Oltre Mare Game Rules

Welcome to the game of Oltre Mare, where you and I will embark on a thrilling adventure across the high seas! As we set sail, I’ll guide you through the rules so that you can enjoy the game to its fullest.

First things first, let’s talk about the game components. You will need a game board, playing cards, and your trusty ship, which you will use to explore the vast ocean. The game board is divided into different regions, each brimming with hidden treasures and cunning pirates. It’s a world full of excitement and danger, waiting for us to discover!

Now, let’s delve into the gameplay mechanics. The goal of Oltre Mare is to become the most successful merchant of the seas. To achieve this, you will need to trade goods, acquire valuable assets, and outsmart your opponents. It’s a game of strategy, negotiation, and quick thinking.

At the start of the game, each player will receive a hand of cards. These cards represent various goods, such as spices, silk, or gold. Your job is to collect and trade these goods to earn profit and increase your wealth. But be careful, my friend, as other players will try to sabotage your plans, so you must stay vigilant and adapt your strategies accordingly.

To trade goods, you will need to visit different ports on the game board. Each port has its own supply and demand for specific goods. By fulfilling these demands, you can earn gold and gain influence in the region. The more influence you have, the more opportunities will arise for you to expand your wealth.

But it’s not just trading that will lead you to victory. You must also be mindful of the pirates lurking in the depths of the ocean. If you encounter a pirate, you can choose to engage in a combat with them or pay them off with your hard-earned gold. The choice is yours, and each decision will have its own consequences.

Throughout the game, you will face various challenges and encounters. Some will lead to great rewards, while others may bring unexpected dangers. Your ability to navigate these situations wisely will determine your success.

Remember, my friend, Oltre Mare is not just a game of luck. It requires careful planning, calculated risks, and cunning strategies. So, sharpen your wits and set sail on this thrilling journey, as the riches of the high seas await us!

Now that you have a good grasp of the rules, it’s time to dive in and embark on our maritime adventure. Are you ready, captain? Let’s conquer the seas and become the greatest merchant that Oltre Mare has ever seen!

• There are 98 Goods Cards available in 7 different colors.
• Also, there is a Venice Card included.
• There are 5 Summary Cards in total.
• Furthermore, there are 5 Merchant Cards in 5 different colors.
• Additionally, there are 10 Wooden cubes available in 5 different colors.
• Lastly, there is a board provided.
• Moreover, there are 32 Harbor markers included.

Let’s Explore the Game

Goods Deck

When you want to choose some Goods Cards, they are drawn from this deck.

On the board:

Map

The map displays the beautiful Mediterranean sea and the designated Harbors. Each player has their own Ship represented by a wooden cube. The Ships move along their designated courses, represented by dotted lines, and make stops at the Harbors.

Ducati Points Track

Hey there! This wooden cube is all about keeping track of your Ducati Points. Each player gets their own cube on this track, and it shows how many Ducati Points you have.

Beside the player:

Your Stuff

This is where you keep all your things.

The Pile of Stuff

These are the things that you already have. You can’t look at them, but the top thing is visible to everyone. This thing shows:

• The number of things you can have in your hand on your next turn
• The number of things you can play during your next turn

The Bad Guy’s Pile

Imagine a stack of cards sitting in front of you, all facedown. These cards represent the treasures stolen by merciless pirates. But don’t worry, you have a chance to buy these cards and add them to your collection during the Trade Phase. However, it’s important to keep in mind that at the end of the game, every card left in your pirate stack will cost you 1 Ducati Point from your final score. So choose wisely!

Your Family

Now, let’s talk about your family. Each player has a different family in Venice, and your Merchant Card proudly displays the color and name of your family. It’s a symbol of your heritage and influence. But it’s more than that. The Summary Card and the Merchant Card also indicate the number of Prestige Points you’ve earned. They represent your accomplishments and status within the Venetian society. So make sure to cherish and protect them!

Getting Started

Let’s begin by setting up the game. First, join the 4 parts of the board together and place it in the center of the table. Now, it’s time to shuffle the Harbor markers and randomly place them face up on the Map. Make sure to put one marker on each Harbor. Any unused markers should be removed.

If you’re playing with just 2 players, you’ll need to remove all the Corn Cards from the game. After that, shuffle all the Goods Cards to form the Goods Deck. Now, it’s time to determine who will be the first active player. You can use a simple method like choosing the player who lives closest to Venice.

Next, we need to distribute the Cargo Stacks. Draw cards from the Goods Deck until you find a card with the name of a Harbor. Give this card to the first player, and it will be their first Card on their Cargo Stack. Repeat this process until every player has one Cargo Stack.

