“Alma Mater” is a board game designed by Matthew Dunstan and Brett J. Gilbert and published by eggertspiele. It is a Euro-style strategy game that revolves around managing and expanding a medieval university. The game is set in the 15th century, during the late Middle Ages.
In “Alma Mater,” players take on the roles of headmasters of universities competing to build the most prestigious and successful academic institution. The goal is to attract talented students, hire renowned professors, and advance your university’s curriculum to achieve academic excellence and earn prestige.
Key elements and gameplay features of “Alma Mater” include:
- Worker Placement: Players use their worker tokens to take actions on the main board, such as recruiting students, hiring professors, researching new academic disciplines, and acquiring valuable assets for their universities.
- Academic Curriculum: Universities offer various academic disciplines that players can advance through research. As disciplines improve, they contribute to the university’s prestige and attract more students and professors.
- Professors and Students: Different professors and students have unique abilities and provide benefits to the university. Managing these individuals strategically is crucial for success.
- Time Management: The game is played over several rounds, each representing a semester at the university. Players must plan their actions wisely within limited time and resources to optimize their university’s growth.
- Prestige and Victory Points: Throughout the game, players earn prestige points by excelling in academic disciplines, attracting students, and accomplishing specific objectives. The player with the most prestige points at the end of the game wins.
“Alma Mater” offers a mix of strategy, resource management, and player interaction. It requires careful planning, efficient use of resources, and tactical decision-making to outperform opponents and become the most prestigious university in the land.
The game’s components are beautifully illustrated, and the theme of managing a medieval university is unique and engaging. “Alma Mater” is designed for 2 to 4 players, and it typically takes around 2 to 3 hours to complete a game session.
If you enjoy deep strategy games with a captivating theme and love the challenge of building and managing complex systems, “Alma Mater” is an excellent choice for your gaming table. Prepare to become a headmaster and lead your university to academic greatness!
