Land vs Sea
Land vs Sea Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Overview
Players play as either Land or Sea (or the Cartographer in a 3 player game). Each player plays with 2 double-sided hex tiles containing a mix of land and sea shapes. They take turns placing tiles to create a map together.
Land places tiles trying to complete land areas, and Sea places tiles trying to complete sea areas. Completed areas score a point per tile; land areas for Land, sea areas for Sea.
Some tiles score bonus points for whoever completes the area they are in. Other tiles allow players to play their second tile, or steal a player's tile.
The game ends once the last tile is placed. The player or team with the most points wins!
Your First Game
- When playing with 2 players please play with the basic rules only (see Basic Rules below).
- When playing with 4 players please use the basic and 4 player rules (see 4 Player Rules – Teams).
- We only recommend the 3 player mode to experienced game players on their first game!
Additional scoring
After you have played the basic Land vs Sea game, you can add new scoring options:
- Mountain & Coral scoring
- Caravan & Ship scoring
2, 3 & 4 player modes
You can play with 2 players, or 4 players in teams, using the basic rules and any of the additional scoring options.
The challenging 3 player mode uses all of the additional scoring options.
Components
- 1 starting map tile
- 1 Volcano/Whirlpool tile
- 58 double-sided map tiles
- 2 double-sided player aids for scoring options
- 1 scoreboard – printed on the box insert
- 7 wooden discs
- 3 discs for Land – 1 for scoring, 2 for Waypoints in 4 player games
- 3 discs for Sea – 1 for scoring, 2 for Waypoints in 4 player games
- 1 disc for the Cartographer for scoring in 3 player games
Setup
- Choose teams: Use the scoring discs to randomly determine who plays Land and who plays Sea (see 3 Player Rules and 4 Player Rules for those setups).
- Set up the scoreboard: Place the box bottom within reach of the players. Angle it towards the players so they can see the icon key on the edge of the box. Place a Land and a Sea scoring disc at the start of the scoreboard on the inside of the box.
- Starting tile: Find the starting tile and place it in the middle of the play area.
- Volcano/Whirlpool tile: Find the double-sided Volcano/Whirlpool tile and place it within reach (see Volcano/Whirlpool Tile).
- Create 2 tile stacks: Shuffle and divide the remaining tiles into 2 even stacks. Place these stacks near the scoreboard.
- Draft starting tiles: Starting with Land, players take turns choosing and taking a tile from the top of either stack until each player has 2 tiles placed in front of them. You may only look at the hidden side of each tile you take after you have taken them, but don't reveal them to other players.
Basic Rules
Playing the Game
Land goes first. If playing with teams, the youngest Land team member goes first.
1. Play a tile
Take a look at both sides of your tiles, without revealing them to anyone else. Choose and place one side of either tile face up onto the map, adjacent to a tile or tiles, so that each connected edge matches; e.g. land edge(s) to land edge(s), sea edge(s) to sea edge(s).
- Example: Land places their first tile with one of its land edges directly adjacent to a land edge of the starting tile.
- You may not place a tile in such a way that any of its edges don't match adjacent tile edges.
2. Use Action Tiles
Use the Play Again or Steal actions on any tiles containing their symbols (see Action Tiles: Play Again & Steal).
3. Score completed areas
If a tile you placed completes an area or areas, score any points earned (see Scoring Land & Sea Areas) for tiles, bonus points, or Waypoints in that area.
4. Place Waypoint (optional)
If you are playing with Waypoints (see Waypoints), you may place it now.
5. Replenish your tiles
Choose and take a tile from the top of either of the 2 tile stacks to bring your tile count back up to 2 again. Place both of your tiles face up on the table in front of you, without flipping them over.
Note: You may not look at the hidden sides of the tiles on the stack until after you take them. Or show anyone else the hidden sides of your own tiles.
Usually you need to take just 1 tile to replace the one you played in your turn. However, after using some Action Tiles you may need to take 2 tiles, or none. You may take replacement tiles one at a time this way, looking at the hidden side of a tile you have taken, before choosing again.
Once you have 2 tiles again, your turn is over and play passes to the next player clockwise.
Note: If at any point there is only 1 stack of tiles left, split it in half to make a second stack.
