Upon a Salty Ocean

In Upon a Salty Ocean, you're an ambitious merchant in 16th-century France, trying to get rich off the salted fish trade. The game takes place in Rouen, France's main port at the time, where salt is gold and ships are your ticket to wealth. Each game lasts five rounds, divided into three phases: events, actions, and end of turn. In the event phase, you deal with market surprises and the weather—because yes, even the elements conspire against your mercantile empire. In the action phase, you choose between buying salt mines, building ships, fishing, or trading in the market. Each action gets more expensive the more you repeat it, so plan wisely! And at the end of the turn, it's time to produce salt, pay debts (if any), and prepare for the next round. The winner is whoever has the most money at the end, but beware: there are limits to how much you can hoard unless you invest in special buildings. Can you impress King Francis I when he visits the city?