Guild Master

Good Games Publishing · Board game · 2020
8.4 Ludopedia 7.2 BGG 2–4 · best 4 60–120 min Weight 3.0/5
Buy · from US$ 26.72
8.4 rating Ludopedia
7.2 rating BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

Guild Master is a treat for those who enjoy a good strategic challenge with plenty of player interaction. If you love planning your moves in advance, trying to anticipate what your friends will do, and still having the chance to negotiate or even subtly sabotage, this game is for you! The experience is one of building and growth, but with a dash of controlled chaos and a lot of tension when resolving actions. It's a game that rewards you for thinking ahead and adapting.

Highlights
  • Deep strategic planning
  • High player interaction
  • Action queue mechanic
  • Negotiation and prisoner's dilemma
  • High replayability
Keep in mind
  • Can have analysis paralysis
  • Initial learning curve
  • Requires attention to opponents' moves
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About the game

What you do in a play session

In Guild Master, you step into the shoes of a guild master in a fantasy world, competing to have the most renowned adventuring guild while a series of escalating events threaten the land. Over nine intense rounds, you and your rivals secretly program your teams' actions, sending them to recruit new heroes, tackle increasingly challenging contracts, or hire builders to upgrade your guild's headquarters. It's a true strategic puzzle where you need to anticipate opponents' moves and optimize every decision. Orders are resolved sequentially, meaning the order in which you plan your actions and their position on the board matter greatly. Get ready to manage your guild's growth, combining your adventurers' unique abilities with contract rewards to achieve your goals. As the game progresses, challenges escalate, requiring you to recruit more powerful adventurers and invest in expanding your guild. Most actions are resolved with coins or dice-based skill checks from your adventurers. And here's the fun part: interaction! Often, you'll be cooperating or competing with other guilds for the same objectives. Negotiation is encouraged, allowing for deals to split contract rewards, but it's not strictly required for victory. Everything you do earns you fame, which are victory points. At the end of the ninth round, remaining coins and prestige bonuses are converted into fame, and the guild with the most points is crowned the winner. Do you have what it takes to be the ultimate Guild Master?

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

3 videos

Best player count

BGG community vote

2–4 players
2 REC
3 REC
4 BEST

Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Families

Crowdfunding: Kickstarter Digital Implementations: Tabletopia Misc: LongPack Games
Publisher Good Games Publishing
Designer Chris Antony
Artist Aleksandar Mihajlovic, Andrew Bosley, Yamandú Daniel Orce

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

926owners
195wishlist
19want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

6 questions
What is the average playtime for Guild Master?
A game of Guild Master typically takes between 60 and 120 minutes, depending on the number of players and their familiarity with the rules. Get ready for a strategic session!
How many players can play Guild Master?
Guild Master is designed for 2 to 4 players. The experience changes slightly with each player count, with more players increasing interaction and negotiation complexity.
What is the complexity level of Guild Master?
With a BGG weight of 3/5, Guild Master is considered a medium-complexity game. It has accessible rules but offers enough strategic depth to challenge experienced players.
What are the main components of the game?
You'll find adventurer and contract cards, dice for skill checks, guild boards for upgrades, coin and fame tokens, and a main board for actions. All high-quality to immerse you in the fantasy!
Who is Guild Master best suited for?
It's perfect for those who enjoy strategy games with plenty of forward planning, direct and indirect player interaction, and an engaging fantasy theme. If you like negotiation and a bit of 'take that', you'll love it!
Is there a lot of luck involved with dice rolling?
Dice rolling is present to resolve some actions, but the game offers several ways to mitigate luck, such as adventurer abilities and guild upgrades, allowing you to control your chances of success.

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