Rulebook

Introduction v
Queen Gimnax has ordered the reclamation of the northern lands.
As a cartographer in her service, you are sent to map this territory, claiming it for
the Kingdom of Nalos. Through official edicts, the queen announces which lands she
prizes most, and you will increase your reputation by meeting her demands.
But you are not alone in this wilderness. The Dragul contest your claims with their
outposts, so you must draw your lines carefully to reduce their influence.
Reclaim the greatest share of the queen’s desired lands and you will be declared the
greatest cartographer in the kingdom.

Overview v
In Cartographers, players compete to earn the most reputation stars by the
time four seasons have passed.

Each season, players draw on their map sheets and earn reputation by carrying
out the queen’s edicts before the season is over.

The player with the most reputation stars at the end of winter wins!

Credits v
Game Designer: Jordy Adan Graphic Designer: Luis Francisco
Developers: Keith Matejka and John Brieger Wordsmiths: James Ryan and Seth Johnson
Illustrator: Lucas Ribeiro Editor: Dustin Schwartz

For additional information or support, please visit us at www.thunderworksgames.com

© 2019 Thunderworks Games LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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Components v

100 MAP SHEETS

(double sided)

13 EXPLORE CARDS 16 SCORING CARDS

4 AMBUSH CARDS 4 SEASON CARDS

4 EDICT CARDS 4 PENCILS

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Game Setup v
1. Give each player a blank map sheet. Players collectively decide whether to
use the wilderness side (A) or the wastelands side (B).

2. Give each player a pencil. If playing with more than four players, additional
pencils will need to be provided.

3. Have each player write a name for their cartographer at the top of their
map sheet, optionally adding a title and family crest.

4. Arrange the four edict cards in a face-up row in the center of the play area,
so that they are in alphabetical order (edict A, edict B, etc.).

5. Separate the scoring cards into four stacks according to their card backs.
Shuffle the stacks separately, then randomly draw one card from each stack.
Place one of these scoring cards below each of the edict cards, face up.
Return the rest of the scoring cards to the game box.

6. Place the four season cards in a face-up stack, arranged in order by the
progression of seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter). The spring card should
be visible on top of the stack.

7. Shuffle the four ambush cards to form a face-down deck, then place this
ambush deck off to one side of the play area.

8. Shuffle the explore cards to form a face-down deck. Take the top card of
the ambush deck and shuffle it into this explore deck, without revealing it.
Finally, place the explore deck next to the stack of season cards.

9. The game is ready to begin!

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How to Play v
The game is played over four seasons. Each season is divided into multiple
turns, and each turn has three phases: the Explore Phase, Draw Phase, and
Check Phase. At the end of each season, players earn reputation stars.

1. EXPLORE PHASE
Reveal the top card of the explore deck and place it face up in the center of the
play area, so that all players can see it. Place the new card on top of any explore
cards already in play, displaying the cards in a column to ensure that the time
values on all revealed cards are visible.
• If the first revealed card is a ruins card,
immediately reveal another card from the
explore deck and place it on top of the ruins card. »
• If the second revealed card is also a ruins card,
immediately reveal another card from the explore
deck and place it on top of both ruins cards.

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2. DRAW PHASE
At the same time, each player independently chooses one of the terrain types
and one of the available shapes depicted on the revealed explore card, then
draws it on their map with a pencil.

• The chosen shape cannot overlap filled spaces

or the edges of the map. (Mountain spaces CHECK-CIRCLE CHECK-CIRCLE
and wasteland spaces are filled spaces.)
Times-Circle CHECK-CIRCLE
• The chosen shape does not have to be
drawn adjacent to any shapes previously CHECK-CIRCLE CHECK-CIRCLE
drawn on the map.
• The chosen shape can be rotated and/or
flipped as needed before it is drawn on
the map.
• After drawing the chosen shape, a player fills
the shape with the chosen terrain type.
• If a player cannot legally draw any of the
available shapes, they must instead draw a
1x1 square anywhere on their map and fill it
with the chosen terrain type.

• Each mountain space has four adjacent spaces. If a

player surrounds a mountain space by filling all four
adjacent spaces, they fill in the next coin symbol on
their coin track.
• Some shapes come with a coin. If a player chooses a
shape with a coin, they fill in the next coin symbol on
their coin track.

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Terrain Types v
Forest Village Farm Water Monster Mountain

Rift Lands: If the rift lands card is revealed, each player draws a
1x1 square anywhere on their map and fills it with any terrain
type shown on the card. All normal rules and restrictions apply.

