happy. Image: AEGThe first and probably most important part of this expansion is the fact that it adds in the 5th and 6th players to the game. This is obviously very important if your gaming group exceeds 4. It’s also just really fun to play with more players. In my opinion the game works at all player counts. Players draw cards from the central grid, collecting a complete row or column of three cards. The row or column they take is replaced, but the next player cannot claim the same row or column - as indicated by a cute little cat meeple that sits next to it - unless they chase it away with a spray bottle. Easily, The Isle of Cats is one of the best polyomino adventures that the boardgame industry has to offer, yet it is so much more than just a polyomino puzzle. What is The Isle of Cats?
Also as mentioned, making the beasts a necessary choice when including this module really did add an interesting element. Perhaps the only thing I have an issue with is the optional taking of a beast? Or that matching them with families should come with a higher points reward. The new cats that are included in the Late arrivals expansion make it possible to play with more players. More interestingly they are in different shapes than the original which means more options for filling your boat in the best way possible. The more choices the better as far as I’m concerned. Even if you are happy playing with a smaller player count, I think this adds to the game play.You are citizens of Squall’s End and are on a rescue mission to save as many cats as possible before Vesh arrives. You must explore the island, rescue cats, gather ancient treasures and find a way to fit them all onto your boat before returning safely to Squall’s End. Where Isle of Cats: Explore and Draw succeeds for me in this area is it’s catering to both sides. It’s still 100% relaxing and mindful: you place polyomino shapes to make patterns in a puzzle-centric way. But it also gives you dynamically changing challenges! As Lessons are drawn, you’ve got to weigh up the gamble as to whether they’re worth taking on. There’s no detriment to not doing so, but it’s a wasted card take – particularly if you use a special to claim it. It’s an extra layer of tension and challenge to make it a more competitive and goal focussed game. But do you have to take it I’m on in that style? Goodness no! If you’re happy with the laying tiles down to make patterns feel, then perfect! If you want a challenge, even better!! Final Thoughts
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