Description
Catan: Explorers & Pirates (in Slovenian Catan: Raziskovalci in gusarji) is a big expansion for Catan. You start on a familiar island, then set sail into the unknown with ships and settlers. The sea hides new islands, fish shoals, a spice island and pirate lairs, and everything is revealed only once your ship sails there.
How to play Explorers & Pirates
The game is built on the Catan rules, only without the robber, cities and development cards. When a ship reaches an unexplored hex, you flip it over and discover what it hides. You carry a settler by ship to a new island and found a settlement there, and instead of cities you build harbor settlements, which are worth two points. The number of points needed to win depends on the scenario.
The expansion contains five scenarios. The first teaches you how to explore, the next ones add missions with pirates, fish and spices, and the last one brings everything together.
Why you will like it
- The island is revealed as you play, so every game is different.
- Missions with pirates, fish and spices bring new ways to score points.
- You play the scenarios in order and learn the rules step by step.
- Ships and settlers give Catan the feel of real seafaring exploration.
Who is Explorers & Pirates for
It is played by two to four players aged 12 and up, and a game lasts 90 to 120 minutes. It is of medium difficulty, and players like it best with four. It suits everyone who already knows the base Catan well.
What you might not like
There are more rules than in the base game, and the dice still decide which resources you get. It may not suit those who prefer short games without luck.
What is in the box
- hexes for new islands (gold fields, fish shoals, spice hexes) and sea hexes
- frame pieces and number tokens
- ships, settlers and harbor settlements
- pirate ships and pirate lairs
- fish, spice sacks and gold coins
- rulebook and mission guide
In our shop we also have the 5-6 player expansion.
