Discoverers of the North Sea: A Guide

Ahoy there! Welcome to this guide for the game Explorers of the North Sea. It’s time to set sail and embark on an exciting adventure! In this game, you and your fellow explorers will navigate the treacherous waters of the North Sea, seeking to discover new lands and claim valuable resources.

Objective

The objective of Explorers of the North Sea is to earn the most victory points by the end of the game. You can earn victory points by constructing outposts, raiding settlements, capturing livestock, and collecting treasure.

Gameplay

The game is played over a series of rounds, each consisting of three phases: Placement, Movement, and Actions. During the Placement phase, you will take turns placing your Viking crew members on the board and securing resources. Then, during the Movement phase, you will navigate your ships along the sea routes, exploring new territories and engaging in various encounters. Finally, during the Actions phase, you will use your crew members to construct outposts, raid settlements, capture livestock, and collect treasure.

As you explore, you may encounter enemy Vikings or face harsh weather conditions. You must carefully strategize and decide when to explore further, when to attack, and when to retreat. Be mindful of your resources and plan your moves wisely!

Components

The game includes a game board depicting the North Sea, Viking ship tokens, player boards, crew member tokens, resource tokens, and various other cards and tokens. Each element of the game serves a unique purpose and contributes to the overall experience of exploration and adventure.

Conclusion

Now that you have a basic understanding of Explorers of the North Sea, it’s time to gather your crew and set sail on this thrilling journey. Are you ready to face the challenges of the North Sea and claim your title as a legendary explorer? The time has come! Good luck, and may fortune favor the bold!

• Explorers of the North Sea contains 48 Tiles, 26 Livestock, 4 Longships, 28 Vikings, 11 Captain Cards, 2 Double-sided Starting Boards, 14 Settlement Tokens, 12 Enemy Ships, 1 Winter Token, 20 Outposts, 1 Score Pad, and Instructions.

Let’s Play Explorers of the North Sea

Are you ready to embark on an exciting adventure as a brave Captain? In this game, your goal is to outshine your rivals by using your intelligence and navigation skills.

As we explore the North Sea, we’ll earn points for various accomplishments, such as controlling Islands, delivering Livestock, raiding Settlements, constructing Outposts, and destroying Enemy Ships.

Our journey will end with the arrival of winter. The player with the most Victory Points at this time will be crowned the ultimate winner!

Setting Up for the Journey

To begin, we need to prepare the game board. Here’s what we need to do:

1. Arrange the game tiles to create the game board.
2. Place the livestock, longships, Vikings, and captain cards within reach.
3. Choose a side for the starting board and place it in the center of the play area.
4. Distribute the settlement tokens and enemy ships equally among the players.
5. Put the winter token aside for now; we’ll need it later.
6. Lastly, provide each player with outposts and a score pad.

I want to share with you some important steps to get started with the game. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Choose one of the Starting Boards and place it within everyone’s reach. Make sure there’s enough space in front of it for placing Tiles. The Starting Board has 3 fixed Tiles and a big area with the Mainland. For your first time playing, I recommend using the Starting Board displayed below.

2. Put all the Livestock, Settlement Tokens (numbers facedown), and Enemy Ships (ships faceup) behind the Starting Board. Make sure to shuffle the Settlement Tokens and Enemy Ships so they’re mixed up.

3. Shuffle the 48 Tiles and hand out 3 facedown to each player. Keep the remaining Tiles facedown in a stack on the side of the playing area. Remember, you can only look at your own Tiles.

Now you’re ready to start the game!

“`

Let’s Get Started!

Here’s what you need to do to start playing the game:

1. Let’s shuffle the Captain Cards and deal 2 to each player. Take a look at the cards and choose your favorite. Place it faceup in front of you. You can put the rest of the Captain Cards back in the box. Each Captain has a special bonus that will help you score points at the end of the game.
2. Now, everyone gets a Longship, 7 Vikings, and 5 Outposts in their chosen color. These will be your tools for exploring and conquering the land.
3. Place your Longship on the Starting Board, along with 2 Vikings on board. Make sure to place them on the shoreline of the Mainland. The rest of your Vikings should be placed on the Mainland, ready for their adventures.
4. Before we start, let’s randomly choose a starting player. That player will receive the Winter Token. The player to their right will take the next turn.

