Objective

The objective remains the same as the base game of Catan: to be the first player to reach a set number of Victory Points (typically 10 or more, depending on the scenario). The expansion introduces new ways to earn Victory Points through exploration and settlement of new islands.

Components

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

• Sea Hexes: Blue hex tiles representing the ocean.

• New Terrain Hexes: Additional land tiles for new islands.

• Harbor Tokens: Represent trade opportunities at sea.

• Ships: Used to explore and settle new islands.

• Catan Chits: Used to mark special scenarios or objectives.

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

Setup

1. Select a Scenario: Choose one of the 9 scenarios included in the Seafarers expansion.

2. Set Up the Board: Arrange the sea and land tiles according to the chosen scenario's setup instructions.

3. Place New Tokens and Pieces: Add any new components required by the scenario, such as harbor tokens or Catan chits.

4. Distribute Starting Resources: Follow the base game's rules for distributing starting resources, with adjustments as specified by the scenario.

5. Determine Starting Player: The starting player is determined as per the base game rules.
   

New Gameplay Mechanics

Building Ships

• Cost: Ships cost 1 wool and 1 lumber to build.

• Placement: Ships must be placed on the edge of a sea hex, connected to a settlement, road, or another ship.

• Movement: Ships can be moved along the edges of sea hexes to explore new areas or create new routes.
  

Exploring New Islands

• Discovery: As ships move, they can discover new islands. Place land hexes as instructed by the scenario when a new island is discovered.

• Settling New Islands: Settlements can be built on new islands, following the same rules as the base game. Settlements on new islands often provide additional Victory Points.
  

Building Rules

• Roads and Ships: Players can build roads on land and ships on sea, creating continuous routes that can include both roads and ships.

• Bridges: In some scenarios, players may build bridges to connect islands.
  

Harbors

• Harbor Tokens: Represent special trading opportunities. Players who build settlements adjacent to harbors can trade resources more efficiently.

• Harbor Types: Generic harbors offer 3:1 trades, while specific harbors offer 2:1 trades for a particular resource.
  

New Scenarios (click here for a full map list)

1. Heading for New Shores: Players compete to explore and settle new islands, gaining Victory Points for each settlement on a new island.

2. The Four Islands: Players start on one of four islands and must expand to the others.

3. The Fog Island: Players explore a fog-covered sea to discover new land.

4. The Forgotten Tribe: Players interact with a friendly tribe on a new island, gaining resources and Victory Points for trade.

5. Through the Desert: Players traverse a desert region, connecting settlements with roads and ships.

6. The Pirate Islands: Pirates threaten shipping routes. Players must build ships and settlements while avoiding or combating pirate ships.

7. The Wonders of Catan: Players build wonders on islands, gaining Victory Points for each completed wonder.

8. New World: Players start with no initial settlements and must explore and settle a randomly generated map.

9. Greater Catan: An extended version of the base game, with larger islands and more resources.
   

Victory Points

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

• New Island Points: Earn additional points for settling new islands.

• Scenario-Specific Points: Some scenarios provide unique ways to earn Victory Points, such as building wonders or completing specific objectives.
  

Tips and Strategies

• Exploration: Prioritize exploring new islands for additional Victory Points and resource diversity.

• Ship Routes: Plan ship routes strategically to maximize exploration and connection between islands.

• Harbors: Utilize harbor trades to efficiently manage resources.

• Balance: Balance expansion between land and sea to optimize resource collection and settlement placement.