Welcome to the Small Islands Game!

I’m here to introduce you to the exciting world of Small Islands. In this game, you’ll be taking on the role of a fearless explorer, venturing out into uncharted waters and discovering new islands along the way. Your goal is to explore and colonize as many islands as you can, all while managing your resources and competing with other players.

Now, let’s dive into the rules of the game:

1. Exploring Islands

Your adventure begins with a single island. To explore new islands, simply sail your ship into uncharted waters and see what you find. Each island you encounter will have its own unique features and resources, so be sure to explore far and wide to maximize your chances of success.

2. Colonizing Islands

Once you’ve found an appealing island, you have the option to colonize it. To do this, you’ll need to gather the necessary resources and send a group of settlers to build a thriving colony. The more settlers you send, the faster your colony will grow and develop.

3. Managing Resources

Resources are crucial for the success of your colonies. You’ll need to gather resources such as food, wood, and stone to maintain and expand your settlements. Make sure to balance your resource gathering efforts to ensure a steady supply and avoid shortages.

4. Trading with Other Colonies

In Small Islands, you won’t be alone. There will be other players with their own colonies, and trade can be a valuable tool for mutual benefit. By trading resources with other players, you can obtain what you need and establish beneficial relationships. Just be careful not to rely too heavily on others – you need to fend for yourself as well.

5. Competing for Dominance

As you explore and expand, you’ll inevitably come across other players’ colonies. Competition can be fierce, as everyone strives to become the dominant presence in the Small Islands. Keep an eye on your rivals, form alliances when beneficial, and be ready to defend your colonies against attacks.

6. Win Conditions

The game ends when a predetermined number of rounds have been played or when a player manages to achieve total dominance over all the islands. At the end of the game, the player with the most prosperous and powerful colonies will be declared the winner.

Now that you understand the rules of the Small Islands Game, it’s time to set sail and embark on this thrilling adventure. Gather your resources, explore new islands, and build magnificent colonies. May the best explorer win!

Hey there! Let me tell you about the cool stuff you’ll find inside the Small Islands game box:

• 56 Landscape Tiles
• 4 two-sided Starting Tiles
• 1 Navigation Tile
• 4 Ship Tiles
• 32 Clan Houses
• 16 Bonus Tokens
• 12 Discovery Tokens
• 45 Prestige Tokens
• 12 Objective Cards
• 12 Mission Cards and 12 Reward Cards
• 3 Alexis Cards and 15 Expedition Cards
• Instructions

Now that you know what’s in the box, let me give you a quick overview of how to play the game:

Each player starts each round by secretly choosing an Objective Card. This card shows the objective to complete at the end of the round and the number of Prestige Points (PP) you can earn.

During their turn, players must choose one of the following actions:

• Draw and place 1 Landscape Tile

Hey there! I’m here to explain the importance of choosing the right Landscape Tiles in the game Small Islands.

First off, let me tell you about the Landscape Tiles. These are the tiles you’ll be using to build your islands. They come in different types, like forest, volcano, and beach, and each type has its own unique features. For example, forest tiles have lots of trees, while volcano tiles have lava and rocks.

Now, why is it so important to choose the right Landscape Tiles? Well, it’s because the tiles you choose will determine what resources, temples, and ports you have on your island. Resources are important because they give you the things you need to build and expand your island. Temples are important because they give you special powers and abilities. And ports are important because they allow you to trade with other players.

So, when you’re looking for Landscape Tiles, you’ll want to think about what kind of resources, temples, and ports you want on your island. Do you want lots of trees for wood, or do you prefer a volcano for mining? Do you want temples that give you extra points, or temples that give you special abilities? Do you want ports that let you trade with lots of players, or ports that give you bonus resources? These are all things you need to consider when choosing your Landscape Tiles.

Remember, every decision you make in the game will have an impact on your strategy and ultimately on whether you win or lose. So choose your Landscape Tiles wisely and build the best islands you can!

When you place a Ship Tile in the game, that’s when the real action begins. All players join in, placing their Houses on the islands and earning Prestige Points based on their Objective Cards. These cards are picked before the Round starts, so you can plan ahead and strategize.

Once everyone has placed their Houses and collected their points, it’s time to dive into a new Round. Each round brings new opportunities and challenges, so make sure you’re ready to adapt and make the most of every turn.

As the game progresses, you’ll accumulate more and more Prestige Points. But it’s not just about the points you earn during the Rounds. When the game finally comes to an end, there’s a final chance for you to boost your score. Each player receives additional Prestige Points for their Ship Tiles. So, even if you’re not in the lead during the Rounds, you still have a chance to elevate your position and come out on top.

