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Experience: The Pirate Islands
Arrr, matey! Fancy a thrillin’ adventure on the high seas? Look no further than The Pirate Islands! Let me tell ya, this here journey ain’t like any other. Ye’ll be whisked away on a ship, sailin’ through treacherous waters and explorin’ hidden coves.
When ye set foot on deck, ye’ll be greeted by a fearsome crew, ready to embark on a pirate escapade. But don’t ye worry, there’ll be plenty of fun to be had! Ye can partake in all sorts of activities, from sword fightin’ to treasure huntin’. Arrr, the thrill of discovery awaits ye!
As ye traverse the islands, ye’ll come across ancient ruins, buried treasure, and mysterious creatures. The sights and sounds of the pirate life will surround ye, as ye immerse yerself in this enchantin’ world. It’ll be a tale ye’ll pass down to yer grandkiddies, fer sure!
Now, let’s talk about safety, me hearties. Ye might be wonderin’, “Is it safe to venture into the Pirate Islands?” Fear not, as safety is our top priority. The crew be well-trained to make sure yer voyage is smooth sailin’. We’ve got safety protocols in place to ensure ye can enjoy yer adventure without worryin’ about a thing.
Fer those of ye who be seekin’ a thrill unlike any other, The Pirate Islands be the place to be. It’s a place where ye can let loose, embrace yer inner pirate, and make memories that’ll last a lifetime. So gather ye crew, don yer pirate hat, and set sail for an adventure ye won’t soon forget!
In the beautiful Northwest, a group of pirates has launched an invasion on the peaceful island kingdom of the Catanians. These fierce buccaneers waste no time in attacking the Catanians’ merchant ships and capturing their settlements on the western isles. As if that weren’t enough, the pirates have now set their sights on the eastern island, posing an even greater threat.
Time and time again, the pirates raid the coastal settlements, using their fleet to steal valuable resources from the Catanians. Determined to put an end to these audacious acts, the Catanians decide to take matters into their own hands by building a navy. With this navy, they aim to stop the pirates in their tracks and push them back into the open sea.
Now let’s talk about the components needed to play this thrilling game:
– Harbors: To play, you’ll need a total of 8 harbor tokens. Five of these tokens should represent special 2:1 ratios for each resource, while the remaining three tokens should be generic 3:1 ratios.
– Terrain & Tokens: Additionally, you’ll need a variety of terrain tiles and tokens to create the game board. These tiles and tokens will help determine the distribution of resources and provide players with strategic opportunities.
With the navy ready and all the necessary components at hand, it’s time for you to embark on this thrilling adventure. Battle the pirates, defend the Catanians’ settlements, and reclaim peace in the island kingdom. The fate of the Catanians rests in your capable hands. Will you answer the call?
I’m going to put my own spin on this. Let’s see how it turns out:
| Sea | 19 | 2s |
| Desert | 3 | 3s |
| Gold field | 2 | 4s |
| Fields | 5 | 5s |
| Hills | 5 | 6s |
| Mountains | 5 | 8s |
| Pasture | 5 | 9s |
| Forest | 5 | 10s |
| Total: | 49 | 11s |
| 12s | 1 | |
| Total: | 24 |
Additional Components: 12 Catan chits
Setup
You won’t believe the amazing Catan gameboard setup! Check it out, my friend:
We start with a table that shows the different terrains and their corresponding numbers of hexes and number tokens. This table will blow your mind:
| Sea | 19 | 2s |
| Desert | 3 | 3s |
| Gold field | 2 | 4s |
| Fields | 5 | 5s |
| Hills | 5 | 6s |
| Mountains | 5 | 8s |
| Pasture | 5 | 9s |
| Forest | 5 | 10s |
| Total: | 49 | 11s |
| 12s | 1 | |
| Total: | 24 |
Isn’t that incredible? But wait, there’s more! We also have 12 Catan chits to add to the fun.
Now that we have all these amazing components, it’s time to set up the game. Let’s get started!
To set up the game, you’ll need the following components:
- The game map, arranged according to the scenario diagram.
- Harbor tokens, shuffled and placed with their reverse sides up.
There are a few important things to note:
- The pasture hex on the left two-hex island in the center doesn’t have a number token and doesn’t produce any resources.
- The two hills hexes on the western islands, as shown at the top of the scenario diagram, also don’t have number tokens or produce resources.
On the coast of the eastern island, each player places one settlement and one ship of their chosen color. The eastern island can be colonized normally, while the other islands are considered “pirate islands”.
Lastly, you’ll need to build 4 pirate fortresses on the western islands. Each fortress consists of 3 stacked Catan chits, with a settlement of a specific color placed on top.
Just a heads up: In a game with 3 players, you won’t be using the white player’s position. That means all the white pieces are taken out of the mix from the start. (Watch out if you switch colors!)
If you’ve got 3 players, make sure to take out all the VP cards from the development card deck. But if you’re playing with 4 players, those VP cards stay in the deck, and they’re treated as “Knight” cards.
The special victory point cards for “Longest Road” and “Largest Army” don’t come into play for this game setup.
Get Ready to Set Sail in Catan!
So you want to embark on a seafaring adventure in Catan? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Let me guide you through the setup and rules of the scenario known as “Seafarers.” This expansion brings a whole new level of excitement to the game.
