Domus Domini

About this board game

Domus Domini is a board game for 2–6 players, with games lasting about 150 minutes, set in 1122 as Petrus Venerabilis begins his service as Abbott of Cluny.

Each player takes the role of an abbot leading a monastery belonging to Cluny. Every year, represented by a round, players produce a yield and deliver it to Cluny, where Petrus Venerabilis uses the resulting revenue to make life easier for the monks.

The central challenge is balancing two competing goals. The player who delivers the highest yield in a round gains the most Glory, helping toward victory at the end of the game. However, that player receives the least support, in the form of thalers, for future investments.

Meanwhile, the player who delivers the lowest yield receives the least Glory but the most thalers for developing the monastery. This creates an important decision every round: should you pursue immediate Glory, or gather the resources needed to invest in your monastery?

• Produce and deliver: Generate a yield each year and send it to Cluny.
• Choose your priority: Compete for Glory or secure more thalers for investment.
• Watch the road: Players pursue their own plans in a scramble for the best ranking on the street to Cluny.

The competition for position can bring unpleasant surprises, making every delivery a tense contest. In Domus Domini, success depends on judging when to sacrifice support for Glory and when to accept less Glory in order to strengthen future prospects.