Instructions to play Spice Ships

Did you just get Spice Ships and want to know how to play? Or maybe you haven't got it yet and are curious? Well read on ambitious merchants...

 

Objective

Spice Ships is all about collecting a portfolio of islands, building trade routes and messing with your opponents!
It's a fun, fast-paced card game that can be played by up to 5 people (although you can play with more, we won't tell...)
As you take it in turns you are looking to establish spice trade routes. You do this by;

1. First by collecting islands. 
2. After you have collected an island, you can create a trade route to it by either:
1. Adding two spice ships to the island
2. Adding one trade agreement

 

Winning the game

For 2 players: The winner is the first to complete three trade routes.
For 3 or more players: The winner is the first to complete two trade routes.

Setting up

• Shuffle the cards and deal three cards to each player.
• Start the draw pile by placing any undealt cards face down on the table.
• Start the discard pile by taking the top card from the draw pile and placing it face up on the table.

How to play

• Each player takes it in turns, the player with the longest name goes first.
• On your turn you can do one of the following:
• Add an island to your portfolio by placing it face up on the table.
• Add a ship or trade agreement to one of your portfolio islands.
• Play an event card by placing it face up on the discard pile.
• Throw away a card by placing it face up on the discard pile.
• After making your move, take a card from the draw pile to end your turn.

 

Rules of the game

There are 6 simple rules in the game:

1. You should have three cards in your hand at all times, not including cards in your portfolio (your cards on the table).
2. Diversify! You can only have one of each spice island in your portfolio.
3. Spice ships must be added to an island of the same spice. However, 'Any Spice' ships can be used on any island.
4. You may use your turn to move an Any Spice ship or Trade Agreement from one of your islands to another.
5. Ships on an established route can’t be moved or wrecked. But if an island is stolen by piracy, the ships go too.
6. If you get to the end of the draw pile, create a new one by flipping over the discard pile. Players make one move per turn. However, you can play a fortune card at any point in the game.

The Cards

Trade route cards - These can be used during your turn to build trade routes: 

Island: Add an island to your portfolio by placing it on the table.

Spice Ship: Add matching spice ship cards to your portfolio islands to build trade routes. Any Spice ships can be added to any island.

Trade Agreement: Instantly establish a trade route for one of your islands.

 

Event cards - These can be used during your turn to disrupt your opponents:

Fortune cards - These cards can be used outside of your turn to tilt the game in your favour.