Cartographers

Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I setup the solo game?
Practically the same
You setup the game as you would normally. The only change is that you don't write yourself a Title.
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How do I determine my final score in a solo game?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How do I determine my title in a solo game?
Based on your Score.
Compare your final score with the table. You earn the title based on the highest rating you have earned or surpassed.
Is there a change in how Ambush cards works in a solo game?
Yes.
How do Ambush cards work in a solo game?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
Are there any changes in the rules of a solo game?
A bit.
There are 3 changes to the rules: a slightly different setup, the Ambush cards work differently and the final scoring.
What is the goal of a solo game?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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Can Cartographers be played solo?
Yes.
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Does the Time Threshold differ from Season to Season?
Yes.
Spring and Summer Season have a Time Threshold of 8, Fall - 7 and Winter - 6.
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Why is Time Threshold important?
Time Threshold determines when the current Season ends and thus how many Explore cards can possibly be revealed.
Where can I find Time Threshold?
On Season cards.
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What is Time Threshold?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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Why are Time Values important?
Time Values help you track when the current Season will end.
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What is the range of Time Values?
From 0 to 2.
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Where can I find Time Values?
On Explore cards.
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What is Time Value?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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Why are Terrain types important?
You gain reputation by completing the requirements of different Scoring cards. These requirements are often associated with specific Terrain types.
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Do I have to fill my drawn Shapes with Terrain?
Yes.
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Can I freely choose which Terrain type to draw?
No.
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How many different Terrain types are there?
6
There are a total of 6 Terrain types: Forest, Village, Farm, Water, Monster and Mountain.
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What is Terrain?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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Am I forced to draw the shapes as they are drawn on the Explore cards?
No.
You can rotate and even mirror the Shapes shown on Explore cards.
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Am I required to connect all of my drawn Shapes?
No.
However, you might want to connect multiple Shapes in order to gain reputation from particular Scoring cards (ex. Lost Barony or Great City) and sometimes you want your Shape to be separated (ex. The Cauldrons or Shoreside Expanse).
Can I draw any Shape I want on my map?
No.
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Must I always draw the same Shape on my map?
No.
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What is a Shape?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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Can I gain more Coins than there are spaces at the bottom of my map?
No.
You can never gain more Coins than there are spaces at the bottom of your map.
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How do I keep track of my Coins?
You cross out or fill-in the coins at the bottom part of your map to keep track of how many Coins you have gained.
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Can I draw Wasteland spaces?
No.
These spaces are pre-drawn on the "B" side of player maps of the base game of Cartographers.
What is a Wasteland?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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When can a Ruins space be filled?
At any time
A Ruins space MUST be filled if able, after a Ruins Explore card is revealed. The specific Shape and Terrain that must be drawn on top of Ruin spaces will be shown on the next revealed Explore card. Otherwise, players can freely draw on top of Ruins spaces.
What is a Ruins space?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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Is a Ruins space considered to be filled?
It depends.
By itself a Ruins space isn't considered to be filled. However, as soon as any Terrain is drawn on top of it, it is considered to be filled.
Is Monster Terrain considered to be filled?
Yes.
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Is Wasteland space considered to be filled?
What is counted as a Filled space?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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Is a single Filled space considered to be a Cluster?
Yes.
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What is a Cluster?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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Does diagonal Adjacency count?
No.
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Which spaces are considered to be Adjacent?
Spaces that share a full single side are considered to be adjacent.
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How does the Cauldrons Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Lost Barony Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Broken Road Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Borderlands Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Shieldgate Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Great City Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Greengold Plains Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Wildholds Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Shoreside Expanse Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Mages Valley Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Golden Granary Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Canal Lake Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Stoneside Forest Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Greenbough Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Treetower Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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How does the Sentinel Wood Scoring card works?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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When do I add more Ambush cards to the Explore Deck?
Between Seasons
When preparing for a new Season you shuffle 1 random Ambush card into the Explore Deck.
How do I prepare for the next Season?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
How many reputation do I lose for Monster Terrain on my map?
