How to Play Pirates of Maracaibo: Bermuda Triangle

Objective of the Game

In Pirates of Maracaibo: Bermuda Triangle, players race to complete a treasure map by fulfilling specific requirements on Treasure Hunt cards. The first player to reach a "D" card triggers the end of the game. If multiple players reach a "D" card, the winner is the one with the most Victory Points (VP) on the scoring track. If tied, it's a shared victory.

Preparation (Setup)

To set up the Treasure Hunt Module, modify the base game setup as follows:

1. Place all Marker cubes on the matching Treasure Island boards.
2. Remove the 6 Treasure Value tiles (not used in this module).
3. Build the Treasure Map:
   • Sort Treasure Hunt cards into 4 stacks (A, B, C, D) and shuffle each.
   • Place 2 face-up "A" cards in the 1st column, 3 face-down "B" in the 2nd, 4 face-down "C" in the 3rd, and all 3 face-up "D" in the 4th.
4. Each player places their Player token to the left of the Treasure Map.

For the base game setup with new cards:

• Shuffle the new Kraken Location card with base game Locations, then randomly remove one.
• Shuffle new Tier I and Tier II Improvement cards with base game counterparts.

Flow of the Game

The game has no rounds—players take turns clockwise but sail independently. Key rules:

• Visiting Maracaibo: Upgrade your ship, gain 6 VP, take income, and return to the starting zone.
• Advancing on the Treasure Map:
  • Meet all requirements on a card (e.g., ship location, resources) to move your Player token onto it.
  • For "A", "B", or "C" cards, reveal and potentially replace adjacent face-down cards (skip if already revealed).
  • You may advance multiple times per turn if requirements are met.

Actions and How to Play

Key actions and card effects:

• New Location Cards:
  • St. Lucia: Place/move a Marker cube to activate effects.
  • Atlantis: Use a Crew/Equipment card's beige scroll action and gain 4 VP per Treasure set.
  • Treasure Trove Cove Island: Place a Treasure on a bonus space for rewards.
• Immediate Effects: Examples include gaining Doubloons, moving your Explorer, or burying Treasures (see Glossary for full list).
• Ongoing Effects: Reduce ship upgrade barriers, gain bonus spaces for Treasures, or earn 3 Doubloons when burying Treasure.

End of the Game and Scoring

The game ends when a player reaches a "D" card. Play continues until all players have had equal turns. The winner is:

• The sole player on a "D" card, or
• The player with the most VP among those on "D" cards (ties = shared victory).

Scoring examples from cards:

• Game end: Gain 7 VP per set of Improvements, 2 VP per discount, or 3 VP per permanent sword.

Tips for Winning

1. Prioritize Treasure Map requirements: Focus on meeting card conditions (e.g., ship location, resources) to advance quickly.
2. Use immediate effects strategically: Cards like Atlantis or Treasure Trove Cove Island can boost VP or resources.
3. Balance VP sources: Fulfill Quest cards and gray scrolls to meet "D" card VP requirements.