How to play Frontier

The goal

Be the first player to reach 10 renown. You earn renown by building settlements and expansions and by holding key routes across the board. Games run 2–8 players, and bots fill any empty seats.

A turn, step by step

1. Settle the island. At setup, each player places two starting settlements on the corners of the hex board and a connecting road. Pick spots that touch varied resources and high-frequency numbers.
2. Produce resources. Each turn begins with a dice roll. Every hex showing that number produces its resource for players with an adjacent settlement — wood, brick, ore, grain or wool.
3. Trade what you need. Trade resources with other players or the bank to get the exact mix you need. Good traders win; the bots will haggle, block and counter.
4. Build and expand. Spend resources to build roads, new settlements and upgrades. Each expansion earns renown and unlocks more of the board.
5. Reach 10 renown. Keep building and holding key routes. The first player to reach 10 renown on their turn wins the game.

The five resources

Everything you build is paid for in five resources produced by the board:

Trading

You will rarely produce the exact mix you need — so you trade. Offer resources to other players, accept counter-offers, or trade with the bank at a fixed rate. Frontier's bots trade too: they will counter near-miss offers and block a trade that hands you the game.

Winning & tie-breakers

The first player to reach 10 renown on their turn wins immediately. Routes matter for the close games: roads win ties — the Longest Trail is two quiet points that decide many a photo finish, so don't neglect your network while chasing settlements.

Three tips for new players

• Open on variety — settlements touching three different resources keep you flexible.
• Trade early and often; hoarding loses to players who keep resources moving.
• Watch the leader's renown and deny the routes they need in the endgame.