How it plays
Cartographers reveals shared exploration cards that offer shapes and terrain types. Everyone draws a choice on their own map, rotating or flipping the shape to fit. The same reveal can therefore produce different landscapes. Ruins constrain some placements, while mountains and the map boundary create permanent obstacles.
Four scoring cards define the goals, but only two score at the end of each season. Coins score repeatedly, and surrounding a mountain earns one. Ambush cards pass maps to a neighbor, who draws monsters onto them. Empty spaces beside those monsters cost points at every seasonal scoring until filled.
Decisions you’ll make
Look beyond the current scoring pair. A placement can earn points this season while preserving space for the objective that becomes active next.
Weigh filling monster-adjacent spaces against extending a valuable terrain pattern. Removing a penalty early can help over several remaining seasons.
Learning the game
Moderate: demonstrate shape placement, ruins, ambushes and the rotating pair of seasonal scoring cards.