Setting Up Your Island Paradise
First things first, let’s get your island ready for some action. In the “Seafarers” scenario, you’ll start by building two settlements on the main island. Remember the basic rules of Catan? Yeah, they still apply here. After you finish setting up, each player will have three settlements on the eastern side of the island.
Now, here’s a fun twist. If you decide to build a settlement on the coast, you have the option to place a ship next to it instead of a road. How cool is that? It opens up a whole new world of possibilities as you navigate the waters of Catan.
Ahoy, Pirates and Robbers!
In this scenario, we have the fearsome pirate fleet to contend with. Keep an eye out for the black pirate ship on the field marked with a pirate ship symbol in the scenario diagram. They’re ready to cause some trouble, so be prepared to defend your precious resources from their clutches.
But fear not! The robber is taking a break in this scenario, so you won’t have to worry about them sneaking into your settlements and causing mischief. It’s all smooth sailing from here.
Charting New Waters with Shipbuilding
Now, let’s talk about shipbuilding. It’s an essential skill for any aspiring seafarer. To build your ships, you’ll need resources just like when constructing roads. Keep gathering those bricks, lumber, and wool to expand your maritime empire.
With your mighty naval vessels, you’ll have the freedom to explore uncharted waters, connect distant islands, and uncover new opportunities for trade and expansion. Who knows what riches await you in the vast ocean of Catan?
So, are you ready to set sail? Grab your crew and your resources and dive into the world of “Seafarers.” It’s a whole new Catan experience that will leave you craving more. Get ready to conquer the high seas and become the master of your own island paradise!
I want to tell you something important about building shipping routes. Are you ready? Okay, here we go!
So, here’s the deal. You can only build one shipping route. And guess what? It has to start at one of your coastal settlements or cities on the eastern island. Pretty cool, right?
Now, pay close attention. Your shipping route has to go to the intersection marked by the circle of your color and then to the pirate fortress of your color. But here’s the catch: you can’t make any branches or continue the route beyond the pirate fortress. It’s like a one-way street.
But wait, there’s more! Your shipping route has to be as short as possible. That means it can’t go off course and block other players’ routes. We want to keep things fair and fun for everyone.
The Lowdown on Warships
When you draw a knight card (or a VP card in a game with 4 players), you have the option to transform the last “normal” ship on your route into a warship. To indicate that a ship is now a warship, simply turn it on its side. The card you used for this action goes into the discard pile.
Important: Once all the development cards have been used, you cannot purchase any more. This means that the cards you discard will not re-enter the game.
The Pirate Fleet
The pirate fleet follows a clockwise path around the two desert islands, as shown in the scenario diagram. Whenever you roll the dice (before doing anything else), the pirate fleet moves a number of spaces equal to the lower value between the two dice. If both dice show the same value, you can choose which one to use.
Pirate Attack
When the pirate fleet moves next to one of your settlements or cities, they immediately attack you. This happens even before resource production or resolving the roll of a “7” on the dice.
The strength of the pirates is determined by the result rolled on the dice for movement. Your strength in the battle is equal to the number of warships you have.
If the pirates are stronger than you, you lose one resource card. Additionally, for each city you have, you lose another resource card. These lost cards are randomly chosen from your hand and discarded.
On the other hand, if you are stronger than the pirates, you get to choose a resource card of your liking.
If both sides have equal strength, nothing happens.
Now, let’s talk about building a settlement on the pirate island.
When you reach the marked intersection of your color on the pirate islands, you can pay the building costs to construct a settlement there. You’re only allowed to build one settlement, but you can later expand it into a city.
Keep in mind: Building this settlement comes with a downside, as it doubles the chance of a pirate attack on any of your coastal settlements or cities.
A “7” is Rolled
In this situation, there is no robber. However, if you have more than 7 resources in your hand and a “7” is rolled, you’ll lose half of those resources, as usual. The player who rolled the “7” can also steal a card from any of the other players.
Conquest of a Pirate Fortress
If your shipping route has reached the pirate fortress that corresponds to your color, you have the option to attack the pirates at the end of your turn.
When it comes to determining the strength of the pirate fortress, you simply roll a die. Whatever number comes up is the pirate’s strength for this turn.
If you have more warships in your shipping route than the number rolled, you’ve won! You can then remove one of the Catan chits beneath the pirate fortress.
If you have fewer warships than the number rolled, you’ve lost the battle. In that case, you must remove your two ships that are closest to the pirate fortress.
If you have the same number of warships as the number rolled, you lose the ship that is adjacent to the pirate fortress.
Keep in mind that after you launch an attack, your turn is done. You can only attack the pirate fortress once per turn.
If you tie or lose, you’ll need to build either one or two ships on a later turn in order to attack the pirate fortress again.
So, here’s the lowdown: when you manage to swipe all three Catan chits from the pirate fortress, you’ve officially shown those scurvy dogs who’s boss and reclaimed the settlement as your own. Good on ya! From that moment forward, the pirate fortress becomes one of your very own settlements. And let me tell you, it’s got some sweet perks—gives you a victory point, keeps the resources rolling in, and, get this, it can even be upgraded to a city.
Game Over
- You successfully capture a pirate fortress in your distinctive color.
- AND you rack up a total of at least 10 victory points. Nice!
If all pirate fortresses are taken down before the game wraps up, those pesky pirate fleets get the boot. Sayonara!
Customization Options
If you wanna keep things fair and square, try to stick with the recommended setup as much as possible. But hey, the harbors are fair game for some customization if you’re feeling adventurous.