The next player
The next player in clockwise turn order then takes a turn to place one side of either of their tiles onto the map. Place it adjacent to any tile or tiles already on the map so each connected edge matches the edges of tiles it is placed adjacent to – land edge(s) to land edge(s), sea edge(s) to sea edge(s).
Example: Sea places a tile so both edges connected to the map are adjacent to matching edges, in this case 2 sea edges touching 2 other sea edges.
Use Action Tiles, score completed areas, and draw back up to 2 tiles as usual.
Players continue taking turns in this way, scoring each completed area one at a time as they go.
The game ends when the last tile has been placed.
Action Tiles: Play Again & Steal
There are 2 special icons on tiles which allow you to take an additional action on your turn, after you play the tile.
Play Again
When you place a Play Again tile onto the map, immediately play your second tile, if you still have one, anywhere onto the map in the usual way, with either side face up.
You may play a second Play Again tile onto the map but you won't be able to use its ability to place a third tile because you can't have more than 2 tiles. Likewise if someone has stolen one of your tiles, you won't be able to play a second tile in your turn (see below).
Example: the Land player: (1) first places a Play Again tile onto the map, then (2) immediately plays their second tile anywhere on the map.
Steal
When you place a tile with a Steal icon onto the map, choose and take 1 of any player's tiles, but not their last one. You may not look at the hidden side of the tile you steal until after you have taken it. You cannot play the tile you steal on the turn you steal it. Don't take a new tile from the stacks at the end of the turn, because you already have your 2 tiles.
If you have had one of your tiles stolen, you can still play either side of your remaining tile on your turn, and you will get to draw back up to 2 tiles at the end of your turn.
You may place a Play Again tile and then a Steal tile in the same turn, as follows:
- Place a Play Again tile onto the map
- Place a Steal tile onto the map
- Steal a player's tile
- Draw 1 new tile at the end of the turn so that you have 2 tiles in total.
Scoring Land & Sea areas
When a land or sea area is completed, i.e. it is enclosed with no open edges of its type, it is scored as follows:
- Land scores 1 point per tile contributing to a land area, no matter who completed it.
- Sea scores 1 point per tile contributing to a sea area, no matter who completed it.
- Whoever completes the area scores a bonus point per bonus point icon inside the completed area.
Example: This completed land area scores 4 points for Land (1 per tile), and 2 bonus points if they, rather than Sea, complete the area.
Alternatively, if Sea had placed the tile that completed the land area above, Land would still gain a point per tile contributing to that land area (4). However, Sea would gain all bonus points in that land area (2).
Some tiles can pinch or split off areas at the corner of a tile. Use these to separate a potentially large area into smaller areas that are easier to complete. You can potentially score twice from such tiles, once for each completed area that tile contributes to.
Example: Land places a tile so that it finishes 2 small separated land areas. Land first scores 3 points; 1 for each tile contributing to the top-most area, and then another 4 points for the other area; 1 point for each of the 3 contributing tiles plus a bonus point, for a total of 7 points between the 2 land areas.
It's almost always better to try to complete many smaller areas than a few larger ones, so split areas wisely. There are no extra points for completing large areas, only risk that you won't score points from them at all!
Volcano/Whirlpool tile
The double sided Volcano/Whirlpool tile is used when a hole is made in the map. If a hole, i.e. a space surrounded by 6 of the same type of edges, for example 6 sea edges, is made in the map, it cannot be filled by any regular tile.
Example: Land places a tile such that all 6 edges surrounding a space are sea edges, making a hole in the map.
In this instance, the player who placed the final tile surrounding the hole immediately takes the Volcano/Whirlpool tile and places it in the hole, on the facing that matches the edges, oriented as they choose.
Any scoring on the tile happens according to the basic and additional scoring options used in this game. I.e., the tile, and all 5 bonus points on it, score as usual, for whoever completes the area it is in.
Example (continued): Land then places the Whirlpool side of the Volcano/Whirlpool tile face up into the hole. This also happens to complete this sea area, scoring Sea 8 points and Land all 7 bonus points.
Game End
The game ends after the last tile is placed onto the map. The player with the most points wins.
If scores are tied, the game is a tie.
Additional Scoring Options
Land vs Sea starts simple. However, there are two additional scoring options on the tiles which can be activated after you have played the basic game a few times: Mountains & Coral, and Caravans & Ships.
First add Mountain & Coral scoring and later you can play with Caravan & Ship scoring.
