Quick Answer
Cartographers is a competitive map-building game where you draw terrain on a shared map sheet. Each round, a card reveals a shape to draw, and you earn points by matching scoring goals. The player with the most points after four seasons wins.
Cartographers
Welcome to the world of Cartographers, a game that turns you into a royal cartographer mapping uncharted lands. If you're new to the game, you might feel overwhelmed by the rules and scoring, but don't worry—this guide breaks down everything you need to know to start drawing and scoring like a pro.
In this beginner's guide, we'll cover the core rules, step-by-step gameplay, and essential strategies. We'll also highlight some expansions and accessories that can enhance your experience, like Cartographers: Map Pack 4, Frozen Expanse and Cartographers: Extra Map Sheets C/D.
Understanding the Basics
Cartographers is played over four rounds, each representing a season. Players start with a blank map sheet divided into a grid. Each round, a card is flipped from the exploration deck, showing a terrain shape (like a forest or village) and its orientation. All players must draw that shape on their map, choosing where to place it.
After drawing, you score points based on the four scoring cards revealed at the start of the game. These cards might reward you for placing certain terrains in specific areas, like near mountains or in corners. The game ends after four seasons, and the player with the highest score wins.
- Each terrain shape must be drawn exactly as shown, but you can rotate it freely.
- You cannot draw over existing terrain or outside the map borders.
Setup and Components
To set up, give each player a map sheet and a pencil. Shuffle the terrain cards and place them in a draw pile. Reveal four scoring cards and place them where everyone can see them. The first player is chosen randomly.
The game includes a pad of map sheets, which you'll run through quickly if you play often. That's where Cartographers: Extra Map Sheets C/D comes in handy—it provides 100 additional sheets, so you never have to stop the fun.
- Make sure everyone has enough space to draw comfortably.
- Keep the scoring cards visible to remind players of their goals.
Step-by-Step Gameplay
Each round, the active player flips a card from the terrain deck and announces the shape. All players simultaneously draw that shape on their map. After each draw, players may earn points if they've completed a scoring goal, like surrounding a mountain with forests.
At the end of the season, players score points based on the scoring cards. Then, a new season begins with new terrain cards. After four seasons, the game ends, and players tally their final scores, including any bonus points from completed objectives.
- Pay attention to the shapes that appear—plan ahead to maximize your points.
- Don't forget to check the ambush cards, which can disrupt your plans.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One common mistake is filling your map too quickly without considering future shapes. Leave space for large terrain pieces that might appear later. Another is ignoring the scoring cards until the last moment—plan from the start to align your drawings with the goals.
Also, be careful not to draw shapes that block your ability to score. For example, if a scoring card rewards you for placing villages in a row, don't cover the area with other terrains.
- Always keep an eye on your remaining map space.
- Think about how each shape affects your scoring opportunities.
Beginner's Checklist
- Set up the game: Give each player a map sheet and pencil. Shuffle the terrain deck and reveal four scoring cards. Checkpoint: Make sure all players can see the scoring cards.
- Draw shapes as revealed: Each round, flip a terrain card and draw the shape on your map. Rotate it as needed, but don't overlap existing drawings. Checkpoint: Leave space for future shapes.
- Score after each season: At the end of each season, tally points from the scoring cards. Track your score on the scorepad. Checkpoint: Verify your score calculations to avoid mistakes.
- Plan your final season: In the last season, focus on completing unfinished goals and maximizing your score before the game ends. Verdict: The player with the highest total score wins.
Enhance Your Cartographers Experience
- Cartographers: Map Pack 4, Frozen Expanse: Cartographers: Map Pack 4, Frozen Expanse can be played with either Cartographers or Cartographers Heroes. It includes 75 double-sided new map sheets featuring pre-scouted spaces and a frozen lake, two new ambush cards, and one new hero card. If you've played the base game and want a fresh challenge, this map pack adds new terrain placement rules and a lake bonus that forces you to plan differently.
- Cartographers: Extra Map Sheets C/D: Run out of Map Sheets for Cartographers Heroes? Grab some extras! Pad of 100 sheets. Double-sided with C and D sides. If you play frequently, you'll run through the included sheets quickly. This extra pad ensures you never have to pause your game night for lack of maps.
With these rules and strategies, you're ready to start mapping your path to victory in Cartographers. Remember to plan ahead, adapt to the cards, and most importantly, have fun. For more variety, consider adding Map Pack 4 or extra map sheets to your collection.
