Raiders of the North Sea

Step into the adventurous world of the Viking Age with Raiders of the North Sea. In this exhilarating game, players assume the roles of daring Viking warriors, eager to win favor from the mighty Chieftain by launching audacious raids on unsuspecting settlements. Assemble your loyal crew, gather essential provisions, and set sail northward in search of gold, iron, and livestock. With glory awaiting in every battle—even under the watchful eyes of the Valkyrie—it's time to prepare for raiding season!

To capture the Chieftain's admiration, players must earn victory points (VPs). The primary ways to achieve this are by raiding settlements, collecting valuable plunder, and making offerings to the Chieftain himself. How you utilize your plunder is crucial to crafting a path to success!

Gameplay unfolds as players take turns in a clockwise direction. On each turn, you’ll place a worker to carry out an action, then switch to pick up a different worker to resolve yet another action. There are two main types of actions that players can engage in:

Work: A well-prepared crew and ample supplies are the backbone of successful raids. Before setting out to pillage, players must lay the groundwork by gathering their crew and resources. This preparation takes place in the village located at the bottom of the game board, where eight unique buildings offer various actions. Start by placing your worker in an available building, then pick up a different worker from another location to continue your strategy.

Raid: After you’ve assembled your crew and stocked up on provisions, it’s time for the real excitement—raiding! To raid a settlement, whether it's a harbor, outpost, monastery, or fortress, you must fulfill three key requirements: have a sufficiently large crew, gather enough provisions (along with gold for certain targets), and deploy a worker of the appropriate color. Raiding opens up multiple avenues for scoring, including military strength, plunder, and the unique power of the Valkyries, which introduces gray and white workers into the game.

The end of the game is triggered when only one fortress raid remains, all Valkyries have been claimed, or all offerings have been made. Once the final action concludes, it’s time for players to tally their scores and see who has emerged as the greatest Viking warrior!

Unleash your inner raider and prepare for an epic journey in Raiders of the North Sea—where every turn brings excitement and strategy!