• Best Board Games of 2016
  • Podcast
  • Latest Stories
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Features
  • Memes
  • About
Menu

Dog and Thimble

Street Address
Draper, UT
Phone Number

Your Custom Text Here

Dog and Thimble

  • Best Board Games of 2016
  • Podcast
  • Latest Stories
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Features
  • Memes
  • About

Arboretum Takes Z-Man Games on the Green Path

January 27, 2015 Hilary Goldstein

“Someone is sitting in the shade today, because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” - Warren Buffett.


Arboretum is an upcoming card game from Z-Man Games that has players creating paths of trees to score points. It sounds like an idyllic theme, but from a post on Z-Man Games’s site, it sounds like planting trees might get a little cutthroat.

In this 2-4 player card game, each person is trying to create paths of trees. Cards have two important details: The type of tree (there are 10 total) and a number. Your path must continually increase in number value and you must end with the same type of tree you laid down to begin the path. If you start with a Maple number 2, you can lay out any other number of trees on your turn as long as the number is always increasing (3, then 5, then 8, etc.). And your path, to be complete, has to end with another Maple.

aboretum-cards.jpg

To make things a little more complex, you have to have a maple card in your hand at the end of the game to score the path. And, to prove that even planting trees is competitive business, if an opponent has a higher numbered card of that tree type, they can block you from scoring.

Here’s what makes Arboretum sound really interesting. Each player has her own discard pile. And on your turn, you draw two cards, either from the draw deck or from another player’s discards. This means you have to be careful what you discard, because you don’t want to help your opponent. After all, that tree you jettisoned in the second round could be the one that blocks you from scoring your elaborate maple path. Editor's note: I only know one type of tree.

Arboretum arrives on March 20, 2015 for $20 (US).

In News Tags arboretum, z-man games, trees, card game, 4 players, casual
← Machi Koro ReviewAmong the Stars: Revival is a Kickstarter Worth Backing →
VOTE!

Latest Stories
The Dragon & Flagon Review
Sep 9, 2016
The Dragon & Flagon Review
Sep 9, 2016
Sep 9, 2016
Mansions of Madness Second Edition Review
Sep 9, 2016
Mansions of Madness Second Edition Review
Sep 9, 2016
Sep 9, 2016
Grifters Review
Sep 2, 2016
Grifters Review
Sep 2, 2016
Sep 2, 2016
Potion Explosion Review
Aug 25, 2016
Potion Explosion Review
Aug 25, 2016
Aug 25, 2016
Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu Review
Aug 17, 2016
Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu Review
Aug 17, 2016
Aug 17, 2016
Gen Con 2016: Tiny Epic Quest Feels Massive
Aug 5, 2016
Gen Con 2016: Tiny Epic Quest Feels Massive
Aug 5, 2016
Aug 5, 2016
Gen Con 2016 Must Buy List
Jul 30, 2016
Gen Con 2016 Must Buy List
Jul 30, 2016
Jul 30, 2016
Gen Con 2016 Preview
Jul 29, 2016
Gen Con 2016 Preview
Jul 29, 2016
Jul 29, 2016
Scythe Review
Jul 27, 2016
Scythe Review
Jul 27, 2016
Jul 27, 2016
Porta Nigra Review
May 5, 2016
Porta Nigra Review
May 5, 2016
May 5, 2016

New Reviews
The Dragon & Flagon Review
The Dragon & Flagon Review
Mansions of Madness Second Edition Review
Mansions of Madness Second Edition Review
Grifters Review
Grifters Review
Potion Explosion Review
Potion Explosion Review
Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu Review
Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu Review

Featured Stories
Gen Con 2016 Preview
Gen Con 2016 Preview
Dog and Thimble is a blog, podcast, and YouTube channel about board games. For all your board game news, reviews, and opinions, be sure to check out dogandthimble.com.