Let the Game Begin!

Now it’s time to start playing! Here’s how the game works:

We’ll take turns clockwise, starting with the first player. Each player will place 1 Tile from their hand on the board. Then, they will have the opportunity to take up to 4 actions.

“`

When I’m playing this game, I start by taking all the actions I want to. Then, I grab a new Tile and add it to my hand. I keep doing this until I have no more Tiles left in my hand, but here’s where it gets interesting – the player who has the Winter Token is the one who keeps drawing Tiles.

As I sail through the game, I discover different Islands with my Vikings. It’s exciting to explore and see what’s out there. Along the way, I can build Outposts, raid Settlements, destroy Enemy Ships, and even fight for control of each Island. It’s like being in the middle of an epic battle!

But it’s not just about conquering. I can also collect Livestock and bring them back to the Mainland to please the Chieftain. It feels rewarding to make him happy.

When It’s Time to Place Tiles

Before I take any actions, I have to make sure I have a Tile to play. I always start by placing 1 Tile from my hand. But here are the rules I have to follow:

In the world of board games, there’s a simple mechanic that can make or break the game experience: adjacency. It’s the concept of things being connected or next to each other. And in the case of tiles in a board game, adjacency plays a crucial role in determining placement rules.

When I’m considering where to put a tile, there are two important rules of adjacency that I need to keep in mind:

• The tile must share at least 1 edge with either the Starting Board or any other Tile.
• All edges must match up to surrounding Tiles (land to land and sea to sea).

These rules may seem straightforward, but they have a profound impact on gameplay. Ensuring that tiles are strategically placed can lead to interesting and challenging board states. It’s a delicate balance that must be carefully managed.

As I take in these rules, I find myself pondering the possibilities. Where can I place this tile to maximize my points? How can I use adjacency to my advantage and outmaneuver my opponents?

It’s fascinating how such a simple concept can have such a big impact. Adjacency is the key that unlocks the potential of a board game, allowing for a dynamic and ever-changing play experience. It’s a puzzle waiting to be solved, with each tile placement adding to the overall picture and strategy.

So the next time you sit down to play a board game, remember the importance of adjacency. Embrace the challenge of finding the perfect placement, and revel in the excitement of a well-placed tile. After all, it’s the connections we make that truly elevate the game.

Did you know that Tiles can’t connect directly to the Mainland? It’s a bit strange, but that’s the rule. However, there’s a sneaky way to get around it. You can place Tiles lower than the Starting Board by exploring to the left, right, and down. Cool, huh?

Now, here’s the thing. If you’re in a pinch and you can’t place a Tile on your turn (which is super rare, by the way), don’t panic. Just take a deep breath, discard all your Tiles, shuffle them back into the supply, and draw the same number again. Easy peasy! Then, you can place a Tile and keep going.

Let’s Talk About Placing Tokens

When you place a Tile, you also need to think about placing a Token. It could be a Livestock, a Settlement Token, or even an Enemy Ship. Each Tile has a little picture that shows you what should go there.

Placing Livestock

Here’s where it gets interesting. When you place Livestock, you take one from the supply that matches the picture on the Tile. Then, you plop that Livestock right on top of the picture. Easy as pie, right?

Important: Remember, you can only place one Livestock, no matter how many are pictured on the Tile. It’s just the way the game works.

Wow, have you ever thought about all the different types of livestock out there? I’m gonna break it down for you. So get ready!

First, let’s talk pigs. You know, those cute little piggies that oink and roll around in the mud? Well, there are not just one or two, but a whopping six of them! That’s a whole lot of bacon!

Next up, we’ve got chickens. These clucking creatures are a staple on the farm, and there are five of them strutting their stuff. Can you imagine all the eggs they must be laying?

Now, let’s move on to goats. These guys are known for their mischievous ways and their ability to eat anything in sight. There are five goats in total, so you better be careful not to let them eat your homework!

