Forgotten Waters

2020

Embark on a fantastical pirate journey with Forgotten Waters board game. Uncover unique stories, explore magical worlds, and decide your own fate with every turn.

240
minutes

3 - 7
player(s)

14+

Medium

About the game

Forgotten Waters is a fascinating and immersive crossroads game set in a vibrant world of pirates, epic quests, and high-seas adventure. This game, developed by Plaid Hat Games, transports you into an engaging and thrilling narrative, making you feel like you are living a pirate’s life.

The theme of Forgotten Waters revolves around pirates, mythical creatures, and uncharted territories. As a player, you will be a part of a diverse pirate crew, each with their unique backstory. Your primary objective will be to navigate through the treacherous waters, complete thrilling tasks, and ultimately, uncover the secrets of this mysterious world.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Forgotten Waters is a rich, immersive board game with a variety of components that contribute to the gameplay. Here is a breakdown of each component and its role in the game:

1. Rulebook: The rulebook provides the comprehensive guidelines and procedures for playing the game. It is important for all players to understand the rules to ensure a smooth and engaging gaming experience.

2. Scenario Book: The scenario book contains a number of different adventures for players to choose from, each with its own storyline, objectives, and special rules.

3. Game Board: The game board represents the open sea, where most of the action in Forgotten Waters takes place. It features a hexagonal grid where players move their ship, discover islands, encounter obstacles, and engage in battles.

4. Location Cards: These cards represent specific places that players can discover and explore during their journey. Each location card has unique events and challenges that players must overcome.

5. Event Cards: Event cards are drawn at specific times during the game, introducing unexpected developments that can affect the course of the game. These can range from storms to pirate attacks.

6. Pirate Ship Token: This token represents the players’ pirate ship on the game board. Its movement and actions play a central role in the game.

7. Player Mats: Each player receives a mat that represents their character in the game. These mats have spaces for skill markers, items, and treasure, and they also track a player’s personal story progress.

8. Skill Markers: These are used on the player mats to track the development of a player’s skills over the course of the game.

9. Treasure Cards: These cards represent valuable items that players can acquire during their journey. They provide various benefits and can often be used to gain an advantage in the game.

10. Item Cards: These cards represent various objects that players can find or buy during their journey. They can help players overcome challenges or improve their abilities.

11. Dice: Dice are used to resolve actions and events in the game, adding an element of chance to the proceedings.

12. Objective Tokens: These tokens represent the main goals that the players need to achieve in each scenario. They are placed on the game board and must be reached by the players’ ship.

13. Threat Tokens: These tokens are used to track the increasing danger and urgency as the game progresses. If the threat level gets too high, it can trigger game-ending events.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Setting up the board game ‘Forgotten Waters’ requires careful attention to detail, as the game involves a variety of components. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

Step 1: Board Placement

Begin by unfolding the large hexagonal board in the center of the playing area. The board represents the ocean and the various locations the players’ ship may travel to.

Step 2: Scenarios

Choose a scenario from the scenario book and place it next to the main board. The scenario book provides the narrative and objectives for your game.

Step 3: Ship’s Log

Place the ship’s log next to the scenario book. The ship’s log will be used to track various aspects of the game, such as crew morale, ship’s hull, and supplies.

Step 4: Player Roles

Each player selects a player role. There are several roles to choose from, each with their own unique abilities. These roles include Captain, Quartermaster, First Mate, Gunner, Boatswain, and Navigator.

Captain: Responsible for making crucial decisions that can influence the course of the game.
Quartermaster: Manages the ship’s supplies and finances.
First Mate: Takes care of the crew’s morale and health.
Gunner: In charge of the ship’s cannons and combat strategy.
Boatswain: Maintains the ship’s hull and repairs any damage.
Navigator: Charts the ship’s course and navigates through various challenges.

Step 5: Pirate Boards

Each player receives a pirate board corresponding to their selected role, along with a set of markers to track their progress. The pirate board is used to track the player’s personal attributes, like brawn, aim, navigation, wit, and charm.

Step 6: Initial Resources

According to the selected scenario, distribute the initial resources to the ship’s log and players. These resources include supplies, crew members, and ship’s hull points.

Step 7: Event Cards

Shuffle the event cards and place them face down next to the main board. These cards will dictate random events that occur during the game.

Step 8: Treasure Cards

Shuffle the treasure cards and place them face down next to the event cards. Players earn these cards throughout the game for completing certain tasks or discovering new locations.

Step 9: Pirate Tokens

Each player takes a pirate token of their color and places it on the starting space of the scenario’s track on the main board. This token represents the player’s ship on the game board.

Once all these steps are completed, you are ready to embark on your adventure in ‘Forgotten Waters’. Remember, the goal is to complete the scenario’s objective while surviving the high seas and any obstacles that come your way.

