Clippers

Shipping & Trade in the South Pacific

THEME
During the second half of the 19th to the beginning of the 20th centuries, great trading companies exploited the new trade opened to the South Pacific. This was the age of the large, fast, and strong-hulled Clipper ship.
In CLIPPERS, the players plan naval routes of 6 different trading companies in the South Pacific Islands. The object of the game is for each player to get as many of the trading companies to reach islands where the player has ports. Points are scored for each trade route that reaches a player’s port.
The winner of the game is the player with the most points once no more trade routes can be added.

RULES IN BRIEF
Players represent different trade companies and build new trade routes, and construct ports on new islands every turn. At the start of a turn, a player can acquire special cards which give them extra actions, for a price.
However, the trade companies have limits to their routes, and a player must carefully balance short term bonuses against long term investments on other islands — and must remember that every move can help their opponents as well.

CHARACTERISTICS
A game of investment and of management from Alan R. Moon, one of the most famous and prolific designers of the last decade. This is a game for the entire family, with simple and short rules. There is a clever mix of strategy and tactics, which makes for a lively and fast-moving game.