Ruins: If one or more ruins cards are revealed, each player must
draw one of the available shapes, depicted on the next explore
card that is revealed, so that it overlaps a ruins space on their
map (if possible).
If a player cannot legally draw one of the available shapes so
that it overlaps a ruins space -OR- there are no unfilled ruins
spaces left on their map, they must instead draw a 1x1 square
anywhere on their map and fill it with any terrain type.

Ambush: If an ambush card is revealed, check the direction of

the arrow shown on the card. Each player immediately passes
their map sheet to their neighbor in that direction.
Each player draws the depicted shape on their neighbor’s map,
then fills the shape with the monster terrain type.
If a player cannot legally draw the depicted shape on their
neighbor’s map, they must instead draw a 1x1 square anywhere
on their neighbor’s map and fill it with the monster terrain type.
Then pass all map sheets back to their owners and discard the
ambush card, returning it to the game box.
Note: If an ambush card is revealed immediately after a ruins
card, the ambush card is resolved normally. The effect of the
ruins card will apply to the next explore card that is revealed.

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3. CHECK PHASE
Check to see if the end of the season has been 0
reached. +1
Examine the current season card to find the +2
time threshold. For example, spring has a time +2
threshold of eight. +2
Add together the time values of all explore cards that are +0
currently revealed in the column. +1
• If the total meets or exceeds the time threshold, the current =8
season ends. Proceed immediately to the end of the season.
• If the total is less than the time threshold, the current
season continues. Return to the Explore Phase.

End of the Season v

At the end of each season, players are evaluated, earning reputation
stars based on how well they followed the queen’s edicts.

SCORING THE QUEEN’S EDICTS

Examine the current season card to see which two
scoring cards to evaluate. For example, in spring,
evaluate the scoring cards below edicts A and B.

• Each player evaluates their own map to determine how many reputation
stars they earn for each of the two scoring cards being evaluated this
season, writing those numbers in the corresponding boxes.
(See pages 10–11 for details on the scoring cards.)
• Each player earns one reputation star for each filled-in coin symbol on their
coin track, writing that number in the corresponding box.
• Each player loses one reputation star for each empty space adjacent to a
monster space on their map, writing that number in the corresponding box.
(If an empty space is adjacent to multiple monster spaces, the player still
only loses one reputation star for that space.)
If the current season is winter, the game is now over; proceed to the end of the
game. Otherwise, prepare for the next season.

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PREPARING FOR THE NEXT SEASON
Discard the top card of the season stack, returning it to the game box. This
will reveal the next season card in the stack.

Reshuffle the explore deck, including all explore cards revealed this season.
Then take the top card of the ambush deck and shuffle it into the explore
deck, without revealing it.

Note: If an ambush card in the explore deck is not revealed during a season,
it remains in the explore deck for the next season, and an additional ambush
card is added! In this way, it is possible to have multiple ambush cards in the
explore deck during later seasons.

End of the Game v

Once winter has ended and players have been evaluated for the fourth time,
the game is over.
Each player totals the reputation stars that they earned across all four
seasons, writing their final score on their map sheet. The player with the most
reputation stars is the winner!
In the event of a tie, the tied player who lost the least reputation stars to
monster terrain across all four seasons is the winner. If there is a further tie,
all tied players share the victory.

Scoring Cards v
When scoring, keep in mind these general rules:
• Spaces that share a side with each other are
adjacent. Spaces that are only at diagonals with
each other are not adjacent.
• A group of connected spaces that all have the
same terrain type is a cluster. Clusters can have any
number of spaces (including just a single space).
• Monster spaces, mountain spaces, and wasteland
spaces all count as filled spaces. Only filled ruins
spaces count as filled spaces.

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 Sentinel Wood: Earn one Treetower: Earn one reputation
reputation star for each forest star for each forest space
space adjacent to the edge of surrounded on all four sides
the map. by filled spaces or the edge of
the map.

Druids planted these towering ranks to shield us from Beneath the canopy, far from bright blue skies, every
something in the wilds beyond. trail led through tangled thorns and suspicious shadows.

Greenbough: Earn one Stoneside Forest: Earn three

reputation star for each row reputation stars for each
and column with at least one mountain space connected to
forest space. The same forest another mountain space by a
space may be scored in a row cluster of forest spaces.
and a column.