Oh, and we can’t forget about the sheep. With their soft wool and adorable bleats, these fluffy creatures are a real crowd-pleaser. You’ll find four sheep hanging out in the pasture, just enjoying life.

Cattle are another important part of the livestock family. These big, strong animals provide us with milk, meat, and leather. We’ve got three of them, grazing peacefully in the fields.

Finally, we have horses. These majestic creatures are loved by many for their beauty and grace. They’re also incredibly helpful when it comes to transportation. You’ll find three horses galloping around, being the stars of the show.

And there you have it! Six pigs, five chickens, five goats, four sheep, three cattle, and three horses. That’s quite a collection of farm animals, don’t you think?

First, let’s talk about placing pig tokens on the tiles with pigs. You’ll see that there’s a cute little pig picture on some of the tiles. When it’s my turn, I get to take one pig token from the supply and put it on one of those tiles. The pig token has a number on it, and that’s its military strength. It tells us how strong that pig is. So, I’ll put the pig token on the tile, right on top of the pig picture. Easy peasy!

Now, let’s move on to placing settlement tokens. When it’s your turn to place a settlement token, you’re going to randomly pick one from the supply. Once you have your settlement token, flip it over to reveal its military strength, which is just a number that’s printed on it. Then, you’ll place the settlement token on the tile where the settlement illustration is. It’s like building a little village on the tile!

Finally, let’s talk about placing enemy ships. This one’s a little different. When it’s time to place an enemy ship, you’ll randomly grab one from the supply, but don’t turn it over just yet. Keep it a secret! Place the enemy ship right on top of the illustration on the tile. And here’s the tricky part: you don’t get to know what’s on the backside of the enemy ship until you destroy it. It’s a surprise waiting to be uncovered!

So, there you have it! That’s how you place pig tokens, settlement tokens, and enemy ships in Explorers of the North Sea. Remember, the pig tokens go on the tiles with pigs, the settlement tokens go on the tiles with settlement illustrations, and the enemy ships go on top of their corresponding illustrations. Have fun exploring and battling it out on the high seas!

When I play the game Explorers of the North Sea, one of the first things that happens is an enemy ship gets placed on a tile with a ship. It’s like an unexpected surprise! Now it’s time for me to take some actions. I can do up to 4 actions, and I can do the same action more than once if I want. The order doesn’t matter.

There are different actions I can choose from:

1. Load Longship

2. Unload Longship + Deliver Livestock

3. Move Longship + Destroy an Enemy Ship

4. Move Vikings + Raid a Settlement

5. Transport Livestock

6. Construct an Outpost (this one takes 2 actions)

Let’s start with the first action:

Load Longship.

When it comes to Longships in the game, each player has the option to carry up to 3 Vikings or Livestock, or a combination of both. As an action, you can load your Vikings and Livestock onto your Longship.

Here are the rules for loading Longships:

• All your Vikings and Livestock must start on the same piece of land, on the same Tile as your Longship.
• Livestock cannot load themselves onto a Longship. You must either move them together with at least 1 Viking, or have at least 1 Viking nearby when loading them.

2. Unload Longship

When I take action, I can choose to unload Vikings or Livestock from my longship and move them onto the land. This is an important decision that can have a big impact on the game.

There are some rules that I need to follow when unloading my longship:

• All Vikings and Livestock must be unloaded onto the same piece of land where my longship is.
• Livestock cannot unload themselves from a longship. They need to either be moved with at least one Viking or have a Viking on board when being unloaded.

Delivering Livestock for Victory Points

One way I can score Victory Points is by delivering Livestock back to the Mainland. Whenever I unload Livestock to the Mainland, they are immediately placed onto my Captain Card. And the best part is, I don’t need to spend any additional actions for this!

At the end of the game, the scores will be tallied up. You earn more and more Victory Points for collecting different types of Livestock. I’ll explain how the scoring works for Livestock later on.

