There are three types of cards: play area tiles, action cards and items. The action cards have degrees of variability enabling both pure cooperative and game master driven play. There are two environments Land and Sea/Space. If players wants a science-fiction setting then use space motif for long travel or exploration. If the player wants the setting to be fantasy use the sea motif.
Land: Tiles and Cards
Land tiles can be laid out in a maze pattern, a simple grid or hidden throughout a play area perhaps using miniatures and models structures like a castle.
Space: Tiles and Cards
Space tiles are usually laid out in a grid fashion. Sea tiles can be in a grid or follow a map design with the edges indicating the shoreline.