Sportomax: Created page with "= Friendly Fishing = == Overview == '''Friendly Fishing''' is a semi-cooperative set collection game in which all players share the same fishing boat. On your turn: * Move the boat to a new tile. * Collect the tile you land on. * Try to leave good opportunities for the next player. There is one important twist: * In a 3–5 player game, your final score is your own Fishing Score '''plus the Fishing Score of the player on your left'''. The game ends when the boat c..."

2026-08-10T19:23:22Z

Created page with "= Friendly Fishing = == Overview == '''Friendly Fishing''' is a semi-cooperative set collection game in which all players share the same fishing boat. On your turn: * Move the boat to a new tile. * Collect the tile you land on. * Try to leave good opportunities for the next player. There is one important twist: * In a 3–5 player game, your final score is your own Fishing Score '''plus the Fishing Score of the player on your left'''. The game ends when the boat c..."

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= Friendly Fishing =

== Overview ==

'''Friendly Fishing''' is a semi-cooperative set collection game in which all players share the same fishing boat.

On your turn:

* Move the boat to a new tile.
* Collect the tile you land on.
* Try to leave good opportunities for the next player.

There is one important twist:

* In a 3–5 player game, your final score is your own Fishing Score '''plus the Fishing Score of the player on your left'''.

The game ends when the boat can no longer move.

----

== Components ==

* 1 Double-Sided Game Board
* 1 Boat Token
* 31 Basic Fish Tiles
* 18 Special Fish Tiles
** 6 sets of 3
* 5 Action Tiles
** 1 of each type

----

== Setup ==

=== 1. Choose the Board Side ===

Place the Game Board in the center of the table.

For a '''5-player game''':

* Use the side with the '''Large Central Island'''.

For other player counts:

* Use the '''Small Central Island''' for a shorter game.
* Use the '''Large Central Island''' for a longer game.

----

=== 2. Prepare the Tiles ===

Choose Special Fish sets based on the board side:

{| class="wikitable"
! Board Side !! Special Fish Sets !! Special Fish Tiles
|-
| Small Central Island || 2 sets || 6
|-
| Large Central Island || 4 sets || 12
|}

Add the chosen Special Fish Tiles to:

* All 31 Basic Fish Tiles
* All 5 Action Tiles

Mix all tiles face-down.

Place them randomly on the water spaces of the board.

----

=== 3. Place the Boat ===

Place the Boat Token on the Central Island.

----

=== 4. Choose the First Player ===

Choose any starting player.

For example:

* The player who most recently went fishing may go first.

----

== Gameplay ==

Players take turns moving the shared Boat Token and collecting tiles.

On your turn:

# Move the Boat.
# Collect the Tile.

Then play passes to the next player.

----

== Move the Boat ==

At the start of your turn:

* Move the Boat from its current space to a tile in an '''adjacent water space'''.

Normally, the Boat must move to an adjacent tile.

'''Exception:''' Skipjacks allow a special non-adjacent move.

----

== Collect the Tile ==

After moving onto a tile:

# Remove it from the board.
# Place it face-up in front of you.

Keep your collected tiles visible so everyone can see how many of each type you have.

If you collect an Action Tile:

* Resolve its effect immediately.

----

== Returning to the Central Island ==

If there are no possible moves from the Boat's current space:

# Return the Boat to the Central Island.
# Move the Boat from the Central Island to an adjacent tile.

This is the '''only''' way the Boat may return to the Central Island.

----

== Central Island ==

The Central Island counts as '''one single space'''.

Depending on the board side:

{| class="wikitable"
! Central Island !! Adjacent Water Spaces
|-
| Small || 8
|-
| Large || 10
|}

When moving from the Central Island:

* You may move to any adjacent tile.

----

== Action Tiles ==

Action Tiles score '''0 points'''.

Whenever you collect one:

* Resolve it immediately.

----

=== Swap 2 Fish ===

Take 1 Basic Fish Tile from another player and give them 1 of your Basic Fish Tiles, if possible.

----

=== Swap 2 Tiles ===

Choose any 2 tiles still on the board.

* Swap their positions.

----

=== Slide a Tile ===

Choose 1 tile on the board.

Move it to a new space through any number of connected open water spaces.

----

=== Remove a Tile ===

Choose any 1 tile anywhere on the board.

* Return it to the box.

----

=== Double Points ===

Place the Double Points Tile beside one of the colored Common Fish icons in a corner of the board.

During final scoring:

* That Common Fish color is worth '''double points for every player'''.

----

== Basic Fish Tiles ==

There are two types of Basic Fish:

* Common Fish
* Crayfish

----

== Common Fish ==

Each Common Fish color scores according to how many fish of that color you collected.

{| class="wikitable"
! Fish of One Color !! Points
|-
| 1 || 1
|-
| 2 || 3
|-
| 3 || 6
|-
| 4 || 10
|-
| 5 || 15
|-
| 6 || 21
|}

There are 6 fish of each Common Fish color.

'''Remember:'''

* The Double Points Action Tile may cause one Common Fish color to score twice its normal value.

----

== Crayfish ==

There are 7 Crayfish.

The players with the most and second-most Crayfish score:

{| class="wikitable"
! Result !! Points
|-
| Most Crayfish || 8
|-
| Second-Most Crayfish || 4
|}

If players tie for either position:

* All tied players receive the full points for that position.