After some games with each of these options you can play with both Mountain & Coral and Caravan & Ship scoring together. This complete Land vs Sea experience will maximise your strategic and scoring opportunities.
When playing with any of these additional scoring options, place their matching scoring aid tile face-up on the table within sight of the players. Remember to show the side which matches the player count, as they work differently in 3 player games (see 3 Player Rules).
Mountain & Coral scoring
Some tiles contain Mountain sections that can score points for Land, and/or Coral sections that can score points for Sea. These cover 2 or 3 tile edges (a Mountain section with 2 edges, a Coral section with 3 edges).
These tiles are connected like any other land or sea tile edge. However, no matter who places it, when a Mountain edge of one tile is connected to another tile's Mountain edge or edges, Land immediately scores 1 point per section in that whole chain of connected Mountain sections, as does Sea for Coral sections chained in the same way.
Example: Land places a tile so that its Mountain edge connects to another tile's Mountain edge, and immediately scores 2 points; 1 per connected Mountain section in this Mountain chain.
Example: Land places another tile so its Mountain edge connects to an adjacent tile's Mountain edge. This time Land scores 3 points, 1 for each Mountain section in that Mountain chain. That tile's Coral edge also connects with an adjacent tile's Coral edge and immediately scores 2 points for Sea.
Caravan & Ship scoring
Some tiles contain Caravan or Ship icons which can score points both during, and at the end of the game.
These tiles may be placed as normal. Whoever places a Caravan or Ship tile adjacent to any other Caravan or Ship tile(s) immediately scores 2 points.
Example: Sea places a tile with a Caravan adjacent to a tile with a Caravan. Sea immediately scores 2 points.
End game scoring of Caravan and Ship tiles
Multiple adjacent tiles with Caravans and/or Ships make Trade Routes. At the end of the game check and score each Trade Route separately for majority as follows:
- If there are more Caravans than Ships, Land scores 1 point per Caravan and/or Ship.
- If there are more Ships than Caravans, Sea scores 1 point per Caravan and/or Ship.
- If players tie for Caravan & Ship icons, they score no points for that Trade Route.
Example: At the end of the game 3 Caravans have majority over the 2 Ships in this Trade Route of 5 adjacent Caravans and Ships. Land has a majority in this Trade Route and scores a total of 5 points, 1 point per Caravan and Ship it contains.
Waypoints
Waypoints act like bonus points you can place and later score yourself, or use to entice other players to help you complete areas. Waypoints are recommended in 3 and 4 player games, but can be used in 2 player games too.
Setup
Players each take one of their Waypoints.
Playing & returning Waypoints
Finish playing tiles and scoring areas as usual. Then, if your Waypoint is not already on the map, you may place it onto any matching land or sea part of an open tile (one with at least one open edge) that doesn't already contain a Waypoint.
Note: Land Waypoints may only be placed on land parts of tiles, and likewise Sea Waypoints may only be placed on sea parts.
Return Waypoints to their respective team members when either:
- The land or sea area containing a Waypoint is completed.
- A tile containing a Waypoint is surrounded by 6 tiles.
Waypoints cannot be moved or returned in any other way.
Scoring Waypoints
Whoever returns a Waypoint to its owner using either method above scores a bonus point.
Example: Sea completes an area containing a Sea Waypoint. Sea scores 2 points for the 2 tiles making the sea area, plus 2 bonus points, and a point for returning the Waypoint to its owner.
Example: Land places the final tile to surround a tile containing a Sea Waypoint. Land scores 1 point and returns the Waypoint to its owner.
Player Modes
3 Player Rules
The 3 player game uses all the basic game rules and scoring, with slightly modified Mountain & Coral and Caravan & Ship scoring options. We recommend the use of Waypoints too.
Additional Setup
- Place the Cartographer token on the Scoreboard.
- Place the 3 player side of each of the Mountain & Coral and Caravan & Ship scoring aids face up on the table as reminders of how these scoring options work with 3 players.
- Land & Sea each take one of their Waypoints (recommended).
- Sit in Land > Sea > Cartographer turn order. Starting with Land, players draft a tile each until they each have 2 tiles, as usual.
Gameplay
Starting with Land, play proceeds as usual: Play a tile, use Action tiles, score completed areas and additional scoring options, place a Waypoint, and draw back up to 2 tiles - all in clockwise order around the table.
