Guild Academies of Valeria

Daily Magic Games, Schwerkraft-Verlag · Board game · 2023

9.0 Ludopedia 7.4 BGG 1–4 · best 2, 3 Solo 90–120 min Weight 2.9/5

Buy · from US$ 43.47

9.0 rating Ludopedia

7.4 rating BGG

Buy · from US$ 43.47

Our Verdict

RECOMMENDED

Guild Academies of Valeria is that game that invites you to build an educational empire in a fantasy world, with a touch of dice luck and a lot of strategy. If you enjoy the Valeria series or are looking for a medium-weight euro with plenty of replayability and interesting decisions, you can dive right in. The experience is immersive, and with each game, you'll want to optimize your academy even further.

Highlights

Satisfying engine building
Well-integrated mechanics
High replayability
Engaging theme
Flexible scoring system

Keep in mind

Can have downtime
Initial learning curve
Indirect interaction

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About the game

What you do in a play session

In Guild Academies of Valeria, you step into the shoes of a Headmaster, vying to build the most prestigious academy in the kingdom. The stakes are high: recruit the best students, hire incredibly talented guildmasters, and, of course, influence the most important council ministers. After all, only elite graduates will have the honor of fulfilling the King's quests, while the 'so-so' crowd will have to make their own way in the capital.

The game cleverly blends several mechanics. You'll use action selection and dice manipulation to manage your students (who are your dice, get it?). There's also tile drafting, resource management, and engine building to develop your Academies, which is where the magic happens. We can't forget contract fulfillment, which are the King's quests, and a super unique scoring system where you choose which game aspects you want the Council Ministers to evaluate. It's an experience that brings a brand new piece of the Valeria universe to your table, full of strategic decisions and a touch of luck with the dice. Get ready to prove your academy is the best!

Gallery

Box and component photos

11 photos · from the community

01 / 11

Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

3 videos

In English

Best player count

BGG community vote

1–4 players

1 REC

2 BEST

3 BEST

4 REC

Soundtrack

Ambience suggested by Melodice

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Publisher Daily Magic Games, Schwerkraft-Verlag

Designer Stan Kordonskiy

Artist Mihajlo Dimitrievski

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

847owners

224wishlist

39want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

6 questions

What is the average playtime for Guild Academies of Valeria?

A game typically lasts between 90 to 120 minutes, depending on the number of players and familiarity with the rules. It's a good length for a strategic session!

How many players can participate?

The game accommodates 1 to 4 players. Yes, there's a very engaging solo mode for those who enjoy playing alone and challenging themselves!

Is it a complex game for beginners?

It has a medium weight (2.94/5 on BGG), which means it has several layers of strategy. Eurogame beginners might take some time to get the hang of it, but nothing a game or two won't fix. The rules are well-explained!

What comes in the box? Are the components good?

The box is packed with a modular board, custom dice, various academy tiles, guildmaster and minister cards, plus resource tokens. Component quality is generally praised, with immersive art that transports you to the Valeria universe.

Who is Guild Academies of Valeria best suited for?

It's perfect for those who enjoy eurogames with resource management, engine building, and a touch of dice luck. Fans of the Valeria series will feel right at home, and those looking for a strategic challenge with high replayability will also enjoy it immensely.

Is there much player interaction?

Interaction is more indirect, focused on competing for actions and tiles on the board. You'll be keeping an eye on what your opponents are doing to prevent them from grabbing that crucial tile or activating the best action before you!