3. Move the Longship

So, here’s the deal – to move my Longship, I need to transport Vikings and Livestock between the Islands. It’s pretty straightforward actually. As one of my actions, I can move my Longship to another sea space on a neighboring Tile. Easy-peasy!

Now, when I move my Longship, I gotta follow some rules:

• I can’t sail my Longship empty. I need to have at least 1 Viking on board to move it.
• My Longship can’t go on land. It can only move through connected sea spaces.
• Good news is, there’s no limit to how many Longships can be on the same Tile. So, I’m free to sail away!
• But if my Longship has less than 2 Vikings, I can’t move it into a sea space that has an Enemy Ship. Gotta keep my Vikings safe!

Plus, I can even destroy Enemy Ships! Talk about a power move.

Here’s the deal – if I manage to destroy an Enemy Ship, I score 1 Victory Point. Not too shabby! All I need to do is move my Longship, with at least 2 Vikings on board, to the same sea space as an Enemy Ship on the same Tile. Boom! Victory Point in the bag.

When I encounter an Enemy Ship, it’s a pivotal moment in my journey. You see, the outcome of this encounter can be both thrilling and worrisome. If I manage to destroy the Enemy Ship right away, without any extra effort, it’s a great victory. But, alas, every success comes at a cost, and in this case, I might lose one of my trusty Vikings who are on board my Longship.

Now, let’s dive deeper into how this works. The reverse side of each Enemy Ship contains icons that hold the key to my fate. There are two possible outcomes that could await me:

In a time long ago, a group of fierce warriors known as the Vikings roamed the earth. They were fearless and adventurous, sailing across treacherous seas in search of new lands to conquer. Their legacy lives on today, as we continue to be fascinated by their tales of bravery and their rich culture.

But why are we so captivated by the Vikings? I believe it is because they embody qualities that we admire – courage, strength, and a thirst for exploration. The Vikings were not content to stay in one place; they were always on the lookout for new opportunities and experiences.

When I think about the Vikings, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to live in a world like theirs. Can you imagine being part of a community of warriors, sailing the open seas, and discovering new lands? It’s an enticing idea, isn’t it?

But the appeal of the Vikings goes deeper than just their adventurous spirit. They also had a rich mythology and a complex belief system. Gods and goddesses played a central role in their lives, and they believed that their actions in this life would determine their fate in the afterlife.

So why do we continue to be so fascinated by the Vikings? Perhaps it is because they remind us of the possibilities that lie beyond our everyday lives. They teach us to embrace change, to seek out new experiences, and to face challenges head-on.

The Vikings may have lived in a different time and place, but their spirit lives on in all of us. So let’s raise our glasses and toast to their memory – for they are truly an inspiration.

No Vikings Die.

Did you know that one of the oldest known forms of writing is hieroglyphics? Hieroglyphics used pictures and symbols to represent words and ideas. They were used by the Ancient Egyptians to write on walls, tombs, and other surfaces.

When I see hieroglyphics, I can’t help but wonder what stories they tell. Each symbol holds a piece of history, a fragment of a long-lost world. It’s incredible to think that these ancient writings have survived for thousands of years, allowing us to catch a glimpse of the past.

Imagine being able to decipher these mysterious symbols, unlocking their secrets just like an ancient detective. I bet it would feel like being transported back in time, walking in the shoes of those who came before us.

But interpreting hieroglyphics isn’t easy. It requires patience, curiosity, and a deep understanding of the culture and context in which they were used. You have to put yourself in the shoes of the ancient Egyptians and try to see the world through their eyes.

So, if you’re up for the challenge, I encourage you to dive into the realm of hieroglyphics. It’s a journey that will not only ignite your imagination but also give you a greater appreciation for the power of writing and the mysteries of the past.

Who knows? Maybe as you study these ancient symbols, you’ll uncover a secret that has been hiding in plain sight for centuries.

When you turn over the Enemy Ship, you find out what happens next. If none of my Vikings die, I can keep the Enemy Ship and continue my turn as the current player.

If one of my Vikings dies, I have to take one Viking from my Longship and put it on my Captain Card, along with the destroyed Enemy Ship. They will stay there for the rest of the game.

