# Alchemists: The King's Golem

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2016
- **BGG Rating**: 8.4
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 3)
- **Duration**: 120 min
- **Weight**: 4.55 / 5
- **Designers**: Matúš Kotry
- **Artists**: David Cochard, Jakub Politzer, Matúš Kotry
- **Publishers**: Czech Games Edition (CGE), Cranio Creations, Devir, DiceTree Games, GaGa Games, Heidelberger Spieleverlag, IELLO, MINDOK, Rebel Sp. z o.o.
- **Categories**: Deduction, Expansion for Base-game, Fantasy, Puzzle
- **Mechanics**: Action Drafting, Deduction, End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Open Drafting, Worker Placement

## Verdict
Perfect for those who love the base game and want more layers of strategy and deduction. The modular system is the highlight.Deep and rewarding deductionSmart modularity for all levelsIncreases game variabilityThe Golem challenge is fantasticVery steep learning curveRequires the base game to playHIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
If you've already mastered the art of alchemy in the base game, get ready because 'The King's Golem' is here to raise the stakes. This expansion isn't just a simple add-on; it's a comprehensive package featuring four distinct modules, allowing you to scale the complexity gradually as your group grows more experienced.

First, we have 'Startup Funding', which tweaks the early game by letting you customize your laboratory's initial resources for a stronger start. Then, 'Busy Days' injects dynamism into each round by varying the rewards and costs on the order spaces, ensuring no two rounds feel the same. For those already comfortable with the core logic, the 'Royal Encyclopedia' provides an entirely new venue to publish your research and gain prestige. And finally, the main event: 'The Golem Project'. This is where the real challenge lies. You'll need every bit of your deductive reasoning to uncover the secret formula for animating a creature made of clay and magic.

The beauty of this expansion is its modularity. If you're playing with beginners, you can stick to the first two modules. If your group consists of hardcore gamers who love brain-burning puzzles and heavy deduction, the Golem project is where the real excitement happens. Can you convince the king that you are the most brilliant alchemist in the realm, or will you just be mixing mud? The choice—and the logic—is in your hands.

## How to Play
Objective of the Game
In Alchemists: The King's Golem, players take on the role of alchemists competing to solve the king's puzzle and animate a golem. The goal is to deduce the properties of alchemical ingredients, publish theories, and gain reputation points. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game wins.

Preparation (Setup)
To set up the game:

  Shuffle the Replicator into the artifact deck.
  Set up the game boards, including all initial cards and tiles.
  Choose the starting player.
  Shuffle the deck of startup cards and deal 4 to each player. Each player chooses 2 startup cards and discards the other 2.
  Players reveal their chosen startup cards simultaneously and take the resources depicted on them.
  Set up the order space boards by randomly selecting 2 from each group and stacking them.
  Place the stack next to the order spaces on the game board and turn the top board face up.


Flow of the Game
The game is played over several rounds. Each round consists of the following phases:

  Declare Actions: Players choose their actions by placing action cubes on the available action spaces.
  Resolve Actions: Actions are resolved in a specific order: Forage for Ingredient, Transmute Ingredient, Sell Potion, Research Golem, Buy Artifact, Visit Library, Debunk Theory, Publish Theory, Test on Student, and Drink Potion.
  Progress Reports: After resolving actions, players may submit progress reports to the king.
  End of Round: The order space board changes, and any remaining approval tokens are removed.


Actions and How to Play
Players can perform the following actions:

  Forage for Ingredient: Draw an ingredient card from the deck.
  Transmute Ingredient: Combine two ingredients to create a potion.
  Sell Potion: Sell a potion to gain gold or reputation.
  Research Golem: Test an ingredient on the golem or attempt to animate it.
  Buy Artifact: Purchase an artifact from the available selection.
  Visit Library: Gain a book token and use it immediately to learn about an ingredient.
  Debunk Theory: Attempt to disprove a published theory or encyclopedia article.
  Publish Theory: Publish a new theory or endorse an existing one.
  Test on Student: Test a potion on a student to gain information.
  Drink Potion: Drink a potion to gain its effects.


End of Game and Scoring
The game ends after the final round. Players score victory points based on:

  Reputation points converted to victory points.
  Gold pieces.
  Published theories and encyclopedia articles.
  Progress reports submitted to the king.
  Successfully animating the golem.

The player with the most victory points wins.

Tips for Winning

  Use the Palace Library: Gain book tokens to learn about ingredients and eliminate incorrect alchemicals.
  Focus on Progress Reports: Submit accurate progress reports to gain reputation and avoid penalties.
  Balance Resources: Manage your gold, ingredients, and approval tokens carefully to maximize your actions.


Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção.

## FAQ
### Do I need the base game to play?
Yes, absolutely! This is an expansion and cannot be played standalone.

### Does it make the game much harder?
It depends on how you use it. The initial modules are light, but 'The Golem Project' significantly increases the deductive complexity.

### Can I use only some of the included expansions?
Yes! It's modular. You can add only the parts your group is comfortable with at the moment.

### How long does a game take with the expansion?
The average time stays around 120 minutes, though the added complexity may change the game's flow.

### Who is this content intended for?
For expert gamers who love logic puzzles and want to deepen their Alchemists experience.

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