Beating around the bush

I don’t like the Medieval Merchant-style production. It is too rich and lacks trade-offs for when to increase presence (explore) versus when to get resources.

New rules. Mostly cleanup and clarifications suggested by Matt Worden, but also a few changes:

• Shell routes cost more to explore. If shells are more valuable than fish they should be harder to get

• Bids on routes must start out matching the route type but can be later mixed fish and shells

• Kula Gifts track renamed to Kitoum Track. The name is of course inaccurate as Kitoum may be transferred in Real Life

• Kitoum received for deliveries to markets of size 5

• Game ending clarified for the deadlock case

• Island scoring changed to Kardinal und Konig-style area majority

• Tie breakers for end-game scoring changed to shells then kitoum.

• Added third place scoring

I may still retreat to the simpler 5/3/1 scoring for islands. The only real difference is that ties and majorities are more interesting with the current rules.