Scholars of the South Tigris

2023

Scholars of the South Tigris is an intriguing board game that invites players to journey into the rich history and culture of ancient Mesopotamia. The game is set in the fertile plains between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, during the time when the first great cities were rising from the dust. In the game, players become the scholars and leaders of these nascent civilisations, striving to develop their cities, advance their knowledge, and establish their dominance over the region. The objective is to build the most prosperous city by accumulating points in various areas such as culture, warfare, commerce, and ... Read more

90
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

12+

Heavy

About the game

Scholars of the South Tigris is an intriguing board game that invites players to journey into the rich history and culture of ancient Mesopotamia. The game is set in the fertile plains between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, during the time when the first great cities were rising from the dust.

In the game, players become the scholars and leaders of these nascent civilisations, striving to develop their cities, advance their knowledge, and establish their dominance over the region. The objective is to build the most prosperous city by accumulating points in various areas such as culture, warfare, commerce, and agriculture.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The board game ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’ includes multiple components. Each component plays a unique role in the game and interacts with the gameplay in different ways:

Game Board

The Game Board represents the South Tigris region. It is divided into various territories, each with its research sites and routes connecting them. Players move their scholars around this board, trying to reach valuable research sites and establish their presence.

Scholar Tokens

Each player has a set of Scholar Tokens in a distinct color. These tokens represent the player’s scholars on the board. Players move their tokens around the board to research sites to accumulate knowledge and prestige.

Knowledge Cards

Knowledge Cards are the primary means of scoring points. Players acquire these cards by reaching and researching various sites on the game board. Each card has a knowledge type and a point value, contributing to a player’s overall score and strategic advantage.

Prestige Tokens

Prestige Tokens are earned by completing certain actions or achieving specific milestones during the game. These tokens provide additional points at the end of the game, making them a valuable resource for players to acquire.

Route Cards

Route Cards are used to determine a player’s movement on the game board. Each card indicates a specific route that a player’s scholar can take during their turn. Strategic use of these cards is crucial for efficient movement and reaching desirable research sites.

Action Cards

Action Cards provide players with unique actions or advantages during the game. These can include additional movements, extra research opportunities, or the ability to hinder other players. When played strategically, these cards can significantly impact the game.

Research Dice

Research Dice are rolled when a player’s scholar reaches a research site. The outcome of the roll determines the success of the research and the amount of knowledge acquired. These dice add an element of chance to the game, ensuring that no two games are the same.

First Player Marker

The First Player Marker indicates who begins the game. This marker rotates among players each turn, ensuring everyone gets a chance to play first, which can provide strategic advantages.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Scholars of the South Tigris is an engaging board game that combines strategy, planning, and a bit of luck. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up the game:

Step 1: Assign Player Roles

Each player chooses a scholar token. Each scholar represents a different role with unique abilities. The roles include the Historian, the Engineer, the Merchant, and the Explorer.
Each player places their scholar token on the starting position on the game board.

Step 2: Arrange the Game Board

The game board is placed in the center of the table. Make sure every player can easily reach it.
Shuffle the deck of ‘Ancient Wisdom’ cards and place them face down next to the game board. This forms the draw pile.
Reveal the top three cards from the ‘Ancient Wisdom’ deck and place them face up next to the draw pile. These cards are the initial available wisdoms for the players to acquire.

Step 3: Prepare Initial Resources

Each player receives a starting set of resources. These include 5 knowledge tokens, 3 influence tokens, and 1 artifact token.
These resources are placed in front of the players in their respective areas.

Step 4: Set up Random Elements

Shuffle the ‘Event’ deck and place it face down on its designated spot on the game board.
Draw the top card of the ‘Event’ deck and place it face up next to the deck. This card represents the initial event that will influence the game.
Shuffle the ‘Resource’ deck and deal 5 cards to each player. Players can keep these cards hidden from other players.

Now, everything is set for the game to begin. Remember, the goal of the game is to gain the most prestige points by wisely using your resources, acquiring ancient wisdom, and overcoming events. May the best scholar win!

Game flow Round and round we go

The game of ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’ is a complex, strategy-based game that involves a sequence of rounds and phases. It is a game that involves careful planning, strategic decision-making, and a keen understanding of the game’s rules and phases.

Game Structure:

The game structure of ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’ is divided into a series of rounds. The game continues until one player is able to meet the victory condition, which is generally established at the beginning of the game. Each round consists of three main phases: the Planning Phase, the Action Phase, and the Resolution Phase.

