Teach the Game
A table-ready introduction to Ports of Call: The Board Game.
How you win
“We run shipping companies moving goods between ports. Build the fleet and factories you can afford, then turn profitable routes and completed orders into the most valuable company.”
Your Stock Exchange position decides the winner. Sail to buy goods, sell at ports, and complete orders for share value; factories can add goods to the market and award track bonuses. Watch annual ship costs so your fleet earns more than it consumes.
The boards
- World map — ports, production cities, routes and canals.
- Container Terminal — five goods markets; the rightmost container sets the price.
- Stock Exchange — your company value, starting at 100.
- Production Track — bonuses earned when a factory produces.
- Calendar — four quarters per fiscal year and the game length.
A turn
The Start player goes first; turns pass clockwise. Take one AP plus one per ship, then perform actions in any order. Ship movement and container sales are free; buying, producing, building, and orders cost AP. At quarter end, reveal News. After each fourth quarter, settle annual accounts. The full turn, trade and production rules explain movement, markets and actions.
How the game ends
The standard game ends after year four’s annual accounts. Unfinished orders lower your Stock Exchange value; Achievements raise it. Highest value wins, with ties broken by ships, factories, Achievements, then cash. A remaining tie is shared. See Game End and Scoring.
Ways to score
| Company value | How it changes |
|---|---|
| Increase | Complete orders; buy shares; earn Production Track or Achievement bonuses. |
| Decrease | Sell shares, leave orders unfinished, or sell shares to meet an unaffordable bill. |
| Annual result | Stock Exchange value in millions minus ship maintenance; gain or pay the balance. |
What each resource is for
| Piece or resource | Use |
|---|---|
| Action Points | Pay for investments, purchases, and production. One per ship plus one. |
| Money | Buy ships, goods, orders and factories; pay fees and maintenance. |
| Ships | Move containers between production cities and buyers. Large ships carry two containers and are faster with a full load. |
| Containers | Buy in their production region, sell in any other city, or deliver to an Order destination. |
| Factories | Produce one good per fiscal year and advance your Production Track marker. |
| Stock marker | Shows company value and determines the winner. |
| Orders and Achievements | Orders reward deliveries; Achievements add value when scored. |
Teaching tips
- Explain the Terminal’s rightmost price first: buying raises it, production lowers it.
- Demonstrate one route with a small and a loaded large ship; they move different distances.
- Check each player’s annual maintenance before they buy another ship.
- Read the destination and both goods on an Order before choosing a home city.