Vikings on Board Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Credits
• Contents
• Set Up
• The Ships
• The Game Board
• Playing the Game
  • Round Summary
• Setting Sail
  • 1) Determine Who Controls the Ship
  • 2) Share the Ship's Supplies
• Winning Bets
• End of Game
• Village Actions
• Credits and Acknowledgments from Authors

Credits

• Authors: Charles Chevallier, Catherine Dumas, Pascal Pelemans
• Illustrators: Christine Deschamps, Maëva Da Silva
• 2 to 4 Players - 8 to adult - 30-60 Minutes

Contents

• 39 Ship Pieces (24 bodies, 8 bows, 7 sterns)
• 16 Viking Tokens (4 of each color)
• 16 Gambling Tokens (4 of each color)
• 15 Supply Tokens (5 Hide, 5 Grain, 5 Metal)
• 4 Scoring Circles (1 of each color)
• 3 Market Value Tokens
• 1 Leader Token
• Game Board
• Illustrated Rules

Set Up

Place the game board in the center of the table.

Each player chooses a color and takes the following components in that color:

• A. 1 scoring circle

• B. 4 gambling tokens, placed next to the scoring circle with their number-side facedown.

• A number of Viking tokens based on the number of players (4 Vikings in a 2 player game, 3 Vikings in a 3 player game, 2 Vikings in a 4 player game).

• C. Determine the starting order for the first round of the game by taking one Viking from each player into your hand, and then letting them fall one at a time. As the Vikings leave your hand, place them in the Village onto the topmost available action. The first Viking to fall is placed on the "First Player" action. The second Viking to fall is placed on the "Promote" action. And so on. Once each player has their first Viking on the board, the remaining Vikings are placed in sequence depending on the number of players:

  • 2 player game: AB BA AB BA
  • 3 player game: ABC BCA CAB
  • 4 player game: ABCD DCBA

  Note: The letters represent the order in which the Vikings fell from hand. "A" refers to the first to fall, "B" the second, etc.

• D. The leader token is placed on the opposite side of the village as the rest of the Vikings (to help keep track of which side the Vikings are moving to each round).

• E. Place the 7 stern pieces next to the game board, by the "Set Sail" action.

• F. Place the 3 market value tokens on the first place (1) in the market.

Shuffle the 15 supply tokens facedown.

• G. Place 7 supply tokens facedown next to the "Add 1" action.
• H. Place 8 supply tokens facedown next to the "Take 3, Add 1" action.
• I. Place the 8 ship bow pieces in the fjord, in line with the moorings of the harbor.
• J. Randomly place 3 ship body pieces behind each bow piece, making sure that each color appears on no more than one body piece in each ship at the start of the game.

The Ships

Each ship in the game is divided into three sections: the front (the bow piece), the middle (1-5 body pieces), and the end (the stern piece).

The front of the ship is where you will keep track of a ship's value, as you add supply tokens to it. The middle of the ship is in constant flux until the ship sets sail, as players rearrange its body pieces as they vie for control. Once a ship has set sail, a stern piece is added to its end to indicate the ship is no longer in play.

The Game Board

The Game board is divided into three sections: The Village (where you place Vikings to select different actions), The Harbor (where you place bets on ships), and The Fjord (where ship pieces are placed and rearranged).

The Village: The buildings in the village represent the different actions you can select on your turn. The circles next to each building are where Vikings are placed to show that an action has been selected (see Village Actions).

The Harbor: The harbor is divided into eight separate moorings (composed of four circles each). This is where players can place bets on which clan they think will control a ship when it sets sail.

The Fjord: The fjord is where ship pieces are kept and rearranged. Each ship in the Fjord is connected to a separate mooring on the harbor.

Important: All 24 ship body pieces are used each game, no matter the number of players. Even in a 2 or 3 player game, the body pieces of the non-player colors will still be present. These ship pieces are treated the same as the other body pieces (they can be moved or exchanged using the village actions, and they are included when determining who controls a ship when it sets sail).

Playing the Game

The game is played over seven or more rounds. At the start of each round, the turn order for that round is determined by the order of the Vikings in the village. The topmost Viking (the one nearest the "First Player" action) will take the first turn, and the bottommost Viking (the one nearest the "Swap" action) will take the last turn.