Game flow Round and round we go

Forgotten Waters is a cooperative pirate-themed board game that uses an app to guide players through a narrative adventure. It’s designed for 3-7 players, although there is a 2-player variant. The game consists of several rounds, with each round having three main phases: Planning Phase, Action Phase, and Threat Phase.

Planning Phase:

During this phase, each player decides which station on the pirate ship they want to occupy. Stations might include the helm, crow’s nest, or the gun deck. Each station corresponds to different actions a player can take, such as navigation, lookout, or combat.
Players select their stations simultaneously and secretly. Once everyone has chosen, all players reveal their chosen stations. If more than one player chooses the same station, those players must discuss and decide who will take the action, and the others must choose again.
Each station also has a number, and the order players will take their actions in the next phase is determined by these numbers.

Action Phase:

Starting with the player who chose the station with the lowest number, each player takes their turn. On their turn, a player will perform the action associated with their chosen station. This could involve resolving a story event, gaining resources, or interacting with other players.
The specific actions available to each player are determined by the current scenario and are often narrated by the app. The game comes with several scenarios, each with different objectives, challenges, and possible outcomes.

Threat Phase:

After all players have taken their actions, the Threat Phase begins. During this phase, the ship might suffer damage or encounter dangers, depending on the current scenario. This could involve a pirate attack, stormy seas, or a mutiny among the crew.
The Threat Phase is also where any ongoing effects from previous rounds are resolved, such as damage to the ship or crew.

The game continues to progress through these phases until either the players achieve their objective, or the ship is destroyed. The exact win and lose conditions can vary depending on the scenario, but generally, the players must work together to complete their mission while keeping the ship intact and the crew alive.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In the thrilling board game ‘Forgotten Waters’, a player’s turn is filled with exciting choices and strategic decisions. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what can happen during a player’s turn:

1. Navigation Phase:

The start of a player’s turn begins with the navigation phase where the player in the role of the lookout decides the ship’s course. The lookout has three choices:

Follow the current heading: The ship continues on its current course without any adjustments.
Change course: The lookout can decide to change the course of the ship. This decision might be driven by the need to avoid danger, seek treasure, or pursue a different strategy.
Drop anchor: The ship can be halted to explore the location or wait out a storm.

2. Action Phase:

After the navigation phase, the action phase begins. During this phase, each player, starting with the player in the role of the first mate, chooses one action to perform from the available options on the location page in the scenario book. The available actions are:

Perform a skill check: Players can choose to test their skills against the challenges presented in the scenario. Success or failure can have a significant effect on the game.
Search for treasure: Players can opt to seek out hidden treasure, potentially gaining valuable items that can boost their abilities.
Interact with characters: Players may choose to interact with non-player characters (NPCs), which can lead to unexpected outcomes and further the narrative of the game.
Repair the ship: If the ship has taken damage, players can decide to repair it, ensuring their survival on the high seas.

3. Resolution Phase:

In the resolution phase, each action chosen is resolved in the order they were selected. The results of these actions often influence the narrative and outcome of the game. Any gained or lost resources are adjusted in this phase.

4. Threat Phase:

The final phase of a player’s turn is the threat phase, where the threat track progresses and any associated threat events are resolved. These events can include encounters with pirates, sea monsters, or other unforeseen dangers. It’s a phase of the game that adds a layer of unpredictability and tension.

Each decision made and action taken during a player’s turn can greatly influence the direction and outcome of the game, making every turn in ‘Forgotten Waters’ a strategic and immersive adventure.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

Forgotten Waters is a game filled with thrilling pirate adventures. The game ends under a few specific circumstances, all of which are detailed in the scenario book’s final pages. Players must keep a keen eye on their journey’s progress, ensuring they complete necessary actions before reaching the end.

The game can end in the following ways:

Victory: The game ends in victory when players successfully achieve the scenario’s objective. The requirements for victory vary depending on the scenario being played. Details are given in the scenario book. In most cases, this means reaching a certain location or acquiring a certain number of items or points.
Defeat: Players can lose if the ship’s discontent or hull reaches zero, or if the time runs out. In these cases, the game ends immediately, regardless of how close the players were to achieving the scenario’s objective.

Before final scoring, players must ensure they have completed the following actions:

Resolve Final Threats: Any remaining threats on the threat track must be resolved. Players take turns resolving these, starting with the player who has the first player coin.
Final Infamy Scoring: Players add up their infamy score. This is based on the infamy track position and any bonus infamy from completed objectives.
Constellation Chart: Players compare their constellation chart with the scenario’s victory conditions. Some scenarios might reward additional points for filled constellation charts.

