Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write

Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write is a fast-paced, dice-rolling, roll-and-write game set in the world of Dinosaur Island, where players create their own dinosaur theme parks. The game is designed to be played solo or with 1-4 players, and it offers a fun mix of strategic planning, resource management, and dice manipulation.

Game Overview:

• Players: 1-4
• Ages: 8 and up
• Playtime: Around 35 minutes

Mechanisms:

Dice Rolling, Worker Placement, Polyominoes (Tetris-style piece placement), Resource Management
In Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write, each player is tasked with building and running their own dinosaur theme park. The game is played over three rounds, with each round containing two phases: the Action Phase (where players roll dice and take actions) and the Park Operation Phase (where players check their park’s status, safety, and visitor satisfaction).

Players will work to collect DNA, hire Specialists, build Attractions, and Dinosaurs, and upgrade their park. However, the threat of dinosaur escapes increases as the park grows, so players must carefully manage the threat level and the park’s security to avoid disasters.

Game Components:

• 10 Custom Dice
• 2 Park Sheets (one per player)
• 1 Bag for Dice
• 20 Building Cards
• 20 Specialist Cards
• 10 AI Cards (for solo play)
• 1 Round Tracker
• 1 First Player Marker

Gameplay:

• DNA Collection:Players need DNA to create dinosaurs. They roll dice and assign them to different DNA types (Carnivore, Herbivore, or Amber) to gather the necessary resources for their park.
• Building Attractions:Players can also invest in Attractions (e.g., shops, rides) to increase their park’s capacity and visitor satisfaction. Attractions grant Victory Points and other benefits.
• Hiring Specialists:Specialists (such as Geneticists, Security Experts, and Engineers) have unique abilities that can help improve your park. Players can hire specialists to give them advantages like reduced risk of dinosaur escapes or bonus actions.
• Constructing Dinosaurs:The goal is to create dinosaurs that can attract visitors to your park. However, dinosaurs come with a threat level, which increases the risk of escapes and potential damage to your park’s reputation.
• Park Operations:At the end of each round, players check their park operations to ensure they’re managing their resources effectively, keeping the park’s threat level under control, and maximizing visitor satisfaction.

Solo Play:

Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write includes specific AI cards for solo play, making it possible to enjoy the game on your own. The solo mode offers a challenge where you’ll be competing against an automated opponent that behaves in a predictable, yet challenging way.

Strategic Depth:

While Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write is easy to learn, it offers a high degree of strategic depth. Players must balance the creation of dinosaurs, the building of attractions, the hiring of specialists, and the management of their park's threat level. The game can be played multiple times with different strategies each time, making it highly replayable.

The combination of dice rolling and worker placement means that each decision can drastically change the outcome of the game. Players who can plan ahead and mitigate risk (by managing their park's security) will have the best chance of succeeding.

Conclusion:

Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write is a fantastic, light-to-medium weight strategy game that combines the excitement of creating a dinosaur park with the thrill of managing resources and handling risk. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, the game provides a dynamic and engaging experience that’s perfect for both casual gamers and more serious players.

It’s the perfect game for fans of the Dinosaur Island series or anyone who enjoys dice-driven games with a fun theme and strategic depth.