How to Play

Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write

1-4 players 30-45 min 7.7 Board Game Geek Rating

In this roll-and-write adaptation, players select dice then deploy them as workers to acquire attractions and dinosaurs. The challenge involves fitting these polyomino-shaped pieces into your theme park while constructing pathways to exits for additional scoring opportunities. Victory goes to whoever accumulates the most points.

Published 2021

Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

1
Position game board
Place the Game Board on the side according to the number of players
2
Draw Building Cards
Draw 3 random Building Cards and place them to the left of the Game Board
3
Draw Specialist Cards
Draw 3 random Specialist Cards and place them to the right of the Game Board
4
Place Season Marker
Place the Season Marker cube on the start of the Season Track
5
Prepare dice bag
Put all 10 dice in the bag
6
Distribute player materials
Each player takes a pencil and a Park Sheet, then writes their Park's name
7
Mark starting DNA
Draw a circle in the 1st box on each Basic DNA Track
8
Fill Building Coin boxes
Fill in Coin boxes from the end of the A, B, and C Tracks until empty boxes match the cost of the Building Card in the corresponding Game Board slot
9
Fill Specialist Coin boxes
Fill in Coin boxes so that A, B, C matches the cost of the Specialist Card in the corresponding Game Board slot
10
Determine first player
Randomly choose a player to take the Amber First Player Marker
11
Grant bonus starting DNA
Clockwise from the first player, each other player gains additional starting DNA based on turn order position

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

1
Draw and roll dice
The first player draws and rolls a pool of dice based on player count (2 players: 5 dice, 3 players: 7 dice, 4 players: 9 dice)
2
Draft first die
Clockwise from the first player, each player gains 1 die of their choice, placing it next to their Park Sheet
3
Draft second die
Counter-clockwise from the last player, each player gains another die of their choice; set 1 remaining die aside
4
Gain drafted resources
Each player gains the Resources on their 2 drafted dice, ignoring Threat icons; choose 1 option if die shows a slash
5
Gain common die resources
Every player gains the Resources and Threat on the remaining die; mark Threat by drawing a dot on Security Track
6
Take actions
Clockwise from the first player, each player places 1 die on an Action space and takes that Action; continues until each player has taken 2 Actions
7
Stack for repeated actions
If a space is occupied, you may stack a die on top but must gain the Threat indicated on the covered die
8
Return dice
Return all dice to the bag
9
Pass first player token
Pass the Amber First Player Token to the next player
10
Advance season
Move the Season Marker cube 1 space; if space shows dice icon, repeat Action Phase; if space shows park icon, resolve Run Park Phase
11
Make Dinos
Create up to 4 Dinosaurs of each species if you have corresponding DNA; check mark each Dinosaur made, cross off spent DNA, draw Paddock first time for each Species, gain Threat from Carnivores, gain Excitement from all Dinosaurs made
12
Duplicate
Gain 2 copies of Resources on your placed die; all other players gain 1 copy; Attractions depicted are ignored
13
Raise Funds
Gain 2 Coins to spend immediately, or gain 2 Security
14
Extract DNA
Gain any 2 Basic DNA, or gain any 1 Advanced DNA
15
Build
Build either 3 Roads or 1 Attraction of your choice in your Park
16
Gain Attraction income
Gain Resource Income from each Attraction in your Park in any order; if you build another Attraction during this step, gain its income immediately
17
Use Specialist abilities
Use the Run Park Ability of each hired Specialist in any order; if you hire another Specialist, gain its Run Park Ability and Instant Bonus immediately
18
Plan Dino Tour
Start Tour at HQ, may end at any Building or uncircled Park Exit, travel only through connected Roads and Buildings, never backtrack or cross over itself
19
Score Tour
Draw an X in corner of each Building passed through without a previous X; circle Park Exit if Tour ends there; gain 1 Excitement per Building marked with X this run
20
Gain Excitement income
Gain Resource Income from every circled icon on Excitement Track; gain resources from any newly circled icons immediately
21
Resolve Threat
For each unsecured Threat on Security Track, mark 1 box on Death Track; if Death Track fills, record excess in 21+ box
22
Resolve Disasters
For each Disaster box marked on Death Track, resolve 1 Disaster of choice (each Disaster can only be resolved twice per player)
23
Space requirement
Place Buildings anywhere there is enough space
24
Orientation flexibility
Rotate or mirror a Building's shape when placing
25
No Building contact
Do not place Buildings touching other Buildings, even at corners
26
Wall placement allowed
Place Buildings touching Walls at Park edges and Park Exits
27
Road adjacency allowed
Place Buildings next to or touching Roads and destroyed areas
28
Gain DNA
Draw a circle in a box on the corresponding DNA Track in Storage area
29
Spend DNA
Place a cross in a circled DNA box
30
DNA overflow
If DNA Track is full, additional DNA of that type converts immediately to Coins
31
Gain Security
Draw a circle in a box on Security Track
32
Spend Coins
Mark an X on equal number of Coin boxes on Specialist or Building Tracks
33
Store Coins
Circle Coins in Storage area for later use; cross off stored Coin at any time to use
34
Store Roads
Circle Roads in Storage area for later use; cross off stored Road at any time to use
35
Trade Coins
At any time, trade 2 Coins for either 1 Advanced DNA, 1 Road, or 1 Security
36
Gain Excitement
Draw a circle in a box on Excitement Track; record excess in 61+ box if track fills
37
Secure Threat
Each Threat dot with a circle around it is "secured"

Winning

How to claim victory.

1
Game duration
The game is played over 3 Seasons, each with 2 Action Phases and a Run Park Phase
2
Score Herbivores
Score 2 VP per Herbivore in your Park
3
Score Small Carnivores
Score 3 VP per Small Carnivore in your Park
4
Score Large Carnivores
Score 5 VP per Large Carnivore in your Park
5
Score Specialists
Score 3 VP per Specialist you've hired
6
Score Building Cards
Score all Building Cards you've completed
7
Score Park Exits
Score all Park Exits you've circled; circled Exits that can no longer be reached from HQ by legal Tour Route are worth nothing
8
Score Excitement Track
Score the VP at the end of the bottom-most row on Excitement Track where you've drawn at least 1 circle
9
Bonus Excitement VP
Score 1 VP per Excitement over 60
10
Bonus DNA VP
Score 1 VP per every 2 stored DNA (rounded down)
11
Death penalty (1-20)
Lose 1 VP per Death recorded on Death Track up to 20
12
Death penalty (21+)
Lose 2 VP per Death recorded on Death Track over 20
13
Determine winner
The player with the most VP wins
14
Break ties
Ties are broken by most individual Dinosaurs made

watch & Learn

Let the pros teach you with these top videos.

Dinosaur Island - Rawr'n'Write Soloregeln

Dinosaur Island - Rawr'n'Write Soloregeln

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Uitleg & review door Nox' Spellenzolder.

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FULL rules

Looking for the full details? Grab the complete rulebook as a downloadable PDF.

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