Sea of Clouds

About this board game

Sea of Clouds is a 2–4-player board game with a playing time of about 45 minutes, in which each player commands a flying pirate ship. Recruit a cutthroat crew, gather valuable Loot, collect legendary Relics, and seek out the best rum while competing for treasure.

Each round, players choose from three available Loot shares. Take the first share and inspect it secretly. You may claim all its cards, then add the top card of the deck face-down to that space, or leave it for the next player and increase its value with another card—or a Doubloon when it already contains three cards.

The card backs offer clues about what may be waiting in the shares. You might find Pirates for future battles, Relics to collect, Rum scored at the end of the game, or Items with permanent, immediate, or secret effects. If none of the visible shares appeals to you, you can instead take the top card of the deck blindly.

• Recruit Pirates and use their effects during Boarding actions.
• Collect Rum, Relics, Objects, Doubloons, and other Loot.
• Judge when to take a share and when to make it more valuable for another player.

Every four or five rounds, depending on the number of players, nearby ships clash in a Boarding action. Add your Captain’s strength to that of your Pirates, apply bonuses or penalties, and face both neighbors. Victories can earn Doubloons or let your Pirates plunder Loot, but all Pirates are discarded after the fight.

After 12 or 15 rounds, players add the value of their Doubloons and Loot cards. In Sea of Clouds, careful share selection, crew building, and well-timed battles determine who becomes the most successful captain.