Objective of the Game
Der fliegende Holländer is an adventure board game where players assume the roles of captains trying to find and conquer a legendary ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman. The main objective is to reach the ghost ship by skillfully navigating and effectively employing your crew to uncover its secrets.
Game Components
- 1 game board representing the seas
- 4 captain miniatures in different colors
- 1 ghost ship miniature
- 16 treasure chest cards
- Event cards
- Crew member cards
- Resource markers (wood, sails, cannons)
- 4 captain dashboards
Setup
- Each player selects a captain miniature and receives the corresponding captain dashboard.
- Shuffle the treasure chest cards and place them face down next to the game board.
- Shuffle the event cards and place them face down on the game board.
- Each player receives starting resources (usually some wood, sail, and cannon markers).
- Players place their figures on the starting island.
Gameplay
The game is played in rounds, each divided into the following phases:
- Planning Phase: Each player secretly plans their route on the board by selecting the direction for their captain.
- Ship Movement: Based on the chosen direction, each player moves their miniature across the board.
- Event Phase: The leading player draws an event card. Events can range from weather phenomena to encounters with pirates.
- Trade and Combat Phase: Players can dock on islands to trade resources or engage in sea battles with other players.
- Supply Phase: Players allocate their acquired resources to their crew members to utilize their abilities.
Winning Conditions
The first player to gather enough clues to track down the ghost ship and engage in a final battle wins the game. This includes successfully defeating the Flying Dutchman in a final naval battle, determined by dice combat.
Strategic Considerations
- Resource Management: Clever allocation of resources can be crucial in standing against rival captains or the Flying Dutchman.
- Route Planning: Use weather cards strategically to outmaneuver competitors or avoid dangers.
- Leveraging Events: Some events may have negative outcomes, while others can be advantageous – plan your responses carefully.
