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Merchants Cove
Final Frontier Games · 2021
1–460–90 min14+ yrs2.8/5 complexity7.4 BGG#983 BGG9,3 KStrategy
⚡ short answer
How do you play Merchants Cove?
The primary objective in Merchants Cove is to accumulate the most gold by the end of the game. Gold is earned by producing goods specific to your character and selling them to adventurers who arrive at the cove. Players must also manage corruption, as rogues and certain actions can lead to negative points if not mitigated. Strategic use of character abilities, efficient production, and smart market timing are key to becoming the wealthiest merchant.
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FromRON 559
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the rules in 60 seconds▶ auto · 1/6
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01
Setup
Place the main board, ships with adventurers, villain cards, and town cards. Each player chooses a character with a unique player board. Set up the time tracker and gold tracker.
The rules, step by step
Setup
Begin by setting up the large main game board. Place the six ship miniatures on the sea spaces, three to the left and three to the right of the island. For each ship, draw two random adventurer tokens from the bag and place them on board. Consult the active villain card to see if any drawn rogues are placed on ships or returned to the bag. Lay out four town cards in the designated spaces. Each player selects a unique character (Blacksmith, Alchemist, Captain, or Time Traveler) and takes their corresponding player board and components. Place player time markers on space '1' of the clock, and the market phase marker on '12'. Place the two mouse markers on the clock hands. Each player starts with a specific amount of gold and resources based on their chosen character.
Objective
The primary objective in Merchants Cove is to accumulate the most gold by the end of the game. Gold is earned by producing goods specific to your character and selling them to adventurers who arrive at the cove. Players must also manage corruption, as rogues and certain actions can lead to negative points if not mitigated. Strategic use of character abilities, efficient production, and smart market timing are key to becoming the wealthiest merchant.
On your turn
A game round consists of three phases: Boat Phase, Action Phase, and Market Phase. In the Action Phase, players take turns based on their position on the time tracker. The player furthest back on the clock takes their turn. They move their time marker forward by the cost of their chosen action (indicated by hourglass symbols on their player board or town cards). Actions include producing goods, recruiting townspeople, or activating special character abilities. If a player's time marker crosses an adventurer symbol on the clock, they draw a random adventurer from the bag and place them on any available ship. If multiple players are on the same space, the player whose marker is on top goes first. This time-based turn order allows for tactical decisions on when to take longer or shorter actions.
Scoring
Throughout the game, gold earned from selling goods is tracked on the main board. For every 100 gold accumulated, a player receives a ruby. At the end of the game, a final scoring round takes place. Players earn additional gold for guild symbols on their collected town cards, with the value of each symbol determined by the number of adventurers of that color in their respective guild houses. Conversely, players receive minus points for each corruption symbol on their cards, multiplied by the number of rogues in the hideout. The player with the highest total gold (including rubies and adjusted for corruption) is declared the winner.
Game end
The game is played over three complete rounds. Each round progresses through the Boat Phase (loading ships with adventurers), the Action Phase (players taking turns to produce goods and recruit townspeople), and the Market Phase (selling goods and resolving corruption). After the third Market Phase, the game concludes with a final scoring to determine the wealthiest merchant. The game can also be played solo, utilizing a dedicated card set and a unique 'Hawker' player board to simulate an opponent.
Tips
Mastering your character's unique production process is crucial. For the Blacksmith, this involves manipulating dice to meet target sums for large or small goods, potentially incurring corruption for lower sums. The Alchemist collects colored marbles from a decanter to brew potions and elixirs, with combinations determining the type of good. The Captain navigates ships across the sea, fishing for small goods or salvaging treasure for large goods, using coins to extend movement. The Time Traveler uses two figures to move across portals, gaining artifacts and manipulating time. Understanding how to best utilize your character's actions, when to recruit townspeople for ongoing benefits, and how to manage the dynamic market demand created by arriving adventurers will significantly impact your success.
game anatomy
Complexity2.8 / 5
BGG rating7.4 / 10
Vibe
Strategy
Language dependence
No in-game text needed
Play time
60–90 min
Players
1–4
Recommended age
14+ yrs
BGG rank
#983
from Trișache · verified
Frequently asked questions
Q1What is the goal of the game?
