Overview

Feed the Kraken is a hidden role deduction game where players take on secret identities as Sailors, Pirates, or members of a Cult. The crew of a ship must navigate across the sea, but each faction has a different destination in mind. Sailors want to reach safe harbor, Pirates aim for Pirate Bay, and the Cult Leader seeks to steer the ship into the Kraken’s maw. Through navigation votes, mutinies, and special character abilities, players must figure out who they can trust while advancing their faction’s agenda.

Components

• 1 Game board (sea map with navigation track)
• Ship miniature
• Role cards (Sailor, Pirate, Cult Leader, Cultist)
• Character cards with unique abilities
• Navigation cards (Left, Right, Straight)
• Gun tokens
• Kraken tentacle miniatures
• Lieutenant and Captain tokens
• Brig token
• Various tracking markers

Setup

1. Place the game board and ship at the starting position.
2. Distribute role cards based on player count (majority Sailors, some Pirates, 1 Cult Leader, and possibly Cultists at higher counts).
3. Each player receives a character card with a unique ability.
4. Select the starting Captain.
5. Distribute starting gun tokens.
6. Place the Kraken markers as indicated.

Turn Structure

Each round follows this sequence:

1. Captain Selects a Navigator

The Captain chooses another player to be the Navigator for this round.

2. Navigation Phase

• The Navigator receives 3 navigation cards (drawn from the deck, which contains Left, Right, and Straight cards).
• The Navigator secretly discards 1 card and passes the remaining 2 to the Captain.
• The Captain secretly discards 1 card and reveals the last card — this determines the ship’s movement direction.

3. Ship Movement

The ship moves on the map according to the revealed navigation card. The ship’s position shifts toward one faction’s goal or another.

4. Mutiny Phase (Optional)

• Any player may call for a mutiny to replace the Captain.
• Players vote (often by pointing guns). If the mutiny succeeds, the instigator becomes the new Captain.
• Players who fail a mutiny or are voted out may end up in the Brig.

5. Special Events

• Kraken encounters: If the ship enters Kraken territory, tentacles may appear and players must deal with consequences.
• Character abilities may trigger based on the current situation.

Actions

Navigation

• Navigator role: View 3 cards, discard 1, pass 2 to the Captain.
• Captain role: Receive 2 cards, discard 1, reveal the final direction.
• This two-step process creates plausible deniability — either the Navigator or Captain could have discarded a favorable card.

Mutiny

• Call for a mutiny to overthrow the current Captain.
• Requires majority support from the crew.
• Failed mutinies have consequences (may go to the Brig).

Guns

• Gun tokens can be used to influence votes and threaten other players.
• Pointing a gun at someone during a mutiny applies pressure.

Character Abilities

Each character has a unique ability that may include:

• Inspecting navigation cards
• Peeking at another player’s role
• Influencing the direction of the ship
• Special voting powers during mutiny

Scoring / Victory Conditions

The game ends when the ship reaches one of the destination zones:

• Sailors win if the ship reaches the safe harbor (typically on the right side of the board).
• Pirates win if the ship reaches Pirate Bay (typically in a different direction).
• Cult wins if the ship is steered into the Kraken’s territory and the Kraken is summoned.

There is no point scoring — the game is won or lost by faction.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• The Brig: Players can be sent to the Brig, which restricts their actions until they are freed.
• Kraken tentacles: As the ship nears Kraken territory, tentacle encounters increase in frequency and severity.
• Cult conversion: The Cult Leader may be able to convert other players to become Cultists, shifting the balance of power.
• Player count scaling: The ratio of Sailors to Pirates to Cult members changes with player count, affecting game balance.
• Captain succession: Specific rules govern who becomes Captain after a successful mutiny or other events.
• Gun rules: Guns must be managed carefully; pointing a gun is a public commitment.
• Navigation deck composition: The mix of Left, Right, and Straight cards affects probability and deduction.

Player Reference

Item	Details
Players	5-11
Factions	3 (Sailors, Pirates, Cult)
Core mechanic	Hidden roles + navigation voting
Captain role	Chooses Navigator, reveals final card
Navigator role	Discards 1 of 3 cards, passes 2
Mutiny	Majority vote to replace Captain
Win conditions	Faction-specific destinations
Publisher	Funtails