Now, here’s something interesting. I actually score more Victory Points for every Viking I lose. Don’t worry, I’ll explain how scoring Viking deaths works later. It’s pretty cool.

Step 4: Move Vikings

Sometimes, us Vikings gotta get off our Longship and hit the road. Maybe we wanna raid a nearby Settlement or grab some Livestock.

You can move 1 or 2 Vikings from one land space to a connected land space on a neighboring Tile by taking just one action.

Here’s how it works:

• No swimming allowed! Vikings gotta walk on land, so you can only move them to connected land spaces.
• No need to worry about overcrowding. There’s no limit to how many Vikings of any color can be on the same Tile.

+Time to Raid a Settlement:

Hey there! Let me tell you about some interesting tiles called Settlements. When you draw a Settlement tile, you’ll see a Settlement Token that reveals its military strength, which ranges from 2 to 5.

If you want to raid a Settlement successfully, you’ll need to move an equal or higher number of your Vikings onto that Settlement. For example, if a Settlement has a military strength of 4, you’ll need to send 4 or more Vikings to raid it.

As soon as there are enough Vikings from the current player on a Settlement, the raid happens right away! No extra actions required. Just remember that Vikings on Longships or across the sea don’t count towards the raid.

Once a Settlement is raided, the current player takes the Settlement Token and keeps it facedown on their Captain Card. These Tokens will be scored at the end of the game. The number of Victory Points scored for a raided Settlement is equal to its military strength.

5. Transport Livestock

When I play the game, sometimes I have to move Livestock across the land before I can load them onto my Longship. This is an important part of the game that requires some strategy. Here’s how it works:

First, I need to choose a Viking to accompany the Livestock. Livestock can’t move by themselves, so they need someone to help them get to their destination.

Next, I have to decide where I want to move the Livestock. I can only move them to a land space that is connected to the one they’re currently on. I can’t just swim them across sea spaces, they need to be on land.

It’s also important to note that there are no limits to how many Livestock of any type can be on the same Tile. So if I have a lot of Livestock, I can move them all at once if I want to.

One thing I should remember is that I can only move my own Livestock. I can’t take Livestock from other players’ Longships. It’s not fair to steal from them.

Now that I understand how to move the Livestock, I can use this strategy to my advantage in the game. It’s an important part of the game that adds another layer of complexity.

6. Construct an Outpost

When the game ends, you earn Victory Points based on the Islands you control. To gain control of Islands, you need to build Outposts. I’ll explain how you score Islands later. As your actions, you can build Outposts where three land Tiles meet. Here are the rules for building Outposts:

– Each Tile can only connect to one Outpost of any color.

– You need at least two Vikings on the land surrounding the Outpost. These Vikings can be on any of the three connected Tiles.

– You must place all three Tiles before building the Outpost.

– You can only build five Outposts in total. Once they’re built, you can’t move or remove them.

When you build an Outpost in the game, it’s not just about gaining points – it also has strategic importance. The number of Victory Points you get increases with each Outpost you construct. For the first one, you get 2 VP, for the second one you get 3 VP, and so on. So, the more Outposts you build, the more points you’ll have at the end of the game.

But the Outposts also play a role in controlling the Islands. When the game is over, the control of the Islands is determined, in part, by the number of Outposts on each Island. So, by building Outposts strategically, you can gain an advantage in controlling the Islands and increase your chances of winning.

Let me give you an example to better understand. Imagine that the Red player has 2 Vikings surrounding a point where 3 Tiles join by land. They decide to spend 2 actions to construct an Outpost there. Once they do that, no player, including Red, can build an Outpost adjacent to these 3 Tiles anymore. This restriction applies even if the Outposts are on different Islands, as you can see in the top left part of the illustration.

Understanding the importance of building Outposts and controlling the Islands is key to succeeding in the game. Later on, I’ll explain in more detail how the scoring for Outposts and Islands works, so keep an eye out for that.