Remember, the ultimate goal is to have the most Prestige Points. That’s how you claim victory in this game. So, think strategically, make your moves wisely, and seize every opportunity to earn points. And if you like games that challenge your decision-making skills and reward careful planning, then you’ll love this one.

With these high-stakes and thoughtful gameplay elements, it’s easy to understand why this game is so popular. So, gather your friends, set sail, and enjoy an exciting adventure in the world of Ship Tiles.

In this game, there are two different ways to play: Normal mode and Advanced mode. In Normal mode, you don’t need to worry about the rules written in blue.

Now, let me explain what the goal of the game is. The objective is to earn the most Prestige Points for your clan. By doing so, you’ll become the most famous explorer of all!

Before we begin, let’s talk about the setup.

When we start the game, each of us will choose a color and receive 4 houses and 4 bonus tokens of our chosen color. The remaining 4 houses will go into the reserve for future use.

The player who was most recently on an island will go first. They will take the 4 starting tiles with seagulls and place them in the center of the table according to the tile placement rules.

After that, we will shuffle the landscape tiles and create a reserve stack with them, facedown.

Next to the reserve stack, we will place our ship tiles with the colored side up. If we have 2 or 3 players, we will also place the remaining ship tiles with the grey side up. We always need to have 4 ship tiles available, regardless of the number of players.

We will then place the navigation tile and draw 3 landscape tiles from the reserve stack and place them face up, so everyone can see and use them.

In Small Islands, there are a few steps you need to take to get the game started.

First, shuffle the Discovery Tokens and place them facedown next to the players. Make sure to include the Prestige Tokens as well.

Next, each player takes 2 Landscape Tiles from the Reserve Stack without showing them to anyone else.

Then, shuffle the 12 Objective Cards and create a new stack with them, face down.

Each player takes 1 Objective Card without revealing it.

Advanced Mode

If you want to play in Advanced Mode, here’s what you need to do:

Instead of using the 12 Objective Cards, use the 12 Mission Cards and the 12 Reward Cards. Shuffle them separately to create 2 stacks, face down.

Each player draws 1 Mission Card and 1 Reward Card.

Game Play

A game of Small Islands consists of a maximum of 4 Rounds. Each Round is divided into 3 phases:

1. Preparation: Get ready for the new Round.

I’m going to guide you through a fun and exciting game called Exploration and Reward! Here’s how it works:

First, we’ll start with the preparation. I’ll draw 6 Landscape Tiles from the Reserve Stack without peeking and put them face down on the Navigation Tile. These tiles will form the Navigation Stack.

Next, we move on to the Exploration phase. During this phase, we’ll take turns placing Tiles on the board. These Tiles can be either Landscape Tiles or Ship Tiles. It’s all about exploring new territories and discovering what’s out there.

After the Exploration phase comes the Reward phase. This is where things get really exciting! We’ll place Houses on the islands we’ve explored and earn Prestige Points. The more islands we explore and the more Houses we have, the more points we’ll earn.

It’s important to strategize and make wise decisions during the game. By exploring new territories and claiming islands with your Houses, you can rack up a lot of points and become the ultimate winner!

So, are you ready to embark on this thrilling adventure? Let’s get started and see who can earn the most Prestige Points!

So, here’s what you do: I want you to start by drawing two Objective Cards without showing them to anyone. This will give you a total of three Objective Cards. Got it? Good.

Now, you’re going to choose one of those Objective Cards to use for this round. Take a good look at all three and pick the one that speaks to you the most. Trust your gut on this one.

Next, take one of the remaining Objective Cards and set it aside for the next round. Put a little house on top of it so you don’t forget. This card will be your reminder for the future.

The last step is to take the final Objective Card and place it face down back into the stack. It’s time for this card to take a little break.

Advanced Mode

Alright, here’s the deal. When we’re playing this game, each of us secretly draws two mission cards and two reward cards. We need to have three of each, got it?

Now, for each round, I’ve got three steps to follow:

1. I create one objective. This objective is made up of one mission card and one reward card.
2. I save one mission card and one reward card for the next round. Gotta plan ahead!
3. I return the remaining two cards to their respective stack. No need to hold onto ’em.

Objective Cards

Now, let’s talk about objective cards. An objective card is made up of two parts: the mission on the left and the reward on the right. Simple enough, right?

When we get to the reward phase, that’s when things get interesting. We’ll see what happens then!

