# Museum: The Archaeologists

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2018
- **BGG Rating**: 7.3
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 2-4
- **Duration**: 30-60 min
- **Weight**: 2.00 / 5
- **Designers**: Eric Dubus, Olivier Melison
- **Artists**: Vincent Dutrait
- **Publishers**: Holy Grail Games, Devir
- **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game
- **Mechanics**: Set Collection, Trading

## Verdict
The Archaeologists is the perfect expansion for those who felt Museum needed more interaction and a logistical challenge. It turns artifact collection into a real expedition, forcing you to manage your agents across the board. The mechanic of using opponents' staff brings a layer of fun negotiation. It's an add-on that brings depth without over-complicating the rules.Adds necessary strategic depthFun negotiation mechanicsIncreases player interactionGreat value for fansIncreases planning timeRequires more focus on the boardRECOMMENDED

## Description
If you already enjoy managing your museum in Museum, the The Archaeologists expansion is the missing spice to add more strategic depth to your game. Forget about easily picking up artifacts; now, the world has become larger and more competitive. You need to send your archaeologists to specific continents if you want to get your hands on those rare pieces. The expansion board introduces this layer of 'archaeological logistics' that makes all the difference.

The best part here is the interaction. If you haven't sent an agent to a specific continent, you can't explore anything there... unless you're willing to pay a price in Prestige points to use a rival's staff. This creates a super interesting dynamic of negotiation and dependency. Furthermore, sending multiple archaeologists to the same location brings bonuses, but the cost increases progressively, forcing you to manage your resources very carefully. The race to develop a full network of three agents on a continent also adds delicious tension, as the first to succeed take home valuable prizes.

It's an expansion that doesn't radically change the base game, but elevates it. It requires you to plan your actions further in advance and pay close attention to what other players are doing. If you enjoy games where long-term strategy meets the need for quick adaptation, this expansion is a must-have. It keeps the core set collection essence we love, but adds the challenge of being a curator who really needs to leave the office and get their hands dirty (metaphorically, of course) to ensure their museum is the most prestigious of all. Prepare your budget, organize your agents, and good luck with the excavations!

## FAQ
### Do I need the base game to play?
Yes, this is an expansion and requires the base game Museum to be played.

### Does the playtime increase much?
Not significantly, but since there are more decisions to make, it might add 10-15 minutes depending on your group.

### Can I use other players' agents whenever I want?
You can use them if they have an agent on the continent, but remember: you must pay 1 Prestige point to the agent's owner.

### Is it worth it for 2-player games?
Absolutely! The competition for continents gets quite intense and the negotiation mechanic works very well.

### Is the expansion very complex?
The weight remains quite accessible (2/5). The new rule is intuitive and integrates perfectly into the original flow.

## Price Comparison
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