Drawing Tiles

After I’ve finished taking all the actions I want (up to 4), I end my turn by picking a new Tile to add to my hand. If there aren’t any Tiles left to draw, I don’t get to pick one. But if that happens, it means there are only a few turns left to play.

End of the Game

The game comes to an end right after the turn when the player who has the Winter Token doesn’t have any Tiles left in their hand. This usually happens after exactly 48 turns, since there are 48 Tiles in total.

However, sometimes players may forget to place a Tile during their turn. In this case, it’s possible for the game to end with one or more players still holding Tiles in their hand. Once the last player takes their turn, the game is officially over, and it’s time to calculate the scores.

Scoring

Hey there! Let’s talk about scoring in this awesome game. To figure out how well I did, I’m going to use the score pad they provided. There are 7 things I need to consider, so let’s dive in!

1. Delivered Livestock

First things first, I need to keep track of the livestock I delivered. That’s pretty important! It’s not just about delivering them, but also making sure they get to the right place. So, I’ll make sure to record that on my score pad.

2. Constructed Outposts

Next, I’ll focus on building outposts. These are like little bases that I create, and they play a big role in scoring points. So, I gotta be smart about where I build them. I’ll mark that down on my score pad, too.

3. Destroyed Enemy Ships

Ahoy, matey! Now it’s time to talk about destroying enemy ships. This is where the action really heats up! Taking down those ships is not only exciting, but it also earns me some points. So, I’ll keep track of that on my score pad as well.

4. Raided Settlements

Time to go on a raid! Raiding settlements is a daring adventure, and it’s a big part of this game. Not only does it give me a rush, but it also helps me score some valuable points. I’ll definitely jot that down on my score pad.

5. Viking Deaths

Ah, the brave Vikings. While it’s not ideal for them to meet their demise, their deaths do factor into my score. It’s a somber topic, but an important one to consider. I’ll make sure to keep track of that on my score pad.

6. Controlled Islands

I bet you didn’t know I could control islands, did you? Well, in this game, I can! The more islands I control, the better chance I have at victory. So, you bet I’ll be noting that down on my score pad.

7. Captain Cards

Ah, my trusty captain cards. These cards bring some mighty power to the game. They can really turn the tide in my favor. So, I’ll definitely keep track of how many I have on my score pad.

Once I’ve recorded my scores in each of these 7 areas, it’s time to add them up. The player with the highest total is the ultimate winner!

If there happens to be a tie, we have some tiebreaker rules. First, the player who lost the most Vikings in glorious death is the winner. If that’s still a tie, then it comes down to who raided the most settlements. So, there’s always a way to break the tie!

When you play the game, you earn points by collecting different types of Livestock. Each Livestock is worth a certain number of Victory Points. For example, if you have one Livestock of any type, you get 1 VP. But if you have one of each type – cow, sheep, pig, chicken, horse, and goat – you get a big bonus! That’s worth 21 VP in total.

It’s important to remember that each set can only have one of each type of Livestock. If you have more than one of the same type, they can still count towards different sets. You can have as many sets as you want, as long as you don’t duplicate any types.

Let me give you an example. Look at all the Livestock shown below. One player collected them and ended up with a total of 28 VP. That’s a lot of points!

2. Constructed Outposts

When I build Outposts in the game, it’s a great way to score Victory Points. It’s like earning points for every one that I create!

So here’s how it works: when I construct my very first Outpost, I earn 2 VP. That’s a good start! But it gets even better. Every time I build another Outpost after that, I score 1 more VP than my previous one. This means the more Outposts I build, the more points I earn!

3. You Get Points for Blowing Up Enemy Ships

Hey there! Did you know that for every Enemy Ship you blow up during the game, you get 1 Victory Point? Pretty cool, huh? Keep that in mind as you strategize your next move!

4. Raided Settlements Give You Points

Guess what? Raiding Settlements not only feels awesome, but it also earns you Victory Points! The more military strength a Settlement has, the more Victory Points you get when you raid it. Make sure to flip over your collected Settlement Tokens and add up your total on the score pad.