I’m here to tell you about the secrets of placing houses on islands and earning those coveted prestige points. First, let’s talk about missions. Each island has a specific condition that must be met before you can put a house on it. The condition acts as your mission.

Next, we have rewards. Rewards determine the number of prestige points you’ll earn for each island that gets a house. So, choose your objective wisely!

But, here’s the thing: exploration is the real key to success. The best sailors know that. And here’s how it works:

Starting with the first player, everyone takes turns in clockwise order. Each player can only do one of two things:

• Explore: Draw and place a Landscape Tile. This way, you can uncover new parts of the island.
• Land: Draw and place a Ship Tile. This action marks the end of the Exploration Phase.

Remember:

You can only Land when there are no more Landscape Tiles on the Navigation Tile. So, keep exploring until it’s time to make your move.

Wow, there are so many storms hitting the coast! It makes it hard for sailors to bring their discoveries back to the Creative Continent. They have to wait for the perfect time to set sail, or else they risk getting caught in a dangerous storm.

Let’s Explore!

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Pick one Landscape Tile from the 3 options available on display and add it to your hand.
2. Choose one of the three Landscape Tiles in your hand and place it down, following the Tile Placement Rules.
3. If you want to, you can also add one of your Bonus Tokens to the tile you placed (check out the Bonus Token Placement Rules).
4. Replace the Landscape Tile you took with a new one from the Navigation Stack. If there are no more tiles left in the Navigation Stack, take a new Tile from the Reserve Stack.

Tile Placement Rules

• You have the freedom to choose the orientation of the Tile you’re placing.
• Make sure the Tile you’re placing is adjacent to at least one other Tile already on the table.
• The landscape illustration on the new Tile should fit seamlessly with the existing one.
• A collection of Landscape Tiles makes up an island.

When it comes to Landscape Tiles, it’s important to remember that they can’t go over the edge of the table. You may be wondering why this is the case. Well, let me explain.

Imagine that the table represents the Earth, and the Landscape Tiles are different parts of the world. Just like the Earth, the table has a limit, or an edge, where it ends. If a Landscape Tile goes over this edge, it would be as if it’s going beyond the boundaries of the Earth, which we all know is not possible.

So, to keep everything in order, Landscape Tiles are designed to fit within the boundaries of the table. This ensures that they stay in place and don’t fall off the edge. It’s a simple concept, but an important one to keep in mind when setting up your tabletop landscape.

Now that you understand why Landscape Tiles can’t go over the edge of the table, you’ll be able to create a balanced and realistic tabletop world. Just make sure to keep those tiles within the boundaries and you’ll be good to go!

The Land

If I’ve run out of moves in my navigation stack, I have one last option – Land. To do this, here’s what I need to do:

• I can choose either a ship tile of my color from the reserve or a grey ship tile, but only if I’m playing with 2 or 3 other players.
• Once I’ve made my choice, I need to follow the tile placement rules and put the ship tile on the board.

However, there may be instances where I can’t take or place a ship tile. In that case, landing is not an option. Instead, I will have to explore further.

It’s important to note that when I successfully place a ship tile, the Exploration Phase comes to an end. It’s time to move on to the Reward Phase.

When it comes to sailing, timing is everything. As an experienced sailor, I know that landing at the right moment is crucial – not too early and not too late. It’s a skill that can elevate your sailing experience and lead to successful journeys.

Rules for Placing Bonus Tokens

When it’s my turn to explore the seas, I have the opportunity to place a Bonus Token on a Landscape Tile. This special token can only be placed during the Explore action, and I’m limited to one token per turn.

These Bonus Tokens have two sides:

Resource Side

• One of the other two Natural Resources in the game must have a Resource Token placed on top of it.
• A Resource Token can be used to conceal another one.

Portside

• An island’s coast must have a Port Token placed on it.
• A Landscape Tile cannot have more than 2 Ports.

3. Reward

Now it’s time to reap the rewards! Let’s see what we need to do to earn those Prestige Points. We’ll go through the Reward Phase, starting with the player who placed the Ship Tile and moving clockwise.

First, reveal your Objective Card for this Round. This will help guide you on your journey.

Next, reveal your Mission and Reward Cards. Remember, you can only place one House per island, and it’s not mandatory. After placing your House, return the Mission and Reward cards you used to their respective stacks.

House Placement Rules

Remember: You can only place a House on an island that meets the condition set by your Mission.

• You can have multiple houses of different colors on the same island, but not houses of the same color.
• A House can only be placed in a location designated for the House Symbol.

Island Placement and Houses

Hey there! Let’s talk about placing Houses on islands in the game. It’s a pretty cool concept, so let’s dive in!

