Objective

The goal of Catan: Explorers & Pirates is the same as the base game—achieve the highest number of Victory Points (typically 10) by expanding settlements, building cities, and completing various objectives introduced in the expansion.

Components

• Game Board: Uses the base Catan board with added sea and island tiles.

• Exploration Tiles: Represent uncharted territories that players can explore.

• Pirate Ships: Represent pirate threats on the sea.

• Ship Pieces: Used to explore and settle new islands.

• Gold and Spice Tokens: New resources available for trade and points.

• Scenario-Specific Tokens: Additional pieces and tokens for specific scenarios.

• Scenario Booklet: Provides setup and rules for each scenario.
  

Setup

1. Select a Scenario: Choose one of the 4 scenarios included in the Explorers & Pirates expansion.

2. Set Up the Board: Arrange the sea and island tiles according to the scenario’s instructions. Place exploration tiles facedown.

3. Distribute Starting Resources: Follow the base game’s setup rules, adjusting for any scenario-specific requirements.

4. Determine Starting Player: The starting player is chosen as per the base game rules.
   

New Gameplay Mechanics

Building Ships

• Cost: Ships cost 1 wool and 1 lumber.

• Placement: Ships are placed on the edges of sea hexes and can be used to explore new territories.
  

Exploration

• Exploring New Territories: As ships move, they reveal exploration tiles. Place the corresponding terrain tiles according to the scenario's setup when a tile is revealed.

• Settling New Islands: Players can build settlements on new islands, following the standard placement rules from the base game.
  

Pirate Ships

• Pirate Movement: Pirates can block sea routes and attack ships. Players must navigate around or combat pirate ships.

• Combat: Players may need to use special actions or trade resources to deal with pirates.
  

New Resources

• Gold: Gold can be traded for any resource and is often used in scenarios to achieve objectives.

• Spices: Spices are used to trade for other resources or to fulfill specific objectives.
  

New Scenarios (click here for a full map list)

1. The Pirates of Catan: Players must explore new islands while defending against pirate attacks. Gold is used to pay off or combat pirates.

2. The Spice Trade: Players build spice plantations on new islands and trade spices for resources and Victory Points.

3. Explorers of Catan: Players explore uncharted territories and build settlements on newly discovered islands. Victory Points are awarded for exploration and settlement.

4. The Gold Rush: Players seek gold on new islands and use it to build structures and achieve objectives.
   

Victory Points

• Base Game Points: Earn points through settlements, cities, longest road, and largest army.

• Exploration Points: Earn additional points for discovering and settling new islands.

• Scenario-Specific Points: Each scenario has unique ways to earn Victory Points, such as trading spices or defeating pirates.
  

Special Rules

• Pirate Attacks: In scenarios with pirates, players must account for pirate movement and attacks. Players may need to pay gold or use special actions to fend off pirates.

• Exploration: Players can explore new tiles, which may offer additional resources or points. The exploration mechanics vary by scenario.
  

Tips and Strategies

• Exploration Focus: Prioritize exploring new territories to gain access to additional resources and Victory Points.

• Pirate Management: Be prepared to deal with pirates, either by avoiding them or using gold and special actions to counteract their effects.

• Resource Management: Efficiently manage new resources like gold and spices to maximize trade opportunities and complete objectives.