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Tips apiary: Difference between revisions
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Action efficiency is critical. You have about 14-17 actions in a given game (fewer with more players). As a result, you want to be scoring about 5 points with every action. If you are not, consider how to make them up in a future action. You want to aim for more than 100 points a game. | Action efficiency is critical. You have about 14-17 actions in a given game (fewer with more players). As a result, you want to be scoring about 5 points with every action. If you are not, consider how to make them up in a future action. You want to aim for more than 100 points a game. | ||
The best general strategy is to fill out your hives and frames. A filled mat/frame scores 8 points on top of the points each tile gives. Aim for 3-4 farms (each worth 2VP or 3VP), 1-2 Carve tiles, 1-3 Developments (if you plan on producing | The best general strategy is to fill out your hives and frames. A filled mat/frame scores 8 points on top of the points each tile gives. Aim for 3-4 farms (each worth 2VP or 3VP), 1-2 Carve tiles [[File:apiary_carve.png]], 1-3 Developments (if you plan on producing Wax [[File:apiary_wax.png]]), and the rest as Recruits. | ||
Retrieve is your most impactful action, so activate as many farms as possible when you do. | Retrieve is your most impactful action, so activate as many farms as possible when you do. | ||
In most circumstances, developments (pink) tiles are outright better (in terms of scoring or long-term strategy) than a Carve tile, since they give you resources, activate scoring triggers, level your workers, or place tiles. They also tend to have high scores. | In most circumstances, developments (pink) tiles are outright better (in terms of scoring or long-term strategy) than a Carve tile [[File:apiary_carve.png]], since they give you resources, activate scoring triggers, level your workers, or place tiles. They also tend to have high scores. | ||
Build many recruit (blue) tiles to get discounts and increase the efficiency of your actions. To generate | Build many recruit (blue) tiles to get discounts and increase the efficiency of your actions. To generate Wax [[File:apiary_wax.png]], use seed cards, or placement bonuses, or hibernation pods. Alternatively, buy blue tiles that do the Retrieve action or allow you to keep a second seed card on the Research action. Then do the Research action frequently. | ||
Get three good farms early, then do the Retrieve action every four turns. | Get three good farms early, then do the Retrieve action every four turns. | ||
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'''Convert:''' Use this action rarely (once or none), and when you do use a 4-Strength worker. Instead, create dances during the Explore action using a planet's 4-Strength ability. | '''Convert:''' Use this action rarely (once or none), and when you do use a 4-Strength worker. Instead, create dances during the Explore action using a planet's 4-Strength ability. | ||
'''Carve:''' The only way to buy Carve tiles is with | '''Carve:''' The only way to buy Carve tiles [[File:apiary_carve.png]] is with Honey [[File:apiary_honey.png]], which should be obtained through discounts or dances. Usually, there is at most one great tile. You can easily win without gaining any Carve tiles. The most valuable ones are Monolith, Efficiency, and Retinue. | ||
'''Extra Honey''': If all the good Carve tiles (or all of them) are taken, convert | '''Extra Honey''': If all the good Carve tiles (or all of them) are taken, convert Honey [[File:apiary_honey.png]] into other resources, which you can then potentially discard for Queen's Favors. Some seed cards also earn you VP for stored Honey. | ||
Revision as of 17:59, 20 May 2026
Factions and Hives
- No faction ability guarantees a win or loss.
- Most recruit (blue) tiles are as strong or stronger than faction abilities.
- Play the board first, and your faction second.
- A faction's starting conditions are more important than its abilities.
Gameplay Strategy Ideas
These are suggestions and untested. Your mileage may vary.
Action efficiency is critical. You have about 14-17 actions in a given game (fewer with more players). As a result, you want to be scoring about 5 points with every action. If you are not, consider how to make them up in a future action. You want to aim for more than 100 points a game.
The best general strategy is to fill out your hives and frames. A filled mat/frame scores 8 points on top of the points each tile gives. Aim for 3-4 farms (each worth 2VP or 3VP), 1-2 Carve tiles 
, 1-3 Developments (if you plan on producing Wax 
), and the rest as Recruits.
Retrieve is your most impactful action, so activate as many farms as possible when you do.
In most circumstances, developments (pink) tiles are outright better (in terms of scoring or long-term strategy) than a Carve tile , since they give you resources, activate scoring triggers, level your workers, or place tiles. They also tend to have high scores.
Build many recruit (blue) tiles to get discounts and increase the efficiency of your actions. To generate Wax , use seed cards, or placement bonuses, or hibernation pods. Alternatively, buy blue tiles that do the Retrieve action or allow you to keep a second seed card on the Research action. Then do the Research action frequently.
Get three good farms early, then do the Retrieve action every four turns.
Explore: Explore 2-4 planets at the start. All other resources should come from seed cards, recruit discounts, or placement bonuses. The exception is exploring with a 4-Strength worker, though that depends on what kind of planets and their 4-Strength abilities are.
Advance: Buy as few farms as possible with the Advance action, not more than three. Otherwise, you can get most of them from seed cards. Use the Retrieve action if you get 5+ VP from them. Get the "Retrieve-On-Research" tile with a 2-3 point farm.
Grow: The hive upgrade is rarely as valuable as you think it is. Use 3/4-Strength bees on this action to maximize efficiency (i.e., get a frame and a new bee).
Convert: Use this action rarely (once or none), and when you do use a 4-Strength worker. Instead, create dances during the Explore action using a planet's 4-Strength ability.
Carve: The only way to buy Carve tiles is with Honey 
, which should be obtained through discounts or dances. Usually, there is at most one great tile. You can easily win without gaining any Carve tiles. The most valuable ones are Monolith, Efficiency, and Retinue.
Extra Honey: If all the good Carve tiles (or all of them) are taken, convert Honey into other resources, which you can then potentially discard for Queen's Favors. Some seed cards also earn you VP for stored Honey.