The primary objective of Shipyard is to accumulate the most victory points by the end of the game. This is achieved through several avenues: constructing and successfully sailing ships, fulfilling government contracts, and strategically acquiring upgrades and bonuses throughout the game. Players must balance resource management, ship design, and action selection to optimize their point-earning potential.
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official art · Czech Games Edition (CGE)
the rules in 60 seconds▶ auto · 1/6
🧩
01
Setup
Players set up the game board with action tokens, upgrade tiles, wagon tokens, and ship parts, preparing for a four-round game.
The rules, step by step
Setup
To set up Shipyard, players first place action tokens on the main board, including a special token for two-player games that grants two coins. Upgrade tiles are randomly placed on designated spots, with some being free and others requiring payment. Wagon tokens, representing goods, are placed on their track, with the first being free and subsequent ones costing one or two coins. Ship parts (bow, midsection, stern) are stacked on their respective areas, with the first part being free and others costing one or two coins. Government contract cards are revealed, and players receive starting resources and a personal shipyard board. The round marker is placed to indicate a four-round game.
Objective
The primary objective of Shipyard is to accumulate the most victory points by the end of the game. This is achieved through several avenues: constructing and successfully sailing ships, fulfilling government contracts, and strategically acquiring upgrades and bonuses throughout the game. Players must balance resource management, ship design, and action selection to optimize their point-earning potential.
On your turn
On a player's turn, they move their pawn clockwise around the circular action track. The first available action in each section is free; moving past it costs one coin per skipped action. Actions include: acquiring upgrade tiles (some free, some costing coins) that provide passive benefits like extra movement or bonuses on sales; taking wagon tokens (goods) to sell later for varying prices; acquiring ship parts (bow, midsection, stern) to build ships; and sailing completed ships. When a ship is sailed, its speed is calculated based on its components (propeller, sails, chimney) and it moves along the map track, earning points for passing specific bonus icons. If a ship falls off the map, no points are awarded for its journey.
Scoring
Scoring occurs throughout and at the end of the game. During the game, players earn points by sailing ships, with the points determined by the ship's speed and the bonus icons it passes on the map track. At the end of the game, players score points for completed government contracts, which reward points for specific ship configurations or components. Additionally, victory points are awarded for certain upgrade tiles and for any remaining anchor icons on their personal shipyard board. The player with the highest total victory points wins.
Game end
The game concludes after four full rounds, indicated by the round marker reaching the end of its track. Alternatively, the game can end prematurely if all ship parts of a specific type (bow, midsection, or stern) are built, or if all map tiles are used up. After the final round or trigger, each player gets one last opportunity to complete any unfinished ships if they have the necessary parts. Then, final scoring takes place, including points from government contracts, remaining anchor icons, and any other end-game bonuses. The player with the most victory points is declared the winner.
Tips
To succeed in Shipyard, players should focus on efficient resource management, as coins are crucial for taking desired actions. Prioritizing upgrades that complement your strategy can provide significant passive benefits. When building ships, consider the government contracts available to maximize end-game points, but also ensure your ships have enough speed to traverse the map and collect bonuses. It's often beneficial to have a reserve ship part or two to avoid being forced into suboptimal choices. Pay attention to opponents' strategies to anticipate their moves and potentially block key actions or resources.
🔬 game anatomy
Complexity3.5 / 5
BGG rating7.3 / 10
Vibe
Strategy
Language dependence
No in-game text needed
🌐 plays without English
Play time
120 min
Players
2–4
Recommended age
11+ yrs
BGG rank
#988
✨ from Trișache · verified
Frequently asked questions
Q1What is the goal of the game?
The primary objective of Shipyard is to accumulate the most victory points by the end of the game. This is achieved through several avenues: constructing and successfully sailing ships, fulfilling government contracts, and strategically acquiring upgrades and bonuses throughout the game. Players must balance resource management, ship design, and action selection to optimize their point-earning potential.
Q2How do you set up the game?
To set up Shipyard, players first place action tokens on the main board, including a special token for two-player games that grants two coins. Upgrade tiles are randomly placed on designated spots, with some being free and others requiring payment. Wagon tokens, representing goods, are placed on their track, with the first being free and subsequent ones costing one or two coins. Ship parts (bow, midsection, stern) are stacked on their respective areas, with the first part being free and others costing one or two coins. Government contract cards are revealed, and players receive starting resources and a personal shipyard board. The round marker is placed to indicate a four-round game.
Q3How does a turn work?
On a player's turn, they move their pawn clockwise around the circular action track. The first available action in each section is free; moving past it costs one coin per skipped action. Actions include: acquiring upgrade tiles (some free, some costing coins) that provide passive benefits like extra movement or bonuses on sales; taking wagon tokens (goods) to sell later for varying prices; acquiring ship parts (bow, midsection, stern) to build ships; and sailing completed ships. When a ship is sailed, its speed is calculated based on its components (propeller, sails, chimney) and it moves along the map track, earning points for passing specific bonus icons. If a ship falls off the map, no points are awarded for its journey.
Q4How is scoring calculated?
Scoring occurs throughout and at the end of the game. During the game, players earn points by sailing ships, with the points determined by the ship's speed and the bonus icons it passes on the map track. At the end of the game, players score points for completed government contracts, which reward points for specific ship configurations or components. Additionally, victory points are awarded for certain upgrade tiles and for any remaining anchor icons on their personal shipyard board. The player with the highest total victory points wins.
Q5When and how does the game end?
The game concludes after four full rounds, indicated by the round marker reaching the end of its track. Alternatively, the game can end prematurely if all ship parts of a specific type (bow, midsection, or stern) are built, or if all map tiles are used up. After the final round or trigger, each player gets one last opportunity to complete any unfinished ships if they have the necessary parts. Then, final scoring takes place, including points from government contracts, remaining anchor icons, and any other end-game bonuses. The player with the most victory points is declared the winner.
Q6What tips are there for beginners?
To succeed in Shipyard, players should focus on efficient resource management, as coins are crucial for taking desired actions. Prioritizing upgrades that complement your strategy can provide significant passive benefits. When building ships, consider the government contracts available to maximize end-game points, but also ensure your ships have enough speed to traverse the map and collect bonuses. It's often beneficial to have a reserve ship part or two to avoid being forced into suboptimal choices. Pay attention to opponents' strategies to anticipate their moves and potentially block key actions or resources.
Q7How much does Shipyard cost?
No store is currently tracking Shipyard. Check the Prices tab — you can set a price alert to be notified when it appears.
Q8Where can I buy Shipyard cheapest?
Check the Prices tab — howtoplay.ro aggregates offers from 7+ Romanian board-game stores and tracks price history.
Q9How do you play Shipyard?
Shipyard is a economic game, for 2–4 players, taking ~120 minutes, featuring contracts. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about Shipyard — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q10How many players does Shipyard support?
Shipyard is played by 2–4 players.
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Shipyard
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