Planning Phase:

The Planning Phase is the first phase of each round. During this phase, players are given the opportunity to prepare for the upcoming round by:

Acquiring Resources: Players can acquire resources based on their current position on the game board.
Strategizing: Players can discuss strategies and form alliances with other players.
Setting Goals: Players decide what they aim to achieve during the Action Phase.

Action Phase:

The Action Phase is the second phase of each round. During this phase, players perform actions based on their planning. Actions include:

Moving: Players can move their pieces across the game board.
Trading: Players can trade resources with other players.
Building: Players can use their resources to build structures or improve their existing ones.
Attacking: Players can choose to attack other players to gain control over their resources or territories.
Defending: Players can defend their territories from other players’ attacks.

Resolution Phase:

The Resolution Phase is the final phase of each round. During this phase, the outcomes of the actions taken in the Action Phase are determined:

Conflict Resolution: If any players have attacked each other, the results of these conflicts are resolved.
Resource Count: Players count their resources to see if they have met the victory condition.
Preparing for Next Round: After all conflicts are resolved and resources are counted, the board is reset for the next round. Players retain their resources and any changes to the game board remain in place.

These three phases repeat in sequence until one player meets the victory condition and is declared the winner of ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Playing a round in ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’ involves a series of strategic decisions and actions. Each player’s turn consists of the following possibilities:

1. Drawing a Card:

At the start of each turn, the player has the option to draw a card from the library deck. This action can provide the player with valuable resources or actions that can be used later in the game. The exact card drawn is unpredictable which adds an element of chance to the game.

2. Placing a Scholar:

After drawing a card, the player may choose to place one of their scholars on the game board. The placement of a scholar can secure valuable territory and resources for the player. Strategic placement of scholars can also block other players from gaining access to certain resources.

3. Activating a Scholar:

A player can choose to activate a scholar on the board. This allows the player to perform an action that is specific to the location of the scholar. Actions can include gathering resources, building structures, or initiating a trade. The strategic use of scholar activations can greatly influence the outcome of the game.

4. Trading resources:

A player may choose to trade resources with another player. This can be a strategic decision if a player needs a specific resource that they do not currently have. However, trading can also benefit the other player, so careful consideration must be given to this action.

5. Building a structure:

A player can choose to build a structure if they have the necessary resources. Structures can provide a player with ongoing benefits for the rest of the game. The decision to build a structure can be a significant strategic move.

6. Declining to take an action:

Finally, a player has the option to decline to take an action and pass their turn. This can be a strategic choice if the player feels that none of the available actions would benefit them. However, choosing to pass a turn also means missing out on potential opportunities.

Each of these choices can significantly affect the gameplay of ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’. By carefully considering their options and making strategic decisions, players can influence the outcome of the game.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’ is a strategic experience that involves various elements such as gathering resources, building infrastructures, and gaining knowledge. The game ends under certain conditions and has an intriguing scoring system.

Game End Conditions

The game of ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’ concludes when one of the following conditions is met:

When a player has built all their buildings on the game board.
When there are no more scholars left in the scholar pool.
When the last card of the resource deck has been drawn.

Pre-Score Actions

Before the final scoring, every player must perform the following actions:

Resource Conversion: Players can convert their remaining resources into knowledge points. The conversion rate is determined by the market conditions on the game board.
Scholar Placement: Players can place any remaining scholars in their hand onto any available spaces on the board. Scholars placed in this way do not activate any abilities or effects.

Scoring

Upon the completion of the pre-score actions, the final scoring takes place. The victory conditions are as follows:

Knowledge Points: Players add up the knowledge points they’ve accumulated throughout the game. Each knowledge point is worth one victory point.
Building Bonus: Players receive bonus points for each completed building on the game board. The number of bonus points is specified on the building card.
Scholar Bonus: Players receive bonus points for each scholar they have on the game board. The number of bonus points is specified on the scholar card.
Resource Bonus: Players receive one bonus point for every three unused resources they have at the end of the game.

The player with the highest total score is declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the player with the most remaining resources wins. If there is still a tie, the player who went first wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Scholars of the South Tigris is a strategic game where players compete for dominance in various scholarly disciplines. The game uses a unique scoring system that rewards players for their success in different areas. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the scoring system.

1. Scholarly Disciplines:

For each scholarly discipline, the player with the most tokens at the end of the game receives 5 points.
The player with the second most tokens in a discipline receives 3 points.
The player with the third most tokens in a discipline receives 1 point.

