Dread Pirate Game Rules

Starting the Game

• Each player picks a pirate ship; they will not be able to change during the game. Each player also selects a home port, and the ship is placed there. The players put 10 jewels in their treasure bag and place 12 jewels on their home port. The player that rolls the highest at the beginning will start first. Rotation of game play goes counterclockwise.

Movement

• Each player rolls the dice to determine how many spaces she will move. If the player rolls doubles, she will roll twice--one for each die. Players have the option to move horizontally or vertically on the board. If a player lands on a triangle or a shark, she will have to draw a card and take action on that card. Players can raid a port if they land on a port.

Skirmishes and Raids

• If a player gets into a skirmish or decides to raid a port or ship, the player who rolls the highest wins. Whatever number was rolled on the dice is the number of jewels or treasure he takes from the loser. The loser of the raid will have to leave the port, and the loser of the skirmish can stay in the game if he doesn't run out of treasure. It's game over if he doesn't have enough.

Trading

• When a player enters a foreign port, she has the option to trade doubloons and jewels. The number of jewels to be traded is determined by the number on the die. Jewels can be traded for doubloons only. A jewel-for-jewel trade can happen only if there are no doubloons to trade.

Finishing the Game

• The game ends when all the jewels are collected from all the ports. If two players have the same amount of treasure, the one with the most doubloons is declared the winner.