The primary objective in Merchants Cove is to accumulate the most gold by the end of the game. Gold is earned by producing goods specific to your character and selling them to adventurers who arrive at the cove. Players must also manage corruption, as rogues and certain actions can lead to negative points if not mitigated. Strategic use of character abilities, efficient production, and smart market timing are key to becoming the wealthiest merchant.
Q2How do you set up the game?
Begin by setting up the large main game board. Place the six ship miniatures on the sea spaces, three to the left and three to the right of the island. For each ship, draw two random adventurer tokens from the bag and place them on board. Consult the active villain card to see if any drawn rogues are placed on ships or returned to the bag. Lay out four town cards in the designated spaces. Each player selects a unique character (Blacksmith, Alchemist, Captain, or Time Traveler) and takes their corresponding player board and components. Place player time markers on space '1' of the clock, and the market phase marker on '12'. Place the two mouse markers on the clock hands. Each player starts with a specific amount of gold and resources based on their chosen character.
Q3How does a turn work?
A game round consists of three phases: Boat Phase, Action Phase, and Market Phase. In the Action Phase, players take turns based on their position on the time tracker. The player furthest back on the clock takes their turn. They move their time marker forward by the cost of their chosen action (indicated by hourglass symbols on their player board or town cards). Actions include producing goods, recruiting townspeople, or activating special character abilities. If a player's time marker crosses an adventurer symbol on the clock, they draw a random adventurer from the bag and place them on any available ship. If multiple players are on the same space, the player whose marker is on top goes first. This time-based turn order allows for tactical decisions on when to take longer or shorter actions.
Q4How is scoring calculated?
Throughout the game, gold earned from selling goods is tracked on the main board. For every 100 gold accumulated, a player receives a ruby. At the end of the game, a final scoring round takes place. Players earn additional gold for guild symbols on their collected town cards, with the value of each symbol determined by the number of adventurers of that color in their respective guild houses. Conversely, players receive minus points for each corruption symbol on their cards, multiplied by the number of rogues in the hideout. The player with the highest total gold (including rubies and adjusted for corruption) is declared the winner.
Q5When and how does the game end?
The game is played over three complete rounds. Each round progresses through the Boat Phase (loading ships with adventurers), the Action Phase (players taking turns to produce goods and recruit townspeople), and the Market Phase (selling goods and resolving corruption). After the third Market Phase, the game concludes with a final scoring to determine the wealthiest merchant. The game can also be played solo, utilizing a dedicated card set and a unique 'Hawker' player board to simulate an opponent.
Q6What tips are there for beginners?
Mastering your character's unique production process is crucial. For the Blacksmith, this involves manipulating dice to meet target sums for large or small goods, potentially incurring corruption for lower sums. The Alchemist collects colored marbles from a decanter to brew potions and elixirs, with combinations determining the type of good. The Captain navigates ships across the sea, fishing for small goods or salvaging treasure for large goods, using coins to extend movement. The Time Traveler uses two figures to move across portals, gaining artifacts and manipulating time. Understanding how to best utilize your character's actions, when to recruit townspeople for ongoing benefits, and how to manage the dynamic market demand created by arriving adventurers will significantly impact your success.
Q7How much does Merchants Cove cost?
Merchants Cove costs around 559 RON in Romania.
Q8Where can I buy Merchants Cove cheapest?
The lowest price for Merchants Cove right now is 559 RON at Regatul Jocurilor. The Prices tab lists every store currently tracking it.
Q9How do you play Merchants Cove?
Merchants Cove is a economic game, for 1–4 players, taking ~60–90 minutes, featuring commodity speculation. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about Merchants Cove — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q10How many players does Merchants Cove support?
Merchants Cove is played by 1–4 players.
2 shops
All prices
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Regatul JocurilorCHEAPESTKickstartereasyboxCultural voucher
Merchants Cove (2025 Kickstarter Edition)
free over RON 149
● in stock
RON 559
Regatul JocurilorEnglish editioneasyboxCultural voucher
Merchants Cove (English Standard Edition)
○ out of stock
RON 299
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Price history
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Price trend over the last 90 days: minimum 209 lei, maximum 559 lei, now 244 lei.
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