Alchemists

2014

Alchemists is an immersive board game where players mix ingredients, publish theories, and use a smartphone app to unlock the mysteries of alchemy. The quest for knowledge, riches, and fame awaits!

120
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

13+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Alchemists is a highly immersive, strategy-based board game that cleverly blends the themes of science, magic, and mystery. Set within a mystical world where science and magic coexist, players assume the roles of alchemical researchers, competing to discover the secrets of their mystical art.

In the game of Alchemists, you’re tasked with deciphering the properties of mythical ingredients, publishing theories on their use, and gaining reputation in the alchemical community. The core mechanics revolve around deduction, strategy, and resource management, making every game a unique and thrilling experience.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Alchemists is a complex and intriguing board game that combines elements of strategy, deduction, and worker placement. The components of the game are integral to the gameplay and each serves a specific purpose:

1. Game Board: The game board is the primary playing area. It features various locations where players can send their apprentices, such as the Dark Alleys, Herbalist’s Hut, and the Alchemical Congress.

2. Ingredient cards: There are 104 ingredient cards in the game, representing eight different ingredients. Players use these cards to create potions and test theories.

3. Favor cards: Favor cards are used to get extra benefits like additional actions or resources.

4. Artifact cards: These cards represent magical items that can provide useful abilities or effects. They can give players an advantage during the game.

5. Alchemical tokens: These tokens are used to represent the alchemical makeup of each ingredient. They are hidden under the ingredient cards and are revealed only when a player correctly deduces the ingredient’s alchemical makeup.

6. Seal tokens: Players use these tokens to publish their theories. The color of the seal indicates the reliability of the theory.

7. Student Report tokens: These tokens are used to represent the results of student experiments. They help players to deduce the properties of the ingredients.

8. Apprentice figures: Each player has a number of apprentice figures. These figures are used to perform actions on the game board.

9. Master Alchemist screen: This screen is used by the player to hide their alchemical tokens and ingredient cards from the other players.

10. Results triangles: These triangles are used to show the results of various tests and experiments. They are placed on the game board in the appropriate places.

11. Gold piece tokens: These tokens represent the currency in the game. Players can use them to buy artifact cards or pay for other costs.

12. Conflict cards: Conflict cards are used to resolve disputes between players. They can change the outcome of an action or a test.

13. Deduction grid: Each player has a deduction grid to help them deduce the alchemical makeups of the ingredients. It is a crucial tool for success in the game.

All these components interact with each other in various ways to create a dynamic, unpredictable, and exciting gameplay experience.

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

‘Alchemists’ is an innovative board game that mixes deduction and strategy, where players take on the roles of alchemists trying to discover the secrets of their mystical art. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

Step 1: Board Placement

Place the main game board in the center of the play area. This board contains spaces for ingredient cards, artifact cards, for the alchemicals, and for the exhibition and conference. Also, place the ‘university’ board near the main board.

Step 2: Player Boards and Roles

Each player should take a desk (player board), a player screen, two apprentices, and three cubes in their chosen color. Each player’s desk will serve as their personal laboratory, where they can perform experiments, concoct potions, and publish their theories.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Every player starts with one gold piece, one favor card, and one secret ingredient card. The rest of the gold, favor cards, and ingredient cards constitute the supply, which should be placed near the main board.

Step 4: Alchemicals

Shuffle the alchemical tokens and place one, randomly, below each ingredient card on the main game board. The alchemicals are the magical substances players will be trying to discover throughout the game.

Step 5: Artifacts

Shuffle the artifact cards and place them on the corresponding spaces on the main game board. These are special items that players can acquire to gain various benefits.

Step 6: Initial Theory and Reputation

Each player places one of their cubes on the ’10’ space of the reputation track on the main game board and the other on the ‘0’ space of the theory track on their desk. Reputation is a measure of how respected a player is in the alchemical community, while theory points are earned by correctly publishing theories about the alchemicals.

Step 7: Order of Play

Finally, determine the first player by any random method and give them the starting player marker. Gameplay proceeds clockwise from the first player.

