
- BGG rank
- BGG #347
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Wayfarers of the South Tigris
- 1–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2022

Rules assistance for Explorers of the North Sea: Rocks of Ruin
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Explorers of the North Sea: Rocks of Ruin is an expansion for Explorers of the North Sea released in 2018 for 1–5 players, 60–80 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Shem Phillips and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Set Collection, and Area Majority / Influence.
In Explorers of the North Sea: Rocks of Ruin, new opportunities await daring captains. Recent storms have left longships torn apart, with their precious cargo scattered across the rocky shores. Meanwhile, rumors of great fortresses in nearby regions are beginning to spread. Will you be the first to salvage the wrecks, or will you throw caution to the wind and charge the enemy fortresses for fame and glory? In addition to including components for an extra player, Rocks of Ruin also includes three new building types, 24 tiles, five large player boards, two new captain cards, shipwrecks and fortresses. —description from the publisher Also contains "The North Sea Runesaga: Fifth Player Expansion".
Explorers of the North Sea: Rocks of Ruin supports 1–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Explorers of the North Sea: Rocks of Ruin is 60–80 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Explorers of the North Sea: Rocks of Ruin for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Explorers of the North Sea: Rocks of Ruin has a complexity rating of 2.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Explorers of the North Sea: Rocks of Ruin belongs to these categories: Exploration, Medieval, and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Set Collection, and Area Majority / Influence. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Explorers of the North Sea: Rocks of Ruin are: Shem Phillips. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Explorers of the North Sea: Rocks of Ruin as an expansion for Explorers of the North Sea. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Explorers of the North Sea to use it. Check that your edition of Explorers of the North Sea is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.