Finally, each player should choose a color and take the Merchant Card along with two wooden cubes of that color. We’re now ready to begin our trading adventure!

When we start the game, we all place one wooden cube on the “11” square on the Ducati Points Track and another cube on the Harbor indicated by the Card on our own Cargo Stack. We should remove any markers on these Harbors.

Next, we each take a Summary Card and place it on the Merchant Card, showing that we start with 0 Prestige Points.

Then we shuffle the Goods Cards again and put the Venice Card in the middle of the Goods Deck. Each of us draws 4 Cards from the Goods Deck to make up our hand.

The Goal of the Game

When you’re playing the game, it’s important to know that it will end when the last card from the Goods Deck is drawn. If you’re the one who draws that last card, you’ll have to end your turn.

After the game ends, the final score is calculated (check out the End of the game and Final Score section), and the winner is the one with the highest number of Ducati Points.

How to Play

When it’s your turn, here’s what you need to do (in this order).

Maritime Power Phase

When I start my turn, I need to check my Maritime Power. This is represented by the number of Venetian Lion icons on the Goods card that sits on top of my Cargo Stack. I then have to get rid of some Cards from my hand so that it matches the size of my current Maritime Power. It’s up to me to decide which Cards I want to get rid of. I have to place these Cards face down on my Pirate Stack.

For example, let’s say it’s the start of my turn and I have 5 Maritime Power icons on the Cargo. I currently have 7 Cards in my hand: I have to discard 2 of these Cards that I choose and add them to my Pirate Stack.

Trade Phase

When you’re playing the game, you have the freedom to trade Cards and/or Ducati Points with the other players. They, however, can only trade with you.

When we’re negotiating, feel free to ask about the Goods and icons on the Cards we plan to trade. I promise to tell the truth about the Goods, but I might be a bit sneaky about the other icons on the Cards.

If you decide to trade with me, you’ll gain 1 Prestige Point (just move the Summuary Card down one number on the Merchant Card). Remember, though, that during this turn, you can only gain 1 Prestige Point from trading, no matter how many trades you make. I don’t gain any Prestige Points from trading.

I can choose to buy Cards from either the Goods Deck or my Pirate Stack. Whether I buy from the Goods Deck or the Pirate Stack, each Card will cost me 3 Ducati Points. However, if I don’t have any Ducati Points or even have negative points, the cost of Cards will increase to 4 Ducati. To mark negative points, the cube on the Ducati Track will go under zero.

During the game, I can also trade with other players and buy Cards. I have the freedom to trade as many times as I want with other players, but I can only buy a maximum of 4 Cards from either the Goods Deck or the Pirate Stack. However, I have the option to buy them one by one if I choose to.

Now, let’s talk about the Main Phase.

When I’m playing the game, I have to take cards from my hand and put them face up on the table. The number of cards I have to play is shown by the load icons on the goods card at the top of my cargo stack. If I don’t have enough cards in my hand, I can’t start the main phase. I have to buy or trade cards during the trade phase first. Each card has two actions: Ducati, Pirate, Market, or Sailing. I have to do these actions in a specific order. First, I perform the Ducati action.

When you’re playing the game, you’ll earn Ducati as the active player. The amount of Ducati you get depends on the number of Ducati icons on the cards you play. If you play a card with 1 Ducati icon, you’ll earn 1 Ducati Point. Play a card with 2 Ducati icons and you’ll earn 3 Ducati. And if you manage to play a card with 3 or more Ducati icons, you’ll earn a whopping 6 Ducati.

Becoming a Pirate.

When I’m playing the game, I have to take Cards from the Goods Deck and place them on my Pirate Stack. I have to do this without looking at the cards, so it adds an element of surprise.

If the cards I play have only 1 Pirate icon, then I have to move 1 Card from the Goods Deck to my Pirate Stack. It’s like I’m recruiting more pirates to join my crew.

But if the cards have 2 Pirate icons, things get a bit more exciting. I get to move not just 1, but 3 Cards from the Goods Deck to my Pirate Stack. It’s like my crew is growing stronger and more fearsome.

And if the cards I play have 3 or more Pirate icons, it’s a real game-changer. I get to move a whopping 6 Cards from the Goods Deck to my Pirate Stack. It’s like my crew is becoming an unstoppable force on the high seas.

Now let’s talk about Market Action.

When I play Oltre Mare, I have to draw Cards from the Goods Deck and add them to my hand. If I have just 1 Market icon on the cards I play, I need to draw 1 more Card. But if I have 2 Market icons on the cards, I get to draw 3 Cards. And if I have 3 or more Market icons, I get to draw a big 6 Cards! It’s exciting to see what I’ll get!

