What’s the deal with island terrain? I mean they’re not hard to avoid in the slightest so what’s the point? Or am I missing something?

I felt the same way you do. So I enlarged my terrain up 200-300%, to where each fit on a 8.5 X 11 paper. IMHO terrain works better that way. Fog banks are real fun when larger. Larger terrain also gives validation ot play with the "navigator" chits. (Kikowa, Amquie and the Spanish one)

-Q

To an extent I feel you're both right. Island terrain is fairly easy to navigate around. However where I feel it can play an important role is in the meta game. putting a sargasso sea or a reef in a strategic location, (Depending on your board layout) can cause your opponet to watse movement going around the terrain on the first turn & when returning to the home island to drop off treasure. Albiet this is only a minor annoyance, it could make the difference of who gets to what wild islands first & back to their home port.

DPR is right, especially if your fleet is faster. THAT is the whole point. Place it strategically and use it the same way. It can be more than a minor annoyance. AND it can be used to hide behind if you have a weaker ship that is trying to escape. :)

I have on idea why I didn't see that. Thanks guys. :)