Raiders of the North Sea rules: how to play and how to score

Raiders of the North Sea quick rules

The goal

You are Viking warriors trying to impress the Chieftain. Recruit a crew in the village, get provisions ready, then raid harbours, outposts, monasteries and fortresses. Raids earn points and plunder: gold, iron and livestock, which you can also offer to the Chieftain. In the end, the most points wins.

The basic principle

You always start and end your turn with a single Worker in hand. On your turn, place that Worker on the board, then take another one back. Workers are black, gray or white: some spaces only accept certain colors. Each turn, you either work in the village to prepare a raid, or go on a raid at sea.

Working to prepare a raid

Place your Worker on a free village building and take its action, then take back the Worker from another building and take that action too. The Barracks hires a crew member (5 at most), the Mill gives Provisions, the Silversmith Silver, the Gate House two cards, the Town Hall plays a card’s effect, the Armoury improves your armour, and the Long House is for Offerings to the Chieftain.

Going on a raid

You need enough crew, enough Provisions (sometimes Gold) and a Worker of the right color: it’s all on the target. Your Worker stays there until the end. Pay, roll the dice and add your military strength (crew, card bonuses, armour): depending on the total, you score points. Then take a set of plunder and the Worker that was on it.

The Valkyries

Each Valkyrie in your plunder kills a crew member: discard a card of your choice. In return, move up one space on the Valkyrie track, worth up to 15 points for 7 Valkyries. With no crew left to sacrifice, extra Valkyries don’t count.

The end of the game

The game ends when only one set of plunder is left in the Fortresses, the Offering pile is empty, or no Valkyrie is left on the board. The current player finishes their turn, then everyone, including them, plays one last turn.

Scoring

Keep the points scored during the game, plus 50 if your Ship card is flipped. Add your Valkyrie and Armoury tracks, your Offerings, the points on your Champions and Warlords, then your plunder: 1 point per Gold, 1 per Iron, 1 per two Livestock. On a tie, the player furthest along the Valkyrie track wins, then the Armoury track.

Beginner traps

Taking back the Worker you just placed (not allowed); looking for a second action after a raid (you take the Worker from the plunder, that’s it); keeping more than 8 Silver, 8 Provisions or 8 cards at the end of your turn; taking Valkyries with no crew in reserve.

How to score Raiders of the North Sea

Points scored during the game

Your position on the score track (raids), plus 50 if your Ship card is flipped.

Valkyrie points

Based on your space on the track, 7 at most: space 1, 0 points; space 2, 1; space 3, 2; space 4, 4; space 5, 7; space 6, 10; space 7, 15.

Armoury points

2 points per step of 3 spaces on the Armoury track (10 spaces at most): 2 at space 3, 4 at space 6, 6 from space 9.

Offerings

The value of the Offering tiles you took.

Champions and Warlords

The points printed on the Champions and Warlords in your crew.

Gold, Iron and Livestock left

1 point per Gold, 1 per Iron, 1 per pair of Livestock (a single Livestock scores nothing).

Hall of Heroes

The points printed under your rightmost Quest or Reputation tile.

Fields of Fame

The points for your position on the Fame track, and those of your Subdued Jarls still alive, following each card’s condition.

Worked example

Emma ends on 62 on the score track. Space 5 on the Valkyrie track: 7 points. Space 7 on the Armoury track: 4 points. Offerings: 18. Champions: 6. She has 3 Gold, 2 Iron and 5 Livestock left: 3 + 2 + 2 = 7. Total: 62 + 7 + 4 + 18 + 6 + 7 = 104 points.

Common mistakes

• Reading the Valkyrie space as points: space 7 is worth 15 points, space 3 only 2.
• Scoring 1 point per Livestock: you need two for 1 point.
• Forgetting the 50 points of a flipped Ship card.
• Breaking ties on plunder: the Valkyrie track decides, then the Armoury track.

How to set up Raiders of the North Sea

Setup comes in four parts, the same at every player count.