# Beacon Patrol ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2023 - **BGG Rating**: 7.1 - **BGG Rank**: #1865 - **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 30 min - **Weight**: 1.43 / 5 - **Designers**: Torben Ratzlaff - **Artists**: Torben Ratzlaff - **Publishers**: Pandasaurus Games, BO3 Studio, CMON Global Limited, CrowD Games, Devir, Ghenos Games, IELLO, MINDOK, Shapes and Dreams, Ігромаг - **Categories**: Exploration, Nautical - **Mechanics**: Cooperative Game, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Tile Placement ## Verdict A snappy and refreshing co-op for those who love discovering new maps every game!Smooth and fun explorationDynamic modular boardQuick and intense sessionsVery accessible co-opRequires player coordinationMight be simple for veteransRECOMMENDED ## Description Ready your captain and adjust the sails, because this mission is serious! In Beacon Patrol, you and your fellow crew members step into the shoes of Coast Guard captains with a vital mission: ensuring the safety of the North Sea shipping lanes. The goal is simple to grasp but requires real coordination: you must navigate through unknown waters, placing tiles to expand the map and ensuring every patch of ocean is properly explored. But heads up, it's not just about moving from point A to point B. For a tile to be considered fully explored, it must be completely surrounded by other tiles, connecting on all four sides. The game features a modular board system, meaning the sea will never look the same in two different sessions. As you move your ships and place new pieces, the map takes shape, creating channels, routes, and strategic points. You'll need to work in total harmony to check buoys and lighthouses, making sure no vessel gets lost in the vast blue. It's the perfect game for those who love a good cooperative adventure, featuring quick rules and a gameplay flow that keeps you engaged. If you enjoy exploration games where the board is built as you play, this one belongs on your favorites list. It's a race against the unknown to ensure navigation in the North Sea is as safe as possible! ## How to Play Game Objective In Beacon Patrol, you are Coast Guard captains working as a team to ensure the safety of the North Sea coast. The goal is to explore as much of the sea as possible, locating lighthouses and buoys along the journey. At the end of the game, you will score points for the explored tiles on the board. Tiles are considered "explored" when they are connected to other tiles in all four directions. Explored tiles that contain lighthouses and buoys grant bonus points. Setup Place the Beacon Patrol HQ tile in the center of the table. Remove the expansion pieces (representing windmills and piers). Shuffle the remaining basic tiles to form the draw pile and place it face down at the edge of the table, within reach of all players. Each player chooses a ship and its corresponding reference card. Then, the ships are placed on the Beacon Patrol HQ tile. Next, each player takes tiles and movement tokens according to the number of players: 1 player: 3 tiles and 4 movement tokens. 2 players: 3 tiles and 3 movement tokens. 3 players: 3 tiles and 3 movement tokens. 4 players: 2 tiles and 2 movement tokens. Each player places their tiles face up in front of them and the movement tokens (with the blue side up) below them. Return any remaining ships and movement tokens to the box. The player who last visited the sea goes first. Gameplay Players take turns clockwise, starting with the first player. There are three types of actions you can perform during your turn, in any order: Place a tile Move your ship (using a movement token) Trade tiles with another player (once per turn) A player's turn ends when they cannot or do not wish to perform any more actions. At the end of the turn, follow these steps: Discard any unplaced tiles in front of you (discarded tiles are removed from the game and are not reshuffled into the draw pile). Then, draw new tiles (draw 3 tiles if playing with 1 to 3 players, and 2 tiles in 4-player games). If playing solo, you may keep 1 unplaced tile and do not need to discard it. In this case, draw only 2 new tiles. Flip all your movement tokens back to the blue side. Actions and How to Play Placing Tiles You can place the tiles prepared in front of you to visit new areas with your ship. You can place up to 3 tiles if playing in a 1 to 3 player game, and up to 2 tiles in 4-player games. Do not draw new tiles until you have completed your turn. Placement rules: Adjacent to the Ship: The tile your ship is on is called your "current tile". When adding a new tile, you must place it in an empty space adjacent (up, down, right, or left, but never diagonally) to your current tile. Correct Orientation: All tiles must face the same direction (use the arrow in the upper right corner of each tile as a reference, and keep it in the same direction as the Beacon Patrol HQ tile). Compatible Edges: All placed tiles must fit appropriately with the adjacent tiles on all sides (land must always touch land and water must touch water). Mandatory Movement: When you place a tile, you must move your ship onto it. This movement is free and does not use a movement token. Move through Water: Since ships cannot move through land, the tile you are about to place must connect to your current tile via a water edge. Moving your Ship You can use a movement token to move your ship to an adjacent tile (up, down, left, or right, but never diagonally). Ships can only travel through water, so you can only move your ship to a tile that is connected to your current tile by a water edge. Each time you move your ship one space, flip one of your movement tokens from the blue side to the red side. This way, you can track how many moves you have left in your turn. From the tiles in front of you, you can also discard those you cannot or do not want to play to move one space per discarded tile. Discarded tiles are removed from the game. Do not flip a movement token when moving this way. Trading Tiles (for games with 2 or more players) Once per turn, you can trade unplaced tiles with another player. You may place the new tile immediately. You must discard the tile traded if you do not place it during this turn. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when all tiles have been placed or discarded. To calculate the final score, total the points from top to bottom, row by row. Only explored tiles grant points. Explored tiles with a lighthouse (including the Beacon Patrol HQ): 3 points. Explored tiles with a buoy: 2 points. Any other explored tile: 1 point. Tips for Winning Work as a team to explore as much of the sea as possible, locating lighthouses and buoys along the journey. Be efficient, as time is short, and explore as much of the sea as possible. Collaborate with your fellow captains to receive the highest honors. ## FAQ ### How long does a game take? It's very dynamic, typically taking around 30 minutes. ### Can I play solo? Absolutely! It works perfectly in solo mode. ### How complex is the game? It's a light and easy-to-learn game, perfect for family or friends. ### What are the main mechanics? The game focuses on tile placement and modular map exploration. ### Who would I recommend this to? 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