Endangered is the original game system that New Species expands. It is a cooperative game where you must save a species that is on the edge of extinction. This means that all of the players are working together to try and defeat the challenges the game throws at you. Though you all have different roles with unique advantages, you will all either win the game together, or lose the game together. The game is not easy to win… but losing is a lesson! Come back stronger the next time with a different plan, better communication, and tighter teamwork!
The incredible enthusiastic response for the base game and the first three scenarios (Tigers, Sea Otters, and Giant Pandas) made it clear that fans wanted more. There is a whole world of threatened creatures out there for us to highlight and learn about. Endangered: New Species introduces a wide variety of new content to the Endangered system. Several new animal species and their unique challenges are included, such as the Polar Bear and the threat of melting icecaps, the Sea Turtle’s harrowing journey, and the Jaguar & Tapir with their intertwined predator/prey relationship. A new Role, the Celebrity, gives players a new approach. The box is packed with new content for the thrilling game system that always keeps players on the edge of their seats!
The solid gameplay of the Endangered system provides the backdrop for all of the new animal scenarios. While each species brings new wrinkles to your challenge, they all share the foundation of a cooperative race against the calendar and other threats.
ACTIONS. Roll your dice and then place them onto the Action spots, activating a variety of useful abilities. Stuff like moving animals around, managing the destruction of the environment, trying to influence ambassadors, preparing for Impacts, and playing cards from your hand. As the game goes on, you will be adding Actions to the play area which will develop your team’s capabilities. Work together to form the best skill set!
OFFSPRING. Hopefully your species will breed! Each species has different rules for generating offspring, but in general you will want to encourage the forming of mating pairs so that your chances of increasing the population go up!
DESTRUCTION. Unavoidably, the environment will degrade. Each animal species has different rules for what happens; this could represent deforestation, pollution, melting ice, or a variety of other threats to the animal habitat. You’ll carry out the relentless spread of destruction, which often eliminates animals it comes into contact with. Keep them out of harm’s way!
IMPACT. The Impact deck for each species comes with an unpredictable set of Impacts. Some are positive, but most are a real threat. Fishing Bycatch, Mining, Poachers, Trash, Plastic Bags, and Climate Change are just a few of the potential disasters you might encounter. Reveal the next one from the deck and carry it out!
Draw a new card into your hand and pass play to the next player. If everyone has acted, the Year is over and the next Year begins. If it was a voting year, check the ambassadors to see if you have earned 4 or more yes votes!
You all win the game together only if you can get 4 or more Yes votes from your ambassadors in one of your two voting years. If your team fails to do that, or if your animal population vanishes, or if the environment becomes too devastated, you all lose the game!