And that’s it! You are now ready to start playing ‘Alchemists’. Remember, the player who manages to gain the most reputation and publishes the most accurate theories wins the game.

Game flow Round and round we go

Alchemists is a strategic board game that combines deduction and worker placement in a unique way. The game is played over six rounds, and each round is divided into four phases: Declaration Phase, Drink Potion Phase, Exhibition Phase, and Publish Theory Phase.

1. Declaration Phase: In this phase, each player in turn order declares whether they will wake up early or late. Waking up early gives you an advantage for the rest of the round, but you will have fewer action cubes to use.

Early risers: These players receive one action cube and can perform actions before others.
Late risers: These players receive two action cubes but perform actions after the early risers.

2. Drink Potion Phase: Players may choose to drink a potion. Drinking a potion can give you useful information but can also have negative effects. The player decides whether to drink a potion and which potion to drink.

3. Exhibition Phase: In the Exhibition Phase, players can showcase their potions to gain reputation points. The player who showcases the most valuable potion wins the exhibition and gains additional reputation points.

4. Publish Theory Phase: Players can publish their theories about the ingredients of various potions. Publishing a theory increases your reputation, but if another player disproves your theory, you lose reputation.

Propose a theory: The player proposes a theory by placing one of their ingredient cards on the theory board.
Endorse a theory: The player can also endorse an existing theory by placing one of their endorsement tokens on it.
Disprove a theory: If a player can prove that a theory is incorrect, they can disprove it and the player who proposed the theory loses reputation points.

After the fourth phase, the round ends. The player with the most reputation points after six rounds wins the game of Alchemists.

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

The game of ‘Alchemists’ ends after the sixth round, which is marked by the ‘End’ card in the Event deck. The end of the game triggers the final scoring round. During this round, players tally their points from various sources to determine the winner.

Victory Conditions

The winner of the game is the player with the most victory points. Victory points can be earned in several ways throughout the game:

Published Theories: Players earn points for each theory they have published throughout the game. The number of points is determined by the number of stars on the theory.
Top Alchemist: The player who has the most cubes on the Top Alchemist space of the Reputation track earns extra points.
Grants: Each grant a player has earned during the game is worth points.
Artifacts: Players earn points for each artifact they have collected.
Gold: At the end of the game, players convert their remaining gold into points at a rate of 3 gold for 1 point.

Actions Before Final Scoring

Before the final scoring round, players must complete the following actions:

Drink Potions: Players have one last chance to drink any potions they have made before final scoring.
Debunk Theories: Players can attempt to debunk each other’s theories. If a player successfully debunks a theory, the debunked player loses points while the debunking player gains points.
Exhibit Artifacts: Players reveal any artifacts they have collected and earn points based on the artifact’s value.
Convert Gold to Points: Players convert their remaining gold into points at a rate of 3 gold for 1 point.

After completing these actions, players tally their points to determine the final standings. The player with the most points is declared the winner of ‘Alchemists’.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game Alchemists, the goal is to earn the most victory points. These points can be earned in various ways throughout the game. The full details of the scoring system are as follows:

Earning Victory Points:

Publishing Theories: A player can earn points by successfully publishing a theory about an alchemical. The initial points vary depending on which theory is published, with a range from 1 to 6 points.
Endorsements: If a player’s theory is confirmed to be correct in the end, additional points are rewarded. The points vary from 1 to 5, depending on the number of endorsements on that theory.
Selling Potions: Players can sell potions to adventurers for points. The points earned range from 1 to 5, depending on the type of potion sold.
Exhibitions: Points are awarded to players who successfully demonstrate a potion at an exhibition. The points range from 2 to 5, depending on the success of the demonstration.
Grants: Players can earn points by successfully applying for grants. Each grant is worth 2 points.
Artifacts: Players can also earn points by purchasing artifacts. The points range from 1 to 5, depending on the artifact’s value.

At the end of the game, players add up all their points from these various sources. The player with the most points is the winner.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

In the event of a tie, there are several tie-breaking rules to determine the winner:

The player with the most gold wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most leftover resources (ingredients, artifacts, etc.) wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most published theories wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who is first in the player order wins.