2. Achievements:

Each Achievement Card a player has at the end of the game is worth the number of points indicated on the card.

3. Remaining Resources:

Each remaining resource (books, scrolls, etc.) a player has at the end of the game is worth 1 point.

4. Bonus Tiles:

Each Bonus Tile a player has at the end of the game is worth the number of points indicated on the tile.

In the event of a tie, the tie-breaking rules are as follows:

The player with the most Achievement Cards wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most Bonus Tiles wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most remaining resources wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who went first in the game wins.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

The board game ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’ is filled with a rich tapestry of rules and gameplay mechanics, with several special rules and exceptions that can significantly impact the flow of the game. While the basic rules are straightforward, these special scenarios can add an extra level of complexity and strategic depth.

Special Rule: Scholarly Parley

One of the most significant of these rules is the Scholarly Parley mechanic. Normally, players cannot interact directly with each other’s scholars. However, if a player’s scholar is in the same region as another player’s scholar, they may choose to initiate a Parley instead of performing a standard action. This allows the players to exchange knowledge cards from their hand, potentially enabling them to complete a research goal more quickly.

Exception: Forbidden Knowledge

An exception to the standard gameplay rules involves the Forbidden Knowledge cards. Unlike regular knowledge cards, Forbidden Knowledge cannot be acquired through normal means. Instead, they are only gained when a player’s scholar visits a library that has been desecrated. While these cards can provide powerful bonuses, they also carry a risk. If a player ever has more Forbidden Knowledge than regular knowledge, they are immediately eliminated from the game.

Rule Clarification: Library Rebuilding

A common point of confusion involves the process of rebuilding a desecrated library. While the game’s basic rules state that a player can rebuild a library by spending two knowledge cards of the same type, it’s important to note that this action can only be taken if the player’s scholar is in the same region as the desecrated library. Furthermore, the player cannot have any Forbidden Knowledge cards in their hand when they take this action.

Special Rule: The Final Turn
During the final round of the game, normal turn order is disregarded. Instead, the player with the fewest victory points goes first, followed by the player with the second-fewest, and so on. This gives players who are trailing an opportunity to catch up and adds an extra layer of strategy to the endgame.
Exception: The Great Library
The Great Library follows its own set of rules. Players cannot desecrate or rebuild the Great Library, and its knowledge cards cannot be discarded or exchanged. If a player’s scholar is in the Great Library, they draw two knowledge cards instead of one during their draw phase.

Rule Clarification: Scholar Movement
Each turn, a player can move their scholar up to two regions. However, crossing a river counts as two movements, effectively ending the scholar’s movement for that turn. This rule is often overlooked by new players, but it can have a significant impact on strategy and planning.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

The board game ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’ is an engaging and exciting game that combines strategy and skill. To help you master the game and increase your winning chances, here are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay.

Advanced Strategies

The advanced strategy in ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’ revolves around understanding the importance of the game’s components and how to use them to your advantage. Here are a few:

Optimal Positioning: Position your scholars strategically to control the most valuable regions of the board.
Resource Management: Prioritize acquiring resources that are scarce in the current game setup to gain a competitive edge.
Critical Timing: Note when to defend, when to attack, and when to focus on resource gathering.

Beginner Tips

If you’re new to ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’, these tips can help you get started:

Understand the Rules: Familiarize yourself with the game rules before you start playing. This will help you strategize better.
Start Small: Focus on controlling smaller regions before moving to larger, more resource-rich areas.
Collect Resources: Gather as many resources as you can early in the game. They will come in handy later.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’ is a fun and enjoyable game, players often make these common mistakes:

Ignoring Defence: Focusing too much on attack and ignoring your defence can leave your scholars vulnerable.
Overextending: Spreading your scholars too thin can make them easier targets for opponents.
Hoarding Resources: While collecting resources is important, hoarding them without using can lead to missed opportunities.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay

Optimizing your gameplay in ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’ involves a balance of strategy, planning, and execution. Here are some suggestions:

Flexible Strategy: Be ready to adapt your strategy based on the game’s progress and your opponent’s moves.
Efficient Resource Use: Use your resources efficiently. Don’t waste them on unnecessary moves or acquisitions.
Communication: If playing in teams, communicate your strategies and plans with your teammates for better coordination.

By understanding and applying these strategies and tips, you can master ‘Scholars of the South Tigris’ and greatly improve your gameplay.