Each turn, the active player will select one of the available actions by taking his topmost Viking token from one side of the village, and placing it on an available action on the other side of the village.

Note: Each action can only be selected once per round.

Round Summary

1. The player with the topmost Viking in the village (the one closest to the "First Player" action), picks up that Viking and moves it over to the other side of the village (to the side with the leader token). He places his Viking onto one of the free circles, and then carries out the corresponding action (see Village Actions).
2. The player with the Viking next in line in the village does the same, and so on, until all the Vikings have been moved from their original side to the same side as the leader token.
3. The round ends when all the Vikings are on the same side as the leader token.
4. If a player chose the "Set Sail" action, then proceed to the setting sail phase (see Setting Sail).
5. If there are still stern pieces remaining next to the game board, then the leader token switches over to the other side of the village, and a new round begins.

Setting Sail

A. If a player chose the "Set Sail" action this round, then he decides which ship will set sail (and be scored) at the end of the round. He adds his stern piece to the end of that ship, and pushes it away from the harbor.

Note: You must choose a ship with at least 1 supply token already on its bow and at least one body piece in its body, when possible. However, if there are no legal options, then you may choose whichever ship you wish.

After adding the stern piece: 1) determine who controls the ship, and 2) share the ship's supplies.

1) Determine Who Controls the Ship

Count the total number of shields of each color on the body pieces of the ship setting sail. The clan with the most shields has first control of the ship. The clan with the second most shields has second control. And so on. In the case of a tie, the clan with the body piece closest to the harbor wins the tie.

Colors not present on the ship have no control of that ship, and will share none of its supplies.

Example B: Red has 3 shields, Green has 2 shields, Blue has 3 shields, and Yellow has 0 shields. Red and Blue are tied for number of shields, but Blue takes first control because his ship piece is closer to the harbor. So the order of control is: Blue then Red then Green. Yellow has no control because he does not have any shields on that ship.

Note for 2-3 player games: Do not forget to count the shields of the non-player colors as well. (The non-player clans can take control of a ship from you).

2) Share the Ship's Supplies

In order of control, each controlling clan will take turns taking a supply token of their choice from the bow of the ship setting sail, placing it facedown on their scoring circle.

If there are not enough supply tokens for each of the controlling clans to take one, well that's just too bad. When the supplies run out, any remaining players will claim no supplies this round.

If there are more than enough supplies so that some remain after each controlling player has taken a pick, then players continue to take supplies (in order of control) until all the supply tokens are gone. If a player is alone on board a ship, he takes ALL its supplies.

Example C: Blue takes a supply token of Grain. Then Red takes a Hide. Then Green takes a Hide. Then, because one supply token remains on the ship, Blue takes it and distribution ends.

Note for 2-3 player games: If a non-player clan would take a supply token, then one is removed from the game instead. Which supply token is removed is the choice of the player to the left of the player who would next take a supply token from the ship.

Optional Rule for 2 Players: After your opponent takes the "Set Sail" action, place one of the Vikings not being used this game (its color doesn't matter) onto any of the ship body pieces in your own color. This Viking counts as one additional shield (of your color) when determining who controls a ship. This Viking will move with its body piece and cannot be removed for the rest of the game. There can never be more than one Viking on the same body piece.

Winning Bets

If you placed one of your gambling tokens in front of the ship setting sail, on the color that had first control of the ship, then take your bet and place it facedown on your scoring circle (to score at the end of the game). Any wrong bets stay where they are, but can be moved to a different ship later in the game using the "Place 1 / Move 1" action.

Example D: Yellow correctly bet that Blue would control the ship setting sail, so he takes his bet and places it facedown on his scoring shield (without revealing its value). Because Green bet on Red, he leaves his bet where it was, and will try to move it in front of a different ship later in the game.