3 player Land & Sea scoring
Land or sea areas score for Land or Sea players as usual. All bonus points score for whoever completes an area as usual. These are a valuable source of points for the Cartographer.
3 player Mountain & Coral scoring
The Cartographer scores for all chains of connected Mountain and Coral sections placed by any player. Land & Sea do not score connected Mountain or Coral sections for themselves.
Don't forget the Volcano/Whirlpool tile also includes Mountain and Coral sections... 2 players can work co-operatively to gain points!
3 player Caravan & Ship scoring
Whoever places a Caravan or Ship tile adjacent to another Caravan or Ship tile scores 2 points as usual. So the Cartographer can score points in this way too.
End-game majority scoring of Caravan & Ship tiles in Trade Routes works as normal, with one change. The Cartographer scores 1 point per Caravan and/or Ship in each Trade Route containing an equal number of Caravan & Ship icons. So, Land wants more Caravans in each Trade Route, Sea wants more Ships, and the Cartographer wants an even amount.
Example: At the end of the game, this Trade Route is tied for majority with 3 Caravans and 3 Ships. The Cartographer gains 6 points, 1 for each of the 3 Caravans, and 1 for each of the 3 Ships.
3 player Waypoint scoring – recommended
Land and Sea may each use Waypoints. These can be used to entice rivals to complete rather than extend areas, or to potentially score you extra points. The Cartographer has no Waypoint token. However they may still score Waypoints by completing areas containing them, or surrounding them, and returning them to Land or Sea.
4 Player Rules – Teams
Play with 2 Land vs 2 Sea players. Use the basic game rules and scoring, any of the additional scoring options as agreed, and Waypoints (recommended).
Additional Setup
- Place 1 Land and 1 Sea token on the Scoreboard. Team mates score together as one.
- Place relevant scoring aids on the table with their 2/4 player sides face up as reminders of how these scoring options work.
- Take a Waypoint token matching your team each (recommended).
- Sit in (youngest) Land > Sea > Land > Sea turn order. Starting with the youngest Land player, players draft a tile each in order, until they each have 2 tiles, as usual.
Game play
Starting with the youngest Land player, play proceeds as usual: Play a tile, use Action tiles, score completed areas and any additional scoring options, place a Waypoint, and draw back up to 2 tiles – all in clockwise order around the table.
Reminders:
- You may not show anyone the hidden sides of your tiles, not even team mates.
- You may never Steal a player's last tile. You may Steal a team mate's tile… if you think that's the best thing to do.
4 player Waypoint mode – recommended
We recommend using Waypoints in 4 player games. When doing so, team mates cannot offer each other specific advice with words, gestures or body language, about where or how they should place their tiles. Instead, use your Waypoints to give hints about where to focus playing tiles, to work as a team, and score bonus points.
During setup, each player takes a Waypoint token matching their team. 1 player per team plays with their Waypoint face up, and the other plays with it face down to identify who owns each Waypoint.
After you finish playing a tile or tiles to the map, and have completed all scoring, you may place your Waypoint following the usual rules.
Whoever returns a Waypoint by surrounding it or completing the area it is in scores a point, as usual. When you return a Waypoint, return it to the player who placed it.
It is possible for your team to have 2 Waypoints in the same area, as long as they are not on the same tile. Whoever completes that area will score a point per Waypoint. I.e. 2, as they are returned to their respective players. This makes it even more enticing for both your team mate, and your rivals to complete and score that area's Waypoints and bonus points.
Placing and scoring Waypoints is a good way to work together. You may place your Waypoint again during a turn you score from it. You may also remind your team mate to place their Waypoint during their turn, although you may not advise them where or how to place it.
4 player Free Play mode – optional
Team members can freely suggest optimal places to play between team members, but may never show or share information about the hidden side of their tiles.
How to Play – An Example Turn
- Place a tile: Land chooses either face of one of their 2 double-sided tiles to play.
- Use Actions: Land uses their Play Again tile to play their second tile to complete this land area.
- Score Points: Score completed areas, and any bonus points.
- Waypoints: (Optional) place your Waypoint (bonus point).
- Draw Tiles: Draw back up to 2 tiles.
Icon Legend
- Play Again: Play your second tile, if you have one.
- Steal: Take a player's tile, but not their last one.
- Bonus Points: Whoever completes an area scores 1 bonus point for each bonus point icon and Waypoint in that area.