You lose 1 reputation for each adjacent free space around Monster Terrain. You can't lose more than 1 reputation per adjacent free space even if more than 1 Monster Terrain is adjacent to it.
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How much reputation do Coins give?
1 for each Coin.
You gain 1 reputation for each Coin you have gained.
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What happens at the end of a Season?
You gain points.
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When does a Season end?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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Can I draw a Mountain on my map after a Rift Lands card is revealed?
No.
A Rift Lands card allows players to fill a 1x1 space on their map with any of the following 5 Terrain types - Forest, Village, Farm, Water or Monster.
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What is a Rift Land?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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What happens if all Ruins spaces are filled and a Ruins card is revealed again?
If players can't legally draw any of the available Shapes over a Ruins space -OR- all Ruins spaces have been filled, then all player fill any 1x1 space with ANY Terrain type.
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Am I forced to draw over the Ruins space after a Ruins card is revealed?
Yes, if able.
Players must draw the next Shape from an Explore card over a Ruins space if able.
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What happens when a Ruins Card is revealed?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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What is a Ruin?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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Do I need to return the map sheet back to its owner after an Ambush card is revealed?
Yes.
The exchange of the maps happens only in order for players to draw the Monster Shape on their opponents maps. Afterwards, all maps are returned to their owners.
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Are Ambush cards shuffled back into the Exploration deck at the end of each Season?
No.
Each Ambush card can be triggered only once each game. After a revealed Ambush card is resolved it is returned back to the game box.
If an Ambush card is revealed after the Ruins card, am I required to draw the Monster Shape over a Ruins space?
No.
Ruin cards only affect the next Explore cards, thus the next Explore card revealed after the Ambush card will be affected by the Ruins cards, but not the Ambush card.
What happens if the required Monster Shape can't be legally drawn?
In a multiplayer game, you instead fill a 1x1 square with a Monster Terrain. In a SOLO game, you disregard the Ambush card and return it back to the game box.
Do I get to choose where to draw the Monster Shape when an Ambush card is revealed?
No.
Monster Shapes are drawn by each players neighbour. The specific neighbour is determined by the direction of the arrows on the Ambush Card itself.
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Which of my neighbors draws the Monster Shape on my map when an Ambush is revealed?
It depends.
Each Ambush card has circular arrows on the left side. These arrows indicate the direction in which players pass their maps for a Monster Shape to be drawn.
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What happens when an Ambush card is revealed?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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Do I get a Coin every time an Explore card with a Coin is revealed?
No.
You must draw the specific Shape that has a Coin symbol next to it in order to receive it.
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Can I gain Coins from Explore cards?
Yes.
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How can I gain Coins?
Various ways.
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What is a Coin?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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When do I receive a Coin from a Mountain?
Once all of its surrounding adjacent spaces have been filled.
Are Mountains considered to be filled spaces?
Yes.
Can I draw Mountains?
No.
Mountains are already pre-drawn on player maps.
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What is a Mountain?
A Mountain is a pre-drawn filled space on players maps.
Can I draw any Shape I want?
No.
Players are required to draw the Shape that are depicted on the revealed Explore cards. There can sometimes be a choice of two different Shapes on an Explore card and players have to choose one to draw on their maps.
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Can I choose not to draw anything?
No.
Players must draw a new Shape on their maps each round.
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Can I draw the Shapes anywhere I want?
Almost.
What do I do, if I can't draw the required Shape?
You fill any single (1x1) square instead with the required Terrain Type.
Can I draw over the edge of the map?
No.
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Can I draw over the Wasteland?
Can I draw over Mountains?
Can I draw over other Shapes?
No.
Can I flip the Shape I need to draw?
Yes.
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Can I rotate the Shape I need to draw?
Yes.
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How do we setup the game?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
What is an Ambush card?
Ambush cards are special cards that force players to draw Monster Terrain on their neighbors maps, that might score negative reputation stars to them at the end of each round.
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What is a Ruins card?
