Captain Sonar

To set up Captain Sonar, first divide your playing area into two distinct team zones using the provided screens, ensuring each team has its own private space. Select a scenario from the manual and decide on a game mode: turn-by-turn (using the light side of the player boards) or simultaneous (using the dark side). Each player receives a dry-erase marker. Roles are then assigned based on the number of players: Radio Operator (who also gets a transparent overlay for tracking), Captain, First Mate, and Engineer. In a two-player game, one player acts as the Radio Operator, while the other takes on the roles of Captain, First Mate, and Engineer. The Captain and Radio Operator should sit next to each other. Finally, the Captain secretly marks their submarine's initial position on their map.

The main objective in Captain Sonar is to be the first team to successfully inflict four points of damage on the opposing team's submarine. However, the specific victory conditions can vary depending on the chosen scenario, so always refer to the scenario's rules for any unique win conditions.

Gameplay revolves around four distinct roles on each submarine. The Captain has three main responsibilities: announcing the submarine's route (moving one space in a cardinal direction without crossing islands or previous paths), ordering the submarine to surface (announcing the sector number and erasing their historical route), and activating systems. The Radio Operator's primary task is to track the enemy submarine's movements using their transparent overlay. The First Mate manages the submarine's system indicators, marking a sub-system area after each announced route, and announcing when a system is ready for activation. The Engineer is responsible for managing damage, marking a damage cross in the corresponding panel after each route, and repairing systems when a full circuit of damage is marked.

Scoring in Captain Sonar is directly tied to damaging the enemy submarine. When a torpedo is launched, the outcome depends on the enemy's position: a miss (more than one space away), an indirect hit (adjacent, including diagonally, for one damage), or a direct hit (on the same space, for two damage). Mines, when detonated, also inflict damage based on proximity. The first team to accumulate four damage points on the opponent's submarine typically wins the game, though scenario-specific scoring rules may apply.

The game concludes immediately when one team successfully inflicts four points of damage upon the opposing team's submarine, leading to their victory. Alternatively, certain scenarios may introduce unique end-game conditions or objectives that, when met, will also bring the game to a close.