Trails of Tucana
Trails of Tucana is a route-building and puzzle game for 1-8 players. Players draw and connect paths on individual player maps to connect villages and sights, earning points for completing routes.
How Complex is Trails of Tucana?
Trails of Tucana is easy to understand and play, with simple rules and mechanics that can be taught in a few minutes.
How much Luck is involved in the gameplay of Trails of Tucana?
Trails of Tucana has a moderate amount of luck due to the random draw of terrain cards, but players have control over how they connect them and can strategize accordingly.
How much Player Interaction does Trails of Tucana offer?
Trails of Tucana has low player interaction as players are focused on building their routes on maps. However, there is some competition for blue & red bonus cards for connecting villages & sights.
How much Replayability does Trails of Tucana offer?
Trails of Tucana has moderate replayability due to the 2 different maps, random terrain tile draw, and village placement in each game. It also has a solo mode and supports up to 8 players.
Why you should play Trails of Tucana
Easy to Learn
Trails of Tucana is a simple game to learn and play, making it a great choice for both new and experienced gamers.
Quick Gameplay
The game can be played in just 30-40 minutes, making it a great choice for a quick game night or a filler game between longer games.
Strategic Gameplay
Despite its simplicity, Trails of Tucana requires strategic thinking and planning to win. Players must carefully choose which routes to take and which sights to visit in order to score the most points.
Replayability
The game offers a moderate level of replayability, with a different map generated each time the game is played. This means that no two games are ever the same, keeping the game fresh and exciting.
Solo Play
Trails of Tucana can be played solo, making it a great choice for those who enjoy playing games alone or who want to practice their skills before playing with others.
Family-Friendly
The game is suitable for players of all ages, making it a great choice for family game night.
Portable
The game is relatively compact and easy to transport, making it a great choice for taking on trips or playing on the go.
Why you should avoid Trails of Tucana
Limited Player Interaction
Trails of Tucana is a relatively solitary game, with limited opportunities for player interaction or direct competition.
Lack of Complexity
While the game's simplicity can be a positive feature, some players may find it too simplistic or lacking in depth.
Limited Theme
The game's theme of exploring an island and connecting trails may not be appealing to all players, particularly those who prefer games with more immersive or engaging themes.
Limited Components
The game has a small number of components, which may not be satisfying for players who enjoy games with more elaborate or detailed components.
Where to find the Rules of Trails of Tucana
Check the rules of Trails of Tucana in a PDF file.
You can also find the community-driven rules summary, player aid, etc., in the Trails of Tucana files section on the BoardGameGeek website. You need an account on BGG to download files.
Beginner Strategies for Trails of Tucana
These strategies are for players who have either not played or played one or two games of Trails of Tucana.
Plan your route
Before starting the game, take a look at the map and plan your route. Try to connect as many matching villages & sights to villages as possible to score more points.
Try to claim the most lucrative available bonus cards
Blue & red bonus cards are discarded as soon as it's claimed by a player. So, it is wise to go after the ones that give you the most points soon. That's connecting villages E. If an E bonus is likely to be claimed by another player, one can look to claim D.
Be flexible
Be flexible with your strategy and adapt to the changing game conditions. Don't be afraid to change your route or objectives if needed.
Count the turns
In a round, you can take 13 turns. If you know the number of turns that are passed during the game, it becomes easy to position yourself to score maximum points in the round.
I hope these strategies help you in your first game of Trails of Tucana!
Advanced Strategies for Trails of Tucana
Prioritise connecting high-scoring sights to villages
In the game, the sights are scored twice if the map is Isla Petit and thrice if Isla Grande. So, if you connect the sights to villages that give the most points during the first round, it will maximise your points during the end game.
Utilise the bonus trail segment effect
When you connect a unique set of sights to any village, you get to draw one bonus trail. It is a powerful effect as the trail you draw doesn't have any terrain restrictions. Use it to your advantage. In a game, at max, you can do it 5 times.
Be aware of the scoring system
As you become more familiar with the game, make sure you understand the scoring system and how each action can affect your score. This can help you make more informed decisions during the game.
Keep track of your opponents
This will help you change your objectives that can be claimed by only one player when your opponents are closer than you in achieving them first.
Keep track of the terrain cards
The terrain deck has a mix of a set number of different terrains. If you have a rough idea of the cards drawn, you will know what you can expect in future turns. Use this information to time the bonus trail segment effect better or to change your plan for the round.
I hope these advanced strategies help you in your future games of Trails of Tucana!