Important:

• Each player can only bet once on the same ship. (You can't have more than one barrel of the same color in front of the same ship).
• You must place your Vikings in front of buildings whose actions you are able to perform. If you cannot perform any of the available actions (and only in this case), then you may place your Viking on the action of your choice (without performing it).
• A ship can never be more than five body pieces in length (not including the bow or stern).
• Players can consult the value of their supplies and bets at any time, but they CAN NEVER reveal them to the other players.
• The most powerful actions are located at the bottom of the village. But be wary, because if you choose these more powerful actions, you will end up taking your turn later on in the order of the next round.
• Small objects drawn on the ships have no influence on the game, they do not represent goods.
• Building powers can be applied to any ship that has yet to set sail.
• It is not possible to move the supplies from one ship to another. Once supplies are placed on a ship, they must remain there until that ship sets sail.

End of Game

The game ends immediately after the 7th ship has set sail. The remaining ship at the harbor will not score this game.

Players calculate their final score by adding together the value of their Supply tokens with the value of their Gambling tokens:

• Supply tokens score as many points as their end value in the marketplace.
• Gambling Tokens score the number of points printed on them.

Note: Gambling tokens that did not win bets score no points.

The player with the most points wins.

In case of a tie, the tie is broken in the following order:

• The player with the most supply tokens.
• The player with the most points from supply tokens.

If there is still a tie, the players share the victory.

Example: Blue scored 2 supply tokens of grain (4 points), 1 supply token of metal (3 points), and 1 hide (2 points), for a total of 9 points. Red scored 2 supply tokens of hide (4 points), 2 gambling tokens (5 points), for a total of 9 points. Red and Blue are tied, but because Blue scored more supply tokens than Red, Blue is declared the winner.

Village Actions

First Player: This action gives no bonus, but will let you take the first turn next round (because it is the topmost action in the village).

Jump ANY Ship: Move a body piece of ANY COLOR from one ship to another, placing it in the back of its new ship (farthest from the bow piece).

Promote: Move 1 body piece in YOUR COLOR to the front of its current ship (closest to the bow piece). This will give you the advantage in case of a tie, when determining who controls a ship.

Bet / Move a Bet: You can either bet (see "Bet" action) OR move an existing bet to a new circle on the harbor (in front of the same ship or a different one).

Jump YOUR Ship: Move a body piece of YOUR COLOR from one ship to another, placing it in the back of its new ship (farthest from the bow piece).

Draw 3, Add 1: Draw the top 3 supply tokens from the stack next to this building (if there are fewer than 3, just draw what's left) then choose 1 token and place it faceup on the bow piece of the ship of your choice (as long as it has yet to set sail). The remaining supply tokens are placed back on the bottom of the stack.

Bet: Place one of your gambling tokens facedown in front of a ship in the harbor, on top of the color that you think will have first control of that ship when it sets sail.

Add 1: Draw the top supply token from the stack next to this action, and place it faceup on the bow piece of the ship of your choice (as long as it has yet to set sail).

Set Sail: Take a stern piece from next to the board and place it in front of yourself. You will choose which ship sets sail at the end of the round (see Setting Sail).

Note: If no one takes the set sail action, then no ship will set sail this round.

Marketplace: Increase the value of one type of supply, by advancing its market value token one space forward in the marketplace.

Note: The value of supplies can never be reduced, and the maximum value can never exceed 4.

Swap Ships: Exchange ANY two body pieces of your choice (regardless of color) between two different ships.

Credits and Acknowledgments from Authors

The authors would like to thank all the playtesters who have taken part in the numerous tests, and especially the association of Jeux en Seine, with David, Gilles, Nico, Delphine, Jürgen, Nathalie, Damien N., Damien R., Le Nid-Cocon ludique with Micha, Nils, Patrice, Laurence, Lia-Sabine, Bruno des Plaines, Laurent, La Boite à Chimères with Christophe, La Kub'en Bois Académie with Thierry and Régine, the association of Thalwind - Osny Joue with Stéphane, Latsamy, Reynald et Sarah and the gaming conventions: Paris est ludique, the Salon des jeux de Vauréal and the Festival Alchimie du jeu in Toulouse where the prototype had been submitted. The authors would also like to thank Blue Orange for their excellent suggestions and especially Stéphane for this astounding production!!! Thank you very much to Maeva and Chris for their Art.

©2016 Blue Orange. Vikings on Board and Blue Orange are trademarks of Blue Orange. Game published and distributed under license by Blue Orange USA, San Francisco, California. Made in China. Designed in France.