Official Windward Rules

Last Updated on March 14, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Windward is a unique blend of several genres, making it a challenging game to categorize perfectly. It’s primarily a naval combat and trading game, but also incorporates elements of exploration, strategy, and even a bit of role-playing. Here’s a breakdown of the rules:

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How to Play Windward

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Objective:

• To earn the most victory points by completing missions, battling enemies, and exploring the world.

Setup:

1. Players: 2-4 players.
2. Game Board:
   • Place the game board in the center. The board represents the world map with different zones and features.
   • Place the Supply Tokens and Treasure Tokens on their designated spots on the board.
3. Player Setup:
   • Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding Airship Board, Airship Miniature, and Airship Tokens.
   • Place your Airship on your starting location on the map.
   • Each player receives a starting hand of Action Cards and Resource Tokens (such as fuel, crew, or cargo).
4. Mission Cards:
   • Shuffle the deck of Mission Cards and place it face down. Draw a number of cards based on the number of players to form the mission display.
5. Enemy Tokens:
   • Place the Enemy Tokens and Enemy Ships on the board as indicated by the setup instructions.
6. First Player:
   • Determine the first player using your preferred method.

Gameplay:

1. Game Rounds:
   • The game is played in a series of rounds, with each round consisting of several phases:
2. Action Phase:
   • Each player takes turns performing actions in the following order:
     • Move: Move your airship a number of spaces equal to its movement value. You can move in any direction and can explore new areas or approach enemy ships.
     • Perform Actions: Players can perform various actions, such as:
       • Explore: Draw a Treasure Token or Supply Token from the board.
       • Engage in Combat: If you are adjacent to an enemy, you can engage in combat. Combat is resolved by rolling dice and comparing results to the enemy’s stats.
       • Complete Missions: If you are in the vicinity of a mission location and meet the requirements, you can complete missions for victory points.
       • Trade: Exchange resources with other players or with the market.
3. Enemy Actions:
   • Enemies on the board may perform actions each round, including moving, attacking, or blocking your progress.
4. Event Phase:
   • Draw an Event Card and resolve its effects. Events can impact the game board, affect players’ airships, or introduce new challenges.
5. End of Round:
   • After all players have taken their actions and events have been resolved, the round ends. Prepare for the next round by resetting any temporary effects.

Scoring:

• Victory Points: Earned by completing missions, defeating enemies, and achieving specific game objectives.
• Treasures and Resources: Collecting and using resources wisely can contribute to victory points and aid in completing missions.

Winning:

• The game ends when a set number of rounds are completed, or when a specific game condition is met (e.g., all missions are completed).
• The player with the highest total victory points at the end of the game wins.

Strategy:

• Explore Strategically: Plan your movement to maximize exploration and resource collection.
• Combat Tactics: Use your airship’s abilities and resources effectively to win battles.
• Mission Focus: Prioritize completing missions that align with your strategy and provide the most points.

Note: For detailed rules and gameplay instructions, please refer to the official rulebook PDF at the top of the page.