Explorers of Antarctica (2007)

Due to global warming, Antarctica is the “New Frontier”, ready to be explored and settled. Each player is an explorer looking to discover new terrain, claim territory, and build homesteads. Each round has three phases. Phase 1: Each player will stock up on resources for the discovery phase (Phase 2). Players fill their player’s area with 9 evenly distributed landscape tiles and 3 territory claims markers. Phase 2: Players will take turns exploring the continent and discovering new territory by laying landscape tiles of forests, lakes, rivers, coastlines, mountain ranges, and farmland. Each player gets one opportunity each turn to claim any unclaimed territory on the board, so there will be plenty of competition for the best land with the most abundant natural resources. New territory is continually being discovered, so predicting the value of the real estate is difficult. Phase 3: Each player may construct new buildings and upgrade existing buildings depending upon the size of her farmland and the number of adjacent resources she owns (fresh water, lumber, and stone). Players may also relocate buildings (at a cost) to a square with more farmland. Play continues in a clockwise direction with each player laying tiles, claiming a territory, and building homesteads. Players may compete for territory, seize an opponent’s claim, or tear down an opponent’s building. The game ends when all of Antarctica’s usable land and resources have been discovered. The player with the most wealth (earned by constructing buildings and discovering complete territories) is the winner.