How to Play Cartographers Map Pack 3: Undercity

Quick answer

To play Cartographers Map Pack 3: Undercity, use it with either Cartographers or Cartographers Heroes. Give each player a double-sided map sheet, choose the above-ground or below-ground side, shuffle in the three Undercity scoring cards, and follow the normal Cartographers turn sequence. The key rule is that every shape you draw must be either completely above ground or completely below ground, and all shapes must stay connected to one another.

What comes in the Undercity map pack

Undercity is a map pack, not a standalone game. It includes 75 double-sided new map sheets featuring above-ground and below-ground regions, plus 3 new scoring cards that are specifically for use with this map pack. Because the map sheets are double-sided, each player chooses which side to use before the game begins. The above-ground side plays more like a standard Cartographers map, while the below-ground side introduces tighter spaces and different region shapes. You will still need a base copy of Cartographers or Cartographers Heroes to play.

Set up the Undercity map pack correctly

Separate the three Undercity scoring cards from your other scoring cards. If you are using Cartographers Heroes, check whether the base game's scoring deck already includes cards with the same names, and remove duplicates so you do not accidentally score the same condition twice. Shuffle the Undercity scoring cards into the scoring deck for the current season or game. Each player then takes one double-sided map sheet and chooses either the above-ground or below-ground side. All players can use different sides, but the drawing rule applies the same way to everyone.

The above-ground and below-ground drawing rule

This is the rule that makes Undercity different from a standard map. When you draw a shape, it must be placed either completely above ground or completely below ground. You cannot split a single shape across the two areas. In addition, every shape you draw must remain connected to at least one other shape you have already drawn. This means your first shape can go anywhere legal, but every later shape must touch your existing map. The connection requirement applies across the whole sheet, so an above-ground shape can connect to a below-ground shape as long as the two shapes share an edge.

How Undercity scoring cards change your priorities

The three Undercity scoring cards reward specific patterns on the new map. Because the map is split into above-ground and below-ground regions, some scoring conditions may favor keeping certain terrain types in one region rather than spreading them out. Read all three scoring cards before you draw your first shape, and decide early whether you are building a wide connected network or a compact cluster. If a scoring card rewards empty spaces or specific adjacencies, the connection rule can make those harder to achieve later, so plan your first few shapes around the highest-value scoring card.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common mistake is drawing a shape that crosses the boundary between above-ground and below-ground. Once placed, that shape is illegal and cannot be corrected without disrupting the game. Another frequent error is forgetting the connection rule when placing a shape in a new region. A shape can be in a different region from your existing map, but it still needs to touch something you have already drawn. Finally, do not assume the Undercity scoring cards work the same way as the base game's scoring cards. Read each one carefully, because the above-ground and below-ground split can change which shapes are actually worth points.

Undercity setup and play steps

1. Choose your base game and map side: Place either Cartographers or Cartographers Heroes on the table. Give each player one Undercity double-sided map sheet and have them choose the above-ground or below-ground side before any cards are revealed. Checkpoint: every player should know which side they are using before the first scoring card is drawn.
2. Shuffle the three Undercity scoring cards into the deck: Remove any duplicate scoring cards from the base game if they share a name with an Undercity card. Shuffle the three Undercity scoring cards into the scoring deck for the game. Common mistake: leaving duplicate scoring cards in the deck, which can cause the same condition to score twice.
3. Draw shapes completely above or completely below ground: On each turn, place the revealed shape entirely in one region. Do not let any part of the shape cross the boundary between the two regions. Checkpoint: if a shape touches both regions, it is illegal and must be placed differently.
4. Keep every shape connected to your existing map: Your first shape can go anywhere legal. Every shape after that must touch at least one shape you have already drawn, even if it is in the other region. Common mistake: placing a shape in a new region without connecting it to your existing network.
5. Score the Undercity cards at the end of each season: Apply the three Undercity scoring cards along with the normal scoring cards. Read each Undercity card carefully, because the above-ground and below-ground split can change which shapes actually earn points. Next step: after one game, try the other side of the map sheet to see how the scoring priorities change.

Product facts

• Cartographers: Map Pack 3, Undercity: Cartographers: Map Pack 3, Undercity can be played with either Cartographers or Cartographers Heroes. It includes 75 double-sided new map sheets featuring above-ground and below-ground regions and 3 new scoring cards specifically for use with this map pack. You can add Undercity to whichever Cartographers base game you already own, and the double-sided sheets let each player choose a different side without needing extra components.