Theophrastus

About this board game

Theophrastus is an alchemy-themed competition for 2–5 players, with games lasting about 30 minutes. Set at the end of the Renaissance, it challenges applicants to prove their skill and talent before the legendary alchemist Theophrastus von Bombast der Hohenheim.

Each year, Theophrastus accepts only one new apprentice. To earn this coveted position, players must attempt to duplicate his experiments with greater skill than their competitors, using a limited selection of metals, elements, and essentials.

The master alchemist provides clues about the nature of his experiments, but he does not share all his knowledge with everyone. Players must combine the information available to them and search for the secret combinations that produce wondrous concoctions worthy of the wealthiest princes.

Success may depend on a blend of luck, ingenuity, and determination. Clever choices can help an applicant overcome fierce competition, while elusive combinations may leave others searching for the right answer. The result is a focused contest of alchemical experimentation and deduction.

• 27 Experiment Forms
• 3 Blank Experiment Forms
• 5 Player Experiment Forms
• 120 cards
• 1 pewter marker
• Rulebook

With its Renaissance setting and contest to become the master’s chosen student, Theophrastus offers an accessible theme built around secret experiments and limited knowledge. Can you interpret the clues, create the desired concoctions, and demonstrate enough alchemical talent to depart for a noble or king’s court as the new apprentice?