The player with the highest final score is declared the winner. In case of a tie, the player with the highest infamy wins. If there’s still a tie, the player who performed the last action of the game wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

‘Forgotten Waters’ is a cooperative game where players embark on pirate adventures, aiming to complete a variety of objectives to score points. While the primary goal is to collectively succeed in the adventure, points are also tallied individually to determine the ultimate pirate champion.

Scoring Points:

Constellation Points: Players earn these points by successfully completing personal objectives. Each objective comes with a specified number of constellation points that are added to the player’s score upon completion.
Treasure Points: Treasure collected during the game is worth points at the end. Each treasure has a point value icon that indicates its worth.
Infamy Points: Players can move up the Infamy track during the game. At the end of the game, the player’s position on the Infamy track is converted into points.

End of Game Scoring:

At the end of the game, players tally up their constellation, treasure, and infamy points to determine their final score.
Points from all three categories are combined for a total score.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

In case of a tie, the player who has the highest position on the Infamy track wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who completed the most personal objectives wins.
If a tie persists, the player with the most treasure points wins.
Lastly, if a tie cannot be resolved by the above methods, the tied players share the victory.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Forgotten Waters is a highly immersive and interactive board game with a strong emphasis on storytelling and cooperative play. While the game’s rules are generally straightforward, there are a few special rules, exceptions, and important clarifications players must keep in mind.

1. Player Interaction:
Forgotten Waters is a game that encourages player interaction. However, it’s important to note that players cannot share or trade items unless a game rule or a card specifically allows it.

2. Pirate Council:
During the Pirate Council phase, players can vote on decisions. However, the Captain has the final say. If there’s a tie, the Captain breaks it. This rule is important in maintaining the game balance and preserving the Captain’s role.

3. Constellation Events:
In some scenarios, players may encounter Constellation Events. These are unique events that can drastically alter the course of the game. Players need to be mindful of these events as they can have both positive and negative impacts.

4. Special Scenario Rules:
Each scenario in Forgotten Waters might have its own unique set of rules. It is crucial for players to read the scenario descriptions carefully and follow any special rules that apply to their chosen scenario.

5. Threat:
The threat increases at the end of each round. If the threat reaches 10, the ship takes 1 damage. However, there are certain cards and events that can reduce the threat level, so players must watch out for these.

6. Starvation:
If the food supplies on the ship run out, players do not automatically lose the game. Instead, they must roll the starvation die, which could lead to loss of crew or other negative consequences.

Rule Clarification: Remember that specific scenario instructions always override general gameplay rules. If a card or a scenario says to do something that contradicts the rulebook, follow the card or scenario.
Rule Clarification: While the game is cooperative, each player should keep their individual objectives in mind. Players win or lose together, but the individual with the most personal points is considered the most successful pirate.
Rule Clarification: The Infamy track is not a score track. Instead, it determines player order and provides bonuses to certain activities.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies:

Specialize your Pirate: As you progress in the game, try focusing on a specific skill or two. The more points you have in a skill, the better you will be at certain tasks. Diversifying might seem like a good idea, but having a few strong skills can make a big difference in the game.
Plan Ahead: Try to anticipate future moves and plan accordingly. For example, if you are about to reach a new location, make sure you have enough supplies to face potential challenges.
Maximize your Actions: Try to get the most out of every action. Whether it’s gathering resources or completing a task, make sure you are doing the most beneficial action possible.

Beginner Tips:

Understand the Game Mechanics: Take the time to read the rulebook thoroughly and understand the game mechanics. Forgotten Waters has a lot of details and it’s important to understand how everything works together.
Cooperate with your Team: Remember that Forgotten Waters is a cooperative game. Make sure to communicate and work together with your team to overcome challenges.
Don’t Forget to Have Fun: While winning is nice, remember that the goal of playing board games is to have fun. Enjoy the journey and the storytelling aspect of the game.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Not Planning Ahead: One of the biggest mistakes in Forgotten Waters is not planning ahead. Always consider the long-term effects of your actions and try to anticipate future challenges.
Ignoring Teamwork: As a cooperative game, teamwork is crucial in Forgotten Waters. Ignoring the input of your teammates or not working together can lead to disaster.
Overlooking the Story: The story plays a significant role in Forgotten Waters. Ignoring the narrative and focusing only on the mechanics can lead to missed opportunities and a less enjoyable experience.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Optimize your Actions: Always try to perform the most beneficial action possible. This might mean sacrificing short-term gains for long-term benefits.
Use your Resources Wisely: Resources are limited in Forgotten Waters. Make sure to use them wisely and only when necessary.
Communicate: Good communication is key in any cooperative game. Make sure to discuss your plans with your teammates and coordinate your actions.