I’ve mapped deserts. It’s much easier to survey forests, Mountains are clear landmarks, islands in a wide sea
and much more pleasant to take breaks in the shade. of trees, but a cartographer’s job is to chart every track
hidden in those depths.

Canal Lake: Earn one reputation The Golden Granary: Earn one
star for each water space reputation star for each water
adjacent to at least one farm space adjacent to a ruins space.
space. Earn one reputation star Earn three reputation stars
for each farm space adjacent to for each farm space on a ruins
at least one water space. space.

Pathways laid with colorful stones topped the channels The histories say that long ago this place fed an empire.
along each family’s crops, a bit of beauty among their Now nothing grows in the sands blowing among the ruins.
labors in the dirt.

Mages Valley: Earn two Shoreside Expanse: Earn three

reputation stars for each water reputation stars for each cluster of
space adjacent to a mountain farm spaces not adjacent to a water
space. Earn one reputation star space or the edge of the map. Earn
three reputation stars for each cluster
for each farm space adjacent to
of water spaces not adjacent to a
a mountain space. farm space or the edge of the map.

The wizards chose their high valley homes carefully, A true cartographer knows how to use a theodolite on
hidden from prying eyes but fertile enough for their both rock and raft. You can’t stop drawing the line just
strange harvest to thrive. because the land ends.

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 Wildholds: Earn eight Greengold Plains: Earn three
reputation stars for each cluster reputation stars for each
of six or more village spaces. cluster of villages spaces that
is adjacent to three or more
different terrain types.

There had to be six in a cluster to earn a mark on my Long ago we were a land of wanderers. But when the
map, enough to justify the queen dispatching a justice ... people put down roots they did so wisely, near everything
or a tax collector. they needed.

Great City: Earn one reputation Shieldgate: Earn two reputation

star for each village space in stars for each village space in
the largest cluster of village the second largest cluster of
spaces that is not adjacent to a village spaces.
mountain space.

In this sprawling nest of intrigue where guilds pursue Stake walls ran along paths betwen the villages, and
ancient vendettas, the queen will burn out their venom or the inhabitants rushed to defend one another when the
rule over ashes. wildclans returned.

Borderlands: Earn six The Broken Road: Earn three

reputation stars for each reputation stars for each
complete row or complete complete diagonal line of filled
column of filled spaces. spaces that touches the left and
bottom edges of the map.

Once far out beyond the edge of the map, now these What’s more incredible: the centuries of labor that it took
lands are squarely on it. Someday our next expedition to build these paved paths or the precision that laid them
will begin here. so straight?

Lost Barony: Earn three The Cauldrons: Earn one

reputation stars for each space reputation star for each empty
along one edge of the largest space surrounded on all four
square of filled spaces. sides by filled spaces or the
edge of the map.

Lines on a map may not define the loyalty of these For generations they have lived in the surrounding lands,
fiercely independent people... but none dare to explore the acrid openings in the ground.

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Solo Mode v
Set off as a lone cartographer to explore the Kingdom of Nalos. In solo mode,
you attempt to earn a prestigious title from Queen Gimnax at the end of your
journey! Gameplay has the following changes:

CHANGES TO SETUP
Do not write a title on your map sheet. This is where you’ll record the title
appointed to you by Queen Gimnax at the end of the game.

CHANGES TO AMBUSHES
When an ambush card is revealed, examine the grid in the upper
right corner of the card to see which corner of the map is shown.
On your map sheet, starting in the corner indicated by the ambush card, and
proceeding along the edge of the map in the direction indicated by the arrow,
attempt to legally draw the monster shape without flipping or rotating it.
If you cannot legally draw the monster shape anywhere along the edge of the
map, move one space in from the edge and attempt it again, starting in the
same corner and proceeding in the same direction.
Repeat this process, moving one space further in from the edge of the map
each time, until you are able to legally draw the monster shape or confirm that
it cannot be legally drawn. If the shape cannot be legally drawn, disregard the
ambush card.

CHANGES TO SCORING
30+ Legendary Cartographer
After determining your score, total
20 Master Mapsmith
the numbers in the lower corners of
the four scoring cards in play. 10 Journeyman Topographer

Then subtract that total from your 0 Apprentice Surveyor

score to find your rating. -5 Amateur Assessor
Queen Gimnax awards you a title -10 Inept Assistant
based on the highest rating that -20 Dimwitted Doodler
you met or surpassed. -30 Oblivious Inkdrinker

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