The Dangerous Sea is an Action Point (AP) based game with elements of exploration, resource management, and collecting. The goal of the game is to be the first player to hold 5 Rune Stones. Rune Stones can be collected either by discovering them on an island, or by stealing them from other players after defeating them in battle.
In The Dangerous Sea, you will spend Action Points to move around the board or reveal undiscovered tiles. You will discover a variety of islands, some helpful and some harmful. You can also take on a crew to help in battle against other players, but keep an eye on your supplies; if you run too low on food or water, your crew will start to die.
The game is divided into Seasons. A Season consists of each player taking a turn, the Ghost Ship's turn, and the Sea's turn.
The game is divided into Seasons. A Season consists of each player taking a turn, the Ghost Ship's turn, and the Sea's turn.
The Dangerous Sea is designed for 2-4 players. The more players there are, however, the more crowded the board becomes and the more likely combat will be. It also becomes more likely that the only way to get 5 Rune Stones will be by attacking and stealing from other players.
Moving and exploring are achieved by spending Action Points. You can spend a point to move to an adjacent tiles that's already been revealed, or spend a point to reveal an adjacent tile without moving to it. You can combine these actions so that you move and reveal for one Action Point, but you must move over the revealed island no matter what. You might be able to get around the board faster this way, but it's the equivalent of driving with your eyes closed, and you're more likely to sail onto a troublesome island.
There are six different islands in The Dangerous Sea, some providing resources or Rune Stones, others damaging your ship or killing your crew.
You can build a small crew to help you in battle by visiting the Inhabited Islands. While a larger crew is better in battle, it also requires more food and water to keep alive. If you don't have enough of either, your crew will start to die off.
Any player can challenge any other player to a battle by moving onto the same tile. Each player rolls as many dice as they have crew, the player with the higher sum winning the battle. The spoils of battle can be almost anything, but taking the other player's food or water, or even taking a Rune Stone from them, are popular choices.
Any player can challenge any other player to a battle by moving onto the same tile. Each player rolls as many dice as they have crew, the player with the higher sum winning the battle. The spoils of battle can be almost anything, but taking the other player's food or water, or even taking a Rune Stone from them, are popular choices.
The Sea not only has dangerous squalls, rocky coastlines, and deadly plagues, it's also home to the ghostly specter of a Viking ship that sank centuries ago, searching for the very Rune Stones you are. Now it and its undead crew wander the Sea, attacking any other ships trying to collect the prize it once sought.
Once the Ghost Ship appears on the board, it gets a turn like every other player. It will either move in a cardinal direction or teleport directly to a player depending on how the dice roll. The Ghost Ship will sail the Sea, attacking players, until it is defeated in battle.
Once the Ghost Ship appears on the board, it gets a turn like every other player. It will either move in a cardinal direction or teleport directly to a player depending on how the dice roll. The Ghost Ship will sail the Sea, attacking players, until it is defeated in battle.
Once everyone (including the Ghost Ship if it's in play) has had a turn, the Sea gets a turn to try to ruin everyone's plans. Any player will draw a card from the Sea Deck to determine which of three actions the Sea will take. Draw Calm Seas and nothing happens; draw a Storm and everyone's ships get blown off course. And perhaps most dangerous, draw a Ghost Ship, and the malevolent spectral ship will appear somewhere in the Sea.
Once the Sea has had it's turn, the current Season is over and the next one commences. Spring and Winter are particularly important. At the start of Spring, water, food, and inhabited islands are rejuvenated and have resources again. At the end of Winter, the Sea gets an extra turn.
Collecting Rune Stones is the ultimate goal of the game. Hold 5 and you win! There are 17 islands in the Sea with a Rune Stone for the taking. Sail over one and you can have your pick of 24 different stones. Collect your favorite before your opponent does!