Who goes first in Käpt'n Memo?
English summary of Zoch German rules
The player who most recently disembarked from a ship becomes captain of the first voyage.
If your rules call for a random choice, use the player picker.
Rule details
The first captain places their figure at the front of the ship; the other players join as sailors.
For each later voyage, the player to the left of the current captain becomes the new captain.
During a voyage, sailors make their decisions in any order after the captain sets the course and before the next tile is revealed.
A captain left alone on the ship continues that voyage; this is not a separate solo mode. The rules list 2–5 players.
Final-score ties compare rubies, then treasure chests, then barrels. These comparisons do not choose the first captain.
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say. If you need a tie-break, pick a player at random.
Source & edition
- Käpt'n Memo: official German rules, summarized in EnglishZoch Verlag · PDF/printed page 2, Spielvorbereitung: first captain and voyage departure; page1 native title/count; page4 sailors’ decision order and lone captain; page5 next captain to the left and final-score ties; page6 article/imprint. · Checked 2026-09-26
More starting rules
Browse available game rulesGames with a similar starting rule
- MaracaiboThe player who was most recently aboard a ship starts.
- PiratoonsThe player who was most recently on a boat starts as captain for the first round.
- AmalfiThe person who was most recently aboard a ship starts.
- IwariWhoever traveled most recently takes the first turn.
- Century: Eastern WondersThe player who was most recently on a boat starts.
Found a different instruction in your edition? Send a correction with the game, edition, and source.