Sailing Action

When I want to move my Ship in Oltre Mare, I have to sail along the shipping lanes on the map. I move my Ship the exact number of spaces (Harbors) as the number of Ship icons on the Cards I play. But I can’t travel on the same route twice in one turn. It’s like exploring new places with every move!

If the Ship stops at a Harbor marker, you take that marker as your new active Harbor marker. Make sure to check the Harbor Markers. If there are no markers, you lose your active Harbor marker (flip it).

Cargo Phase

Once you’ve completed all your Actions, load the played Cards onto the Cargo Stack. Stack them face up and choose the order carefully. The order you choose will affect your final score (see End of the game and final score).

The top Card on the stack (the last Card loaded) is also important for the next player’s turn. The number of Maritime Power icons on that Card determines the maximum number of Cards you can have in your hand at the beginning of your next turn. The number of Load icons on the Card determines how many Cards you will play on your next turn.

After I finish my turn, I can choose to keep all of the Cards in my hand. Even if I have more Cards than my Maritime Power allows, I don’t have to discard them until the beginning of my next turn.

Next Active Player

The player to my left becomes the new active player.

Venice Card & Prestige Points

If you draw the Venice Card on the Goods Deck, you will receive extra Ducati. The player with the highest Prestige Points receives 6 Ducati, the second player gets 3 Ducati, and the third player gets 1 Ducati. Any players who tie will receive the same number of Ducati.

All players should reset their Prestige score back to “0” at the start of the game.

Once the Venice Card is drawn, the active player can continue their turn.

The End of the Game

When all the cards in the Goods Deck have been used up, the game comes to a close. If it is my turn and there are no more cards left in the Goods Deck, I can choose to finish my turn without drawing any additional cards.

During the game, players earn Ducati Points based on their actions, which I’ll explain below.

Scoring for Selling Loaded Goods

In the game, we all have our own Cargo Stack where we keep our Goods Cards. The goal is to group together as many Cards of the same Good as possible in order to score points. The order of the Cards in the Cargo Stack is crucial, so we need to be careful not to change it. I start with the top Card and keep drawing Cards from my Cargo Stack until I come across a different kind of Good. That’s when I start a new set. Cards of the same Good that are not grouped together are considered to be part of different sets. Each group of Cards counts as one set. Each Good has a specific point value, which you can find in the Table on the right or on each Card. The numbers in the sequence represent the points you earn based on the number of Cards in a set. If you have more Cards in a set than the number indicated in the sequence, you earn the last number of the sequence as points.

Score for Harbor Markers

I want to talk to you about scores for harbor markers. Have you ever wondered how harbor markers are scored? Well, let me tell you, it’s quite interesting.

You see, when it comes to harbor markers, there are a few key factors to consider. One of the most important factors is the distance between the marker and the shoreline. The closer the marker is to the shore, the higher the score.

But that’s not the only thing that matters. Another factor to take into account is the size of the marker. Larger markers tend to have higher scores because they are more visible and can be seen from further away.

And then there’s the color of the marker. The color also plays a role in determining the score. Brightly colored markers, such as red or yellow, are easier to spot and therefore have higher scores.

Now, you might be thinking, why does any of this matter? Well, let me tell you, it’s important for a few reasons. First of all, harbor markers serve as important navigational aids for boats and ships. They help mariners determine their position and avoid potential dangers. So, having accurate and reliable scores for harbor markers is crucial for safe navigation.

Secondly, scores for harbor markers are used to prioritize maintenance and repair efforts. By knowing which markers have higher scores, authorities can allocate their resources efficiently and ensure that the most critical markers are well-maintained.

In conclusion, understanding the scoring system for harbor markers is essential. The distance from the shoreline, the size of the marker, and the color all contribute to the score. By considering these factors, we can ensure the safety and efficiency of our maritime navigation systems. So the next time you see a harbor marker, remember that its score is not just a number – it’s a vital piece of information that helps keep our waters safe and navigable.

If you have the most Harbor markers, you’ll earn 6 Ducati points. The second-place player gets 3 Ducati, and the player in third place gets 1 Ducati. Any players who don’t have Harbor markers don’t earn any Ducati points. If there’s a tie between two or more players, the player with the most number of different Port markers wins the tie. If there’s still a tie after that, all the tied players will score the same number of Ducati points.

Scoring for Prestige Points

Negative Score from Pirate Stack

The winner is the player with the highest number of Ducati points.