5. Your Viking Heroes Bring You Points

Good news! When your Vikings bravely perish while taking down an Enemy Ship, you actually earn Victory Points for their courage. And get this – the more Vikings that die, the more Victory Points you get! In fact, it’s equal to the number of dead Vikings squared. So don’t be afraid to give it your all!

When I’m playing the game, I earn Victory Points by exploring the North Sea. It’s a straightforward concept, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Let me break it down for you.

First, let’s talk about the value of different spaces on the board. Each empty space you explore is worth 1 Victory Point, which is represented by the abbreviation “Vp.” It’s a simple way to keep track of your progress.

But not all spaces are created equal. Some spaces, called Outposts, have a higher value. These spaces are worth 1 Vp for each adjacent empty space. For example, if you place a piece on an Outpost that is adjacent to 4 empty spaces, you earn 4 Vp. It’s like a little bonus for strategic placement.

Now, let’s move on to the really exciting part – the shipwrecks! Shipwrecks are worth even more Victory Points. When you explore a space with a shipwreck on it, you earn 2 Vp for each adjacent empty space. So if you can strategically place your pieces next to a shipwreck, you can rack up the points.

If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can even try to control islands. It’s a bit more complicated, but it’s worth it. You earn Victory Points for each island you control. To control an island, you need to have the most influence over it. Influence is determined by the number of pieces you have on the island. If you have more pieces than anyone else, you control the island and earn the points. But if there’s a tie, everyone with the same number of pieces shares the points. It’s a fair way to settle any disputes.

So there you have it – the ins and outs of earning Victory Points in Explorers of the North Sea. It’s all about strategic placement, seizing opportunities, and taking control. The more you explore, the more points you earn. Happy exploring!

6. Controlled Islands

Now, let’s talk about controlled islands. These islands are a key to earning Victory Points. But there’s a catch – only completed islands, surrounded by sea, count. You don’t get points for half-finished islands.

To control an island, you need to have the most influence over it. Influence is determined by the number of your pieces on the island. The more pieces you have, the more influence you have.

If you’re tied for the most influence, don’t worry. You and anyone else who’s tied get to score the island in full. It’s a win-win situation for everyone!

So when you’re playing Explorers of the North Sea, keep these tips in mind. Explore, strategically place your pieces, and go for those shipwrecks. And if you can control an island, even better. The more Victory Points you earn, the closer you are to victory. Good luck!

Imagine a world where each Viking holds the power to impact the course of events. Yes, you heard that right. Every Viking = 1 influence.

This idea might seem mind-boggling, but it’s true. The power to shape the future lies in the hands of individuals. And guess what? That includes you!

So, let’s take a moment to ponder the significance of this notion. Every single Viking, like you and me, possesses the ability to sway the tides of destiny. It’s pretty remarkable when you stop and think about it.

Think about the implications. Your choices, your actions, and even your very existence have the potential to alter the course of history. You are not just a spectator in this grand theater of life; you are an active participant. Your voice matters. Your actions matter. You matter.

Now, I know what you might be thinking. How can one person, with just a single influence, truly make a difference? It’s a valid question. At first glance, it might seem like a drop in the ocean, insignificant and easily overshadowed. But here’s the thing: every drop counts. Every drop contributes to the vastness of the ocean.

Just imagine the collective power of all the Vikings, each wielding their unique influence. Together, their individual drops of influence combine to create a roaring sea of change. It’s a force to be reckoned with.

So, my friend, don’t underestimate your influence. Embrace it. Own it. Let your ideas be heard. Let your actions ripple through the fabric of time. You have the power to leave a lasting impact on this world.

Remember, you are not alone in this journey. There are countless other Vikings, just like you, who are also discovering their influence. Together, we can shape a brighter future for ourselves and those who will come after us.

So, my fellow Viking, let us march forward, armed with our collective influences, and forge a path towards a world that we dream of. Each step we take brings us closer to a future that is shaped by us, for us.

Did you know that in this game, each Outpost gives you a total of 2 influence? That means the more Outposts you have, the more influence you can have over the game.

But here’s something interesting: Vikings on board Longships don’t have any influence on Islands. They might be fierce warriors, but they don’t make a difference when it comes to controlling the Islands.