----

== Special Fish Tiles ==

Each Special Fish set contains 3 matching tiles.

Only the Special Fish sets chosen during setup are used.

----

== Kingfish ==

'''Instant Win'''

If you collect all 3 Kingfish:

* You immediately win the game.

In a 5-player game:

* You only need to collect '''2 Kingfish'''.

This victory is not shared with another player.

----

== Lunkers ==

'''Only the Last Lunker Scores'''

Whenever you collect a Lunker:

* Every other player who already has a Lunker must discard it to the box.

As a result:

* Only the most recently collected Lunker remains in play.

The remaining Lunker is worth:

* '''5 points'''

----

== Dinkers ==

Dinkers are worth:

* '''2 points each'''

Whenever you move onto a Dinker:

* You may collect it normally

'''OR'''

* Leave the Dinker where it is and immediately move the Boat again.

You may only continue moving if another legal move is available from the Dinker's space.

----

== Skipjacks ==

Skipjacks are worth:

* '''5 points each'''

Skipjacks provide a special Boat move.

You may collect a Skipjack by moving:

* In a straight line
* Through any number of connected open water spaces
* Directly onto the Skipjack

You may not move through:

* Another tile
* The Central Island

'''Important:'''

This is the only way to move the Boat to a non-adjacent tile.

----

== Shiners ==

Shiners score differently depending on how many you collect.

{| class="wikitable"
! Shiners !! Points
|-
| 1 || -2
|-
| 2 || 5
|-
| 3 || 12
|}

Collecting only 1 Shiner loses points, but collecting additional Shiners can make them valuable.

----

== Junk ==

Each Junk Tile is worth:

* '''-3 points'''

----

== Game End ==

At the start of a player's turn, first check whether the Boat has a legal move.

If no move is possible:

# Return the Boat to the Central Island.
# Check again for a legal move.

If the Boat is on the Central Island and still cannot move:

* The game ends immediately.

----

=== Skipjack Reminder ===

If Skipjacks are in play:

* Check whether a legal Skipjack move is available before ending the game.

A Skipjack may still be reachable even when no adjacent tile is available.

----

== Final Scoring ==

When the game ends, calculate each player's '''Fishing Score'''.

For games with 3–5 players, also calculate each player's '''Final Score'''.

----

== Fishing Score ==

Your Fishing Score is the total value of all scoring tiles you collected.

Include:

* Common Fish
* Crayfish
* Special Fish
* Double Points effects
* Negative points from applicable tiles

----

=== 2-Player Game ===

In a 2-player game:

* Compare Fishing Scores directly.

The player with the higher Fishing Score wins.

----

== Final Score: 3–5 Players ==

In a 3–5 player game:

Your Final Score equals:

'''Your Fishing Score + the Fishing Score of the player on your left'''

Example:

* Your Fishing Score = 21
* Left neighbor's Fishing Score = 24
* Final Score = 45

The player with the highest Final Score wins.

This means helping the player on your left can improve your own final result.

----

== Ties ==

If players tie for the highest winning score:

* They share the victory.

----

== Scoring Summary ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Tile !! Scoring
|-
| Common Fish || 1 / 3 / 6 / 10 / 15 / 21 points for 1–6 of one color
|-
| Crayfish || 8 for most, 4 for second-most
|-
| Kingfish || Collect all 3 to immediately win; only 2 required with 5 players
|-
| Lunker || Only the last remaining Lunker scores 5
|-
| Dinker || 2 points each; may leave behind and move again
|-
| Skipjack || 5 points each; special straight-line movement
|-
| Shiner || 1 = -2, 2 = 5, 3 = 12
|-
| Junk || -3 each
|-
| Action Tiles || 0 points
|}

----

== Clarifications ==

* The Boat normally moves only to an adjacent tile.
* The Central Island is one space, regardless of its physical size.
* The Boat only returns to the Central Island when no legal move exists from its current location.
* When returning to the Central Island, the active player must continue their turn by moving to an available tile.
* Skipjacks may provide legal moves that are not adjacent.
* Action Tiles are resolved immediately when collected.
* Action Tiles are worth no points.
* Collected tiles remain face-up and visible to all players.
* The Double Points Action affects every player during scoring.
* The Kingfish victory happens immediately and bypasses normal final scoring.

----

== Strategy Tips ==

* Your own collection is only part of your score in a 3–5 player game.
* Pay close attention to the player on your left—their Fishing Score contributes directly to yours.
* Leaving a useful tile available can sometimes benefit you more than collecting the best tile yourself.
* Action Tiles can dramatically change future movement paths.
* Be careful when moving tiles near the Central Island; they may affect how long the game lasts.
* If Skipjacks are in play, remember that seemingly isolated areas may still be reachable.
* Kingfish can create an immediate threat that may need to be blocked.

----

== Credits ==

* Game Design: Bruno Faidutti and Alex Randolph
* Development: Paul Salomon
* Illustration: Alisha Giroux
* Graphic Design: Jon Merchant
* Rulebook & Editing: Jason D. Kingsley
* Playtesting: Miles Bensky, Valérie Chassé, The Haveman Family, Chris Moase, Darren Neely, Tommy O’Brien, Mark Wisdon, Pete Wissinger, and more

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