Desperate Oasis Rules Reference

2 players15 minby Dan CassaroWeast Coast Games

In Desperate Oasis, two players battle for control over the lush, life-sustaining sanctuaries of the desert. By playing and grouping animal cards, players can show their strength, unlock special powers, and use palm trees to alter card values. A tactical lane-battling card game in a tiny box: animals magnetically attract their own kind, dragging cards between columns, while hidden face-down cards and one-per-round palm trees swing the final count.

Objective

Claim the most points of Oasis Cards and Palm Trees over 3 rounds by having the highest combined animal strength on your side of each Oasis Card.

How to Play

On their turn, players must play cards from their hand onto the play area, choosing one of three options, then resolve effects and draw back up.

Tips for New Players

• Watch the negative Oases: Oasis values can be negative. Sometimes 'losing' a column on a -1 Oasis is winning: do not fight hard for a prize that hurts you.
• Plan around the attraction: Every card you play can drag same-type animals out of neighboring columns, and through Portal Oases from the other side. Check the whole row before you commit a card.
• Face-down cards are round-end bombs: A face-down card hides its power until the end of the round. A hidden Scorpion or Jerboa can flip the result of a close Oasis after all the cards are out.
• Use your Palm Tree every round: You may deploy only one Palm Tree per round and unused ones do not carry over. Make a line of 3 when you can, and remember you may move your own Palm later in the round if you form another line.
• Keep a spare card for forced plays: If every space on your side fills up before the round ends, you MUST play on your opponent's side. Holding a weak card (or a Jerboa) for that moment turns a forced play into a weapon.

Includes 3 Cards, 1 Token. View all components →