Schatzjagd
Schatzjagd Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- 4 pirates
- 1 tiger
- 1 tiger dice
- 24 cards showing a stretch of the path
- 1 card showing the treasure spot
- 4 boats
- 4 treasure chests
- 1 set of game instructions
Aim of the Game
Which pirate finds the way to the treasure and can then be the first to get back to a boat?
Preparation of the Game
Place the card showing the treasure spot in the middle of the table.
Put the 24 path cards face down, shuffle them, and arrange them around the treasure card in a square of 5 x 5 cards.
Place the four boats next to the four corners. This is also done when there are fewer than four players.
Each player takes a pirate and places him on one of the boats. If there are two players, the pirates are put on two boats diagonally opposite each other.
Each player puts a chest on the treasure card. The tiger is also put there, watching over the chests. Get the dice ready.
Extra treasure chests and pirates are returned to the game box.
How to Play
First Round
The smallest pirate starts, followed by the other players in a clockwise direction.
Each player uncovers the corner card in front of their pirate and looks at the stretch of the path shown. There are five kinds of stretch: curves, straights, crossings, junctions and dead ends.
Turn the uncovered card around so that the stretch of path is in line with the boat, so that you can move your pirate from the boat onto the path.
- Watch out, exception: Whoever uncovers a dead end can turn the card so that the stretch of path is connected with one of the adjacent (still uncovered) cards.
Second and All Following Rounds
Whoever's turn it is may choose one of three options. They may:
- either uncover a card and move their pirate on to it,
- or exchange two cards,
- or throw the dice in order to move the tiger.
Uncover a Card and Place Your Pirate on It
In order to get your pirate to the treasure, you have to uncover cards: maximum one card per round. Sometimes you have to make a detour in order to avoid the tiger (see below).
Take a look at which direction(s) the stretch of path, on which your pirate is standing, leads to. You may uncover one of the cards in question.
Place the card back on its place, turning it in a way that the stretches of path connect. If there are various possibilities, choose one. Then you move your pirate onto this card and cover the card your pirate just left.
If you want, you can also move on to an uncovered card where there is already another pirate. This can only be done if this card is directly adjacent and the stretches of path are connected. In this case you don't uncover any further card.
Important: Always remember to cover up the card your pirate just left.
Exchange Two Uncovered Cards
Swapping two cards gives you the possibility to try to place an advantageous card next to your pirate, or to place a disadvantageous card next to the pirate of another player.
Swap any two covered cards. Watch out: you are not allowed to have a look at the cards.
Important: If another player just swapped two cards, you cannot use one of these cards for a new swap.
Roll the Dice and Move the Tiger
Whoever throws the dice and moves the tiger can get the tiger out of the way, or try to block the path of another pirate.
According to the dots on the dice, you can move the tiger up to four cards vertically or horizontally. If you want, you don't have to use all the dots: for example, roll a "four" and stop the move of the tiger on the second card so that he blocks the way of another pirate.
The tiger may not step on any card with a pirate on it. Cards with pirates are counted and jumped over.
Watch out: A pirate cannot step on a square where the tiger is.
Taking the Treasure
Done: you arrived at the card with the treasure! If your pirate reaches the treasure card, you can take a chest and place it in front of you.
Your pirate stays on the card. He now has to try to get back to a boat as fast as possible. You are free to choose whether he should return to his starting boat or whether he will capture another one.
End of the Game
The pirate who, after taking the chest, reaches any of the boats first wins the game.
Variants
Tiger Variant
The game gets more exciting if you have to use all the dots on the dice when moving the tiger.
Variants for Younger Players
- The game is shorter if it ends as soon as the first pirate has reached the treasure card, getting a chest and thereby winning the game.
- You can also play without the tiger and dice.