New Secret Goal Rules

Up until now the end-game scoring bonuses have been based on guessing which track (Hunt or Gather) will have the highest score at the end. While players could manipulate this a little, and might make a decision during the last few turns based on it, the only thing it really did was provide a way for my playtesters to tell me how balanced they think the game will be after I present a new rules change, but before we play.

In place of this rule which wasn't really working, I am pulling forward a feature that was planned for the "characters" expansion: variable player goals. At the beginning of the game each player gets a card with their own goal conditions and point bonus.

The high level purpose of these goals is to prevent the players from knowing who has won until the very end, to keep everyone engaged. The in-play purpose of individual goals will often be to encourage players to do things they wouldn't normally do. Much like Dominion: Cornucopia encourages players to buy a wide variety of cards.

Here is my initial (rough) batch of rules:

1. Pathfinder: 4 points. Most spaces in a single line.
2. Paranoid: When counting the size of your territory, only count spaces that are touching diagonally.
3. Gatherer: 5 points. Highest single score is in the Gather track.
4. Hunter: 5 points. Highest single score is in the Hunt track.
5. Master Scout: If you can name all the face down tiles at end of game 2 points each, max 8.
6. Brave: 7 points. Kill at least one of each deadly animal.
7. Friendly Neighbor: If you have claimed spaces touching a space of each opponent, gain 1 point per player.
8. Homebody: 4 points. Most spaces touching the village (ties count).
9. Crack shot: 6 points. Kill 2 squirrels (don't need to sell).
10. Bear Wrestler: 8 points. Kill a bear with a spear and naked hands (+0 to hit, 1 damage).
11. Explorer: 6 points. Space furthest from the village (as a character would walk). Ties do not count.
12. Bushwhacker: 3 points. Most spaces claimed. Ties do not count.
13. Hoarder. 2 points for selling 2 of the same tile, 6 points for selling 3 of the same. 8 points for doing both (with different tile types)
14. Productive: 3 points. Most sales. Ties do not count.
15. Omnivore: 5 points. Same number of plants sold as animals.

In order for these rules to work players will place tiles that were sold to the village under their goal card. This also helps clear up ambiguity around the discard pile rules.