Tips & Strategy

Plan dice placements, crew and free Colonists around the five-round economy.

How to teach it

Start with one colony, one Harbor slot and one Ship. Demonstrate a split-pip placement, then show how resources become a Ship and its first voyage. Finish by distinguishing End of Turn from End of Round.

Your first game

• Compare two benefits with one stronger benefit. A high die at a shared slot can supply both sides of a construction cost. Check Shore Fees before committing it.
• Draft for order as well as strength. Lower dice totals act sooner, which matters when a display card or shared slot is contested.
• Crew with a plan. Strength improves safety, Cargo improves Coin income, and Speed brings a Ship home sooner. Hull limits total crew; it never receives a crew bonus.
• Keep Domestic Growth visible. Two Colonists left free score before employed Colonists return. Compare that immediate Prestige with what another production or Building activation provides.
• Watch colour pairs. Cards advance the Senate immediately, unlock drafting bonuses in pairs of the same colour, and may complete your Governor’s different-colour pairs at game end.

Teaching and review videos

Meeple University’s The Great Harbor — Dice drafting and worker placement goodness and Rahdo Runs Through’s The Great Harbor — Do you like innovation in your worker placement? illustrate the placement economy. These previews show an earlier six-round version; use the current five-round structure and final card wording for play.

Publisher mechanic demonstrations cover drafting, placement and main actions.