Idea of the Variant:

A virtual non-player competes during the Auction Phase for control of the guild master. The player must achieve his goal before the guild master circles the board twice.

Changes to Set-up:

Draw 3 different route markers (re-draw if you get the same numbers). In each corresponding city place a "Raid" Marker from a colour not in play. It is legal for the guild master to start in a city with a raid marker. Otherwise set up as normal.

Changes to Play:

Auction Phase:

On the first turn the player bids first. A second, "neutral" player draws ONE route marker at random from the supply as her bid. Place goods as usual in the cities that correspond to the bid markers. In all other turns the player is first to bid only if he won the auction on the previous turn. (Hint: use the Reihenfolge markers to help remember.) If the "neutral" player is second and draws the same route marker as the player, the neutral player draws an additional route marker and counts them both.

Guild Master Phase:

If the neutral player outbids the player, he moves the guild master 2 spaces. Otherwise the player may decide as usual whether to move the guild master 1 or 2 spaces.

The "neutral" player is only active during the Auction and Guild Master phases -- there is no neutral ship, etc.

Each turn, just before moving, the guild master removes all goods from his current city. These goods are placed into the reserve. For example, if he starts in city 4, remove all goods from city 4, then move the guild master.

Raids:

After the player performs a raid, he must, as usual, immediately leave the city. He may choose which route to use. As before he may not travel to a port that he has previously raided.

Victory:

The player wins if he reaches 5 points before the guild master ends his second circumnavigation. This is the only way the player can win.

Advanced game:

All goods removed by the guild master are removed from the game.