Game Objective

In Shallow Sea: Nesting Season, you take on the role of a sea turtle on a risky journey to find the perfect nesting spot. The central theme is "natal homing," where turtles return to the beaches where they were born to ensure the next generation. The goal is to establish a healthy and safe ecosystem by meeting specific conditions to ensure your turtles can successfully nest before your opponents.

Victory is determined by the accumulated score at the end of the game, where the strategic placement of your turtles on Turtle Island and the completion of Nesting Tiles objectives are key to achieving the highest score.

Setup

To prepare the game, follow these steps:

1. Island Board: Place the Turtle Island Board with the side corresponding to the number of players face-up in the center of the table.
2. Ecosystem Cards: During base game setup, select 1 Ecosystem Card from the Orange and Blue colors and place it face-up next to the Pools. If using the Turtle Island module, use only 1 Ecosystem Card instead of 2.
3. Base Game Setup: Follow the base game manual instructions, with the following exceptions:
   • In 3-4 player games, the 3rd and 4th players start with 3 Seashells instead of 2.
   • Each player chooses a color and takes their Turtle Marker and 2 Turtles, placing them in front of their Ocean Board.
4. Turtle Eggs:
   • For 1-2 players: Place 3 random Large Turtle Eggs on the top row. Place 3 random Medium Turtle Eggs on the middle row.
   • For 3-4 players: Place 3 random Small Turtle Eggs on the bottom row.
   • The Medium Turtle Eggs will not be used and should be returned to the box.
5. Nesting Tiles: Depending on the number of players, place the corresponding Turtle Eggs on the Turtle Island Board so the scores are visible. Select 1 Tile of each color from the Yellow, White, and Blue Nesting Tiles and place them on the corresponding spaces on the Turtle Island Board.
6. Sealife Tiles: Follow the Sealife Tiles setup guide to select 10 types of Sealife Tiles (from the base game and expansion) to use in the game.
7. Tile Restrictions (Solo/Scenario): If playing Solo or Scenario mode, place the Tile Restriction Markers to the left of the Turtle Island Board as indicated by the chosen scenario.

Game Flow

The game progresses through turns where players attempt to meet conditions to place their turtles. The Turtle Island module introduces a competitive "first-come, first-served" element, where turn order is crucial for securing scoring bonuses.

Refer to the manual for details on the full turn structure and specific maintenance or global event phases.

Actions and How to Play

During your turn, you can perform the following actions and interactions:

Turtle Placement (Free Action)

Placing a turtle on Turtle Island is a free action that can be taken at any time during your turn, provided the conditions of a Nesting Tile have been met.

• Turn Restriction: A player can only place 1 Turtle per turn, even if multiple conditions are met simultaneously.
• Space Restriction: You cannot place a turtle on a space that is already occupied.
• Quantity Restriction (Solo/Scenario): In Solo or Scenario mode, you can only place a turtle if the number of Tiles in your ocean is equal to or less than the value of the corresponding Tile Restriction Marker (e.g., 11 for the top row or 14 for the bottom row).

Completing Tiles

When you meet the conditions of a Nesting Tile, you can place your turtle on the corresponding slot. The earlier you fulfill the condition, the higher the score you receive.

Example mechanic: If you complete a Coral Tile and place a Fish of a specific color, this may fulfill the condition of a Nesting Tile requiring a certain number of fish of that color.

End of Game and Scoring

The game ends when the end-game conditions are met (refer to the manual for the specific end-game trigger).

Scoring

• Nesting Tiles: Players who complete a Nesting Tile condition first receive bonus points. Turtles not placed on Turtle Island do not provide Nesting Tiles points.
• Coral Tiles: When completed, they provide either 6 or 8 VPs (Victory Points).
• Sealife Tiles: Points are awarded based on color combinations and types of Completed Coral Tiles or Completed Fish in specific directions (rows, columns, or diagonals).
• Ecosystem Cards: May grant additional VPs based on specific fish in your ocean.

Victory and Defeat (Scenario Mode)

In Scenario Mode, there are no specific objectives beyond scoring. To win a scenario, the player must reach the minimum score required for that scenario. If the minimum is not met, the scenario is considered failed.

Tips for Winning

• Prioritize Speed: In the Turtle Island module, turn order is vital, as scoring bonuses are awarded to those who complete objectives first (first-come, first-served system).
• Strategic Planning: You may strategically delay or forgo fulfilling a Nesting Tile condition to optimize your ocean for larger objectives.
• Watch the Limits (Solo): In Solo mode, monitor the number of Tiles in your ocean to avoid exceeding the Tile Restriction Markers, which would prevent you from placing turtles on the island.