These pictures were all taken at the end of Season 1 (3 total). This is the central area that you and your opponent (the Forest Spirit in the Solo Mode) share. The pile with the jaguar are the Advanced cards, which I wasn't using (yet). That Canopy card in the top-right is just the top of the Discard Pile.
Image Source: Me
My turn - I look at the single card in the New Growth 1 column. If I want it, it goes into my Forest and I replace it with a card from the Current Season pile (near-left-center). If I don't want it, I put it back (face-down) and add a card from the Current Season pile. Then I look at the 2 cards in the New Growth 2 column. Keep 'em or not - same as before. If you (or the Forest Spirit) pass on any New Growth column, you always add a card to that column right after you move on. If you pass on Column 3, you take a card from the Current Season pile and have to keep it.
Forest Spirit's Turn: It always takes the Column with the most cards in it, and if there's a tie, it takes the left-most Column. In this case, it would take Column 3 and add 1 card to each of the other Columns, since it passed over them, as mentioned above.
Final Thoughts: From a scoring standpoint, it's essentially a Set Collection game. I'm gonna have to say it's more of a relaxing game then a challenging one. Why? About the only decisions you have to make are:
1) Do I keep this Column or not? Although, that can be a little tricky.
2) In the event of a Threat card (Fire (destroys plants) or Disease (destroys critters)) or Drought card (immediate discard from your Forest, with the exception of completed trees), it becomes, which cards do I remove to minimize my point loss? But that's about it. There's almost zero mitigation of cards you don't want, other than using a Drought (or Fire) card, if you have one, to remove a card that would benefit you if it were gone.
For the size of the box, the game has a large footprint, so be aware of that. So, if ya don't wanna think too hard, and have some pretty cards to look at while you're not thinking too hard, this game could be for you! 🙂
The is the Forest Spirit's forest.
Image Source: Me
My Forest (bottom half). My trees suck. If you draw a Canopy card and you have an open Trunk, you have to place it, even if you end-up with a short tree - nothin' you can do about it.
Image Source: Me
Dramatic Angle Close-Up Photo
Image Source: Me
Thanks for this detailed report. I was half interested because of the prettiness, but I guess I'll pass.
How many tables do you need to play this game???