Once you’ve figured out your influence, it’s time to tally up your Victory Points. The controlling player, or players, earn 1 VP for each Tile the Island covers. So the bigger the Island, the more points you’ll score.

Now, let’s talk about Captain Cards.

When we set up the game, each of us received a Captain Card. These cards are pretty special because they give us extra Victory Points in specific areas. If you play your cards right, you can earn even more points!

Curious about the bonuses each Captain offers? Flip to the following pages to see the list of Captains and their scoring advantages.

Archer

When you play as the Archer, you’ll earn 1 extra Victory Point for every Tile that lies between the Mainland and your farthest Outpost. It’s like a little bonus for expanding your influence!

Let me give you an example to make things clearer. Take a look at the picture below. See how there are 6 Tiles between the Mainland and the farthest Outpost? As the Archer, you would earn 6 Victory Points for that. Pretty cool, right?

Barbarian

When I play as the Barbarian, I get extra Victory Points for every Enemy Ship I take down. This means that if I destroy 3 Enemy Ships, I earn 3 VP. It’s like a bonus for fighting and winning battles at sea.

Cartographer

If you have more than one Island under your control, you get double the Victory Points for your second largest Island.

If you have less than two Islands, you won’t earn any Victory Points for your Captain. But if your two largest Islands are the same size, you get to score one of them twice.

Hero

When I become the Hero, I get extra Victory Points (VP) for each combination of 1 Outpost, 1 Settlement, and 1 Enemy Ship that I score.

Let me explain it this way: If I make 4 Outposts, attack 3 Settlements, and destroy 5 Enemy Ships, I will earn 6 VP. How? Because I had 3 complete sets (1 Outpost, 1 Settlement, and 1 Enemy Ship) which gave me a bonus in Victory Points.

Huntsman

When you’re a Huntsman, you get an exciting bonus. For every set of matching Livestock you bring, you earn an extra 2 VP (that’s Victory Points!).

Let me explain: Imagine you deliver 3 Pigs, 4 Sheep, and 1 Cow. Okay? For those, you’d score the usual points. But because you’re a Huntsman, you’ll also gain an additional 6 VP. How? Well, it’s easy! You just take the number of pairs you have, which in this case, is 3.

Queen

When you have control over one Island, you become the Queen and gain Victory Points (VP). Your VP is determined by subtracting the number of players in the game from your influence on the Island you control. The Queen never loses Victory Points, even if the sum is negative.

Let’s say you have an influence of 8 on the Island you control and there are three other players in the game. In this scenario, you would score 5 VP.

Benefits of Scout

When you have Vikings on Islands that you don’t control, the Scout ability can give you extra Victory Points (VPs).

If you have Vikings on four Islands controlled by your opponents, you would score four VP with the Scout ability.

Shieldmaiden

When I am a Shieldmaiden, something amazing happens. I gain an extra VP for every Island I control. It’s like receiving a bonus just for being in charge of more Islands!

Let me give you an example to make it crystal clear. Imagine I have control over three Islands. Each one of those Islands brings me one VP. So, if I have three Islands under my command, I will receive three VP!

Trader

When you deliver every 3 Livestock, you’ll gain an extra 2 VP.

Imagine this: You bring a total of 7 Livestock to the market. Guess what? You just earned yourself 4 additional VP!

Tyrant

When I play as the Tyrant character, I get an extra Victory Point (VP) each time I raid a Settlement. It’s like a bonus for being extra sneaky and stealing valuable stuff from other people’s villages.

Let me give you an example to explain how it works. Imagine I managed to raid 4 Settlements during the game. That means I get 4 VP just from my stealthy raids alone. It feels great to outsmart others and get rewarded for it!

The Watchman

When you build an Outpost, you will gain an extra Victory Point (VP).

Let me explain. When you construct an Outpost, it rewards you with a valuable VP. The more Outposts you build, the more VPs you’ll accumulate. For instance, if you build five Outposts, you’ll earn five additional VPs, boosting your total score.