Official Cartographers Rules
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Objective:
To score the most points by creating valuable regions and fulfilling scoring objectives on your map.
Setup:
Players: 1-4 players.
Game Sheets:
Each player receives a game sheet and a pencil or marker. The sheet includes a map grid where you will draw shapes and regions.
Score Sheets:
Place the Scoring Cards and Ambush Cards face down near the play area.
Draw Deck:
Shuffle the Terrain Cards and place them face down as a draw pile. These cards will be drawn throughout the game to determine which shapes players need to draw.
First Player:
Determine the first player using your preferred method.
Gameplay:
The game is played over a series of rounds, with each round consisting of the following phases:
Draw Terrain Cards:
At the beginning of each round, draw two Terrain Cards from the draw pile. These cards show the shapes and types of terrain that players will need to draw on their maps.
Choose Shapes:
Each player simultaneously selects one of the drawn Terrain Cards and draws the corresponding shape on their map grid. Shapes must be drawn using the specified terrain type (e.g., forest, water, or farmland) and must fit within the grid.
Scoring Objectives:
After all players have drawn their shapes, reveal the Scoring Card for that round. This card specifies the scoring conditions for the round, such as how to score points for particular types of terrain or formations.
Players score points based on how well their drawn shapes meet the conditions on the Scoring Card.
Ambush Cards:
Draw an Ambush Card to determine if there are any additional challenges or penalties for that round. Ambush Cards can introduce obstacles or modify scoring conditions.
End of Round:
After scoring and resolving Ambush Cards, prepare for the next round by drawing new Terrain Cards.
Scoring:
Terrain Types: Points are awarded based on the types of terrain and their arrangement according to the scoring conditions.
Regions: Create large connected areas of the same terrain type to maximize points.
Objectives: Fulfill the specific scoring objectives revealed each round to gain additional points.
Winning:
The game ends after a predetermined number of rounds or when the draw pile is exhausted.
The player with the highest total score, combining points from terrain types, regions, and objectives, wins the game.
Tips for Playing:
Plan Your Map: Think ahead about how to best place shapes to maximize your score and meet the objectives.
Adapt to Objectives: Adjust your strategy based on the scoring conditions revealed each round.
Optimize Regions: Try to create large, connected areas of the same terrain type for higher scores.
Note: For detailed rules and gameplay instructions, please refer to the official rulebook PDF at the top of the page.