First things first, in order to place a House, you need to have an island made up of at least 2 Landscape Tiles. That’s the starting point!

Now, here’s the interesting part: you can place a House on an island, whether it’s complete or not. Yep, it doesn’t matter if there are missing tiles or if a ship is nearby. You have the freedom to build your House!

But wait! There’s a little rule you need to remember. You can’t put two Houses of the same color on the same island. It’s a one-House-per-island kind of deal. So, choose wisely where you want to build!

By the way, scoring works like this: each island you place a House on will grant you points. But remember, you only get those points once, so make it count!

So, that’s the lowdown on island placement and Houses. It’s a fun feature that adds some strategic twists to the game. Enjoy!

End of the Round

Once every player finishes the Reward phase, and if the game is still ongoing, the following steps are taken:

• I shuffle all the Objective Cards together to create a new stack, which is placed face-down.

I shuffle the Mission and Reward Cards separately to create two new stacks, which are also placed face-down.

End of the Game

The game comes to an end immediately when any of these three conditions are met:

• During the Preparation Phase: If there are fewer than the required 6 Landscape Tiles in the Reserve Stack to form the Navigation Stack.
• During the Exploration Phase: At the start of your turn, if there are no more face-up Landscape Tiles available and you cannot place a Ship Tile. When this happens, the players immediately proceed to a final Reward Phase, beginning with you.
• At the end of the Reward Phase: If all Ship Tiles have been placed.

So, here’s how we calculate our Prestige Points at the end of the game:

• First, we add up the Prestige Points we earned during the game.
• Then, if we collected any Discovery Tokens through an Objective, we add the Prestige Points indicated on those tokens.
• We also get 1 Prestige Point for each Port we have on the 8 Landscape Tiles around our Ship Tile.

Oh, and remember, if we’re playing with 2 or 3 players, the Grey Ship Tiles don’t give us any Prestige Points. And if we haven’t even placed a Ship Tile of our color, well, we don’t get any Prestige Points for it.

Now, the player with the most Prestige Points is the winner! It’s that simple!

If there happens to be a tie, don’t worry, we have a tiebreaker:

• The player who has placed the most Houses will be the ultimate winner.

The Quest for Small Islands

Let me tell you a secret, my friend. Deep within the enchanting world of Small Islands lies a hidden treasure, waiting to be discovered. In this mystical realm, we embark on a thrilling adventure, seeking glory and fortune.

The Port Master

One of the most coveted titles in Small Islands is that of the Port Master. This esteemed position is granted to the player who commands the greatest number of Ports on the eight Tiles surrounding their majestic Ship.

But beware, my friend! This title is not so easily earned. The Port Master is also the last player to have placed a Tile, whether it be a picturesque Landscape or a majestic Ship.

Great Explorer

Listen closely, my friend, for I shall reveal another hidden secret of Small Islands – the Great Explorer. Deep within the heart of this captivating land, two Stacks of Great Explorer Cards lie in wait, promising a whole new level of exploration.

Now, to gain access to these treasure troves, you must prove yourself worthy of the Great Explorer title by achieving certain milestones. Only when you emerge victorious in a game played in Normal Mode shall you unlock the secrets hidden within these cards.

Claim the title of Great Explorer by fulfilling any of the following conditions:

• Accumulate 60 PP or more
• Acquire a total of 10 PP from Ships or more
• Create at least 12 islands consisting of 2 Tiles or more
• Successfully deploy all of your Houses

Hey there! Let’s talk about your achievements and how they can unlock some cool rewards in the game. ��

• I see you’ve put your Ship first. Good job!
• You’ve also collected 4 Discovery Tokens. Keep it up!
• Playing at difficulty level 4 in Solo Mode is impressive! Well done!

Once you’ve completed at least 5 of these achievements, you’ll gain access to the Great Explorer Deck for Normal Mode. Exciting, right?

But wait, there’s more! If you manage to win the game in Advanced Mode, you’ll be eligible for some additional rewards. Take a look at these conditions:

• Having 12 or more PP of Ship is an excellent achievement.
• If you find an Island with 13 or more Tiles, that’s incredible!
• You’ve placed a maximum of 6 Houses? Nice work!
• Did you decide not to place your Ship? That’s an interesting strategy.
• Avoiding the use of any Bonus Token is quite the challenge. Can you do it?
• Playing at difficulty level 6 in Solo Mode is no small feat. You’re up for it!
• If you manage to get two of your Houses on the same island, that’s awesome, especially if you join them afterward.