A Ruins card is an Explore card that forces players to draw their next Explore card over a Ruins space on their maps if possible.
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What is a Rift Lands card?
A Rift Lands card is an Explore card that allows players to draw a 1x1 square with any type of a Terrain.
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How many Explore cards are there?
13
This doesn't include additional 4 Ambush cards which have the same card back as the Explore cards.
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What are Explore cards?
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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Do Scoring cards correlate to specific Edict cards?
No.
Players randomly place the Scoring cards under each Edict during the setup.
Which Scoring cards are used in the game?
Random.
One Scoring card of each type is used in each game. However those Score cards are chosen at random.
How many Scoring cards are there?
16
There are 4 different Scoring cards in 4 different colors. They give reputation stars for different Terrain types.
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What is a Scoring card.
See the following rule(s) to find an answer to this question.
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Can I not use the Edict cards?
Better not.
Edict cards serve as a reminder that help players not to get confused which Scoring cards to score at the end of each round.
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What is an Edict?
Edict cards are a reminder which Scoring cards are scored at specific periods of the game.
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Can players select for which Scoring cards to receive points?
No.
Each Season card shown for which Scoring cards will player score points in the current round.
Can Season cards be arranged in random order?
No.
Season cards are always arranged in the order of actual seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and then Winter.
What is a Season?
Rounds.
In Cartographers, a season is a game round. They differ in length and for which Scoring cards will players earn reputation stars.
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What is reputation?
Points.
The term Reputation is used instead of victory points in Cartographers.
What happens if there is a tie?
The person among the tied players, which lost the least reputation to the Monster Terrain through the whole game is declared the winner.
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Who wins?
The player that scores the most reputation by the end of the fourth round is the declared the winner.
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How do I calculate my score?
Add up your points
You add all earned reputation from each of the four Seasons to determine your final score.
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What happens at the end of the game?
At the end of the game players determine their final scores by adding together their reputation earned in each round.
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When does the game end?
After 4 rounds.
The game ends after the Winter Season is over (the fourth round).
When does a round end?
A single round consists of players drawing the required Shape on their maps, filling it with the required Terrain Type and checking, if the current Season has ended.
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Who starts the round?
Play is simultanious
Everyone plays at the same time. There are no turns, but rather once everyone has drawn a shape on their map, the next Explore card is flipped face up to reveal the next shape to be drawn.
How do we determine the playing order for the round?
Play is simultaneous
Everyone plays at the same time. There are no turns, but rather once everyone has drawn a shape on their map, the next Explore card is flipped face up to reveal the next shape to be drawn.
What can I do on my turn?
Draw a Shape
During each players turn, they need to draw one of the available Shapes on their maps. In addition, players may gain Coins from drawing a particular Shape on their maps or filling all adjacent Mountain spaces.
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What is the turn order in a 2 player game?
Play is simultanious
Everyone plays at the same time. There are no turns, but rather once everyone has drawn a shape on their map, the next Explore Card is flipped face up to reveal the next shape to be drawn.
Are there any differences for a 2 player game?
No.
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Are there any differences for a 3 player game?
No.
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Who goes first?
Play is simultanious
Everyone plays at the same time. There are no turns, but rather once everyone has drawn a shape on their map, the next Explore card is flipped face up to reveal the next shape to be drawn.
How do I set up for a solo game?
You setup the game the same way for any player count, EXCEPT you don't need to write a title for yourself.
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How do we begin the game?
Once everything is setup, players begin playing by turn in the top card of the Explore deck face up and start playing.
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How do I set up for a 2 player game?
You setup the game the same way for any player count.
How do I set up for a 4 player game?
You setup the game the same way for any player count.
How do I set up for a 3 player game?
You setup the game the same way for any player count.
How do I win the game?
Gain most Reputation
The goal of the game is to score the most reputation by the end of the fourth round.
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What is the goal of the game?
Gain most Reputation
The goal of the game is to score the most reputation stars by the end of the fourth round.
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