Therefore, it’s important for players to not only focus on earning points, but also managing their resources and publishing theories, as these can be crucial in case of a tie.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Alchemists is a unique and complex board game that combines strategic thinking, deduction, and a bit of luck. While the game is largely straightforward, there are some rare rules, special exceptions, and important clarifications that players should be aware of.

1. Potion Creation: One important rule in Alchemists is the creation of potions. When creating a potion, the player must consider the alchemical properties of the ingredients. If the ingredients share a positive or negative aspect in common, a potion is created. However, if they do not, the result is a neutral potion, which has no effect. This rule needs careful attention as it is crucial to the gameplay.

2. Forging Artifacts: Another special rule in Alchemists is the ability to forge artifacts. This action requires the player to discard a specific set of ingredients, but it provides powerful, game-changing abilities. However, the rule states that only one artifact can be forged per round, and only if the player has the necessary resources.

Rule Clarification: Some players may be confused about whether they can forge an artifact if they don’t have all the necessary resources at the beginning of the round. The rules state that the resources must be available at the time the player chooses to forge, not at the beginning of the round.

3. Testing on Student: In Alchemists, a player can choose to test a potion on a student to identify its effects without risking any negative consequences. However, if the student has previously suffered a negative reaction from a potion, they will refuse all further testing for the round. This rule is often overlooked by new players.

Rule Clarification: The student will only refuse further testing in the same round. In subsequent rounds, they are available for testing again.

4. Publication and Reputation: The rules about publication and reputation are sometimes misunderstood. When a player publishes a theory, they may gain or lose reputation depending on whether the theory is later proven to be correct or incorrect.

Rule Clarification: A player can only lose reputation if another player debunks their theory. If a player realizes that their own theory is incorrect, they cannot debunk it themselves to avoid the reputation loss.

5. End of Game: Finally, there is a special rule for the end of the game. The player with the highest reputation does not necessarily win. Instead, the player who has made the most successful publications and correct guesses about the alchemical properties of the ingredients wins the game.

Rule Clarification: Reputation points can be useful for tie-breaking purposes. If two players have an equal number of successful publications, the player with the higher reputation is the winner.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies:

Mastering Deductions: The key to winning Alchemists is to make accurate deductions. Focus on finding the correct alchemicals for your ingredients. Remember, finding out what something is not is just as important as finding out what it is.
Control Publication: Aim to be the first to publish theories. This will give you a significant advantage in terms of points and will force your opponents to debunk your theories or follow your lead.
Debunk Strategically: It’s not always beneficial to debunk an opponent’s theory immediately. Sometimes, it’s better to let others believe in a wrong theory and debunk it at a more advantageous time.

Beginner Tips:

Start Simple: As a beginner, focus on understanding the basics. Don’t worry about publishing theories right away. Spend your initial games learning how to make accurate deductions.
Use Your Apprentice Wisely: Your apprentice can be a powerful tool. Use them to gather ingredients, test potions, or sell potions to adventurers. Remember, the earlier you use your apprentice in a round, the more valuable their actions.
Pay Attention to Your Opponents: Keep track of your opponents’ actions. This can give you valuable clues about their ingredients and alchemicals.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Blind Guessing: Alchemists is a game of logic and deduction. Blind guessing can lead to incorrect theories, which can be costly. Only make a guess when you’re reasonably certain.
Ignoring the Adventurer: Selling potions to the adventurer is a good way to earn gold and potentially gather information. Don’t ignore this aspect of the game.
Overvaluing Fame: While it’s important to gain fame through publishing theories, don’t forget about the other ways to score points. Selling potions, debunking theories, and having gold at the end of the game can also contribute to your victory.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Master the Deduction: Improve your deduction skills. The faster and more accurately you can deduce the alchemicals, the better your chances of winning.
Balance Your Actions: Don’t focus too heavily on one aspect of the game. Balance your actions between gathering ingredients, testing potions, publishing theories, and selling potions.
Adapt Your Strategy: Alchemists is a dynamic game. Be ready to adapt your strategy based on your opponents’ actions and the available resources.