Guild Academies of Valeria (2023) Board Game

Guild Academies of Valeria is a board game that was released in 2023 by Daily Magic Games. Designed by Stan Kordonskiy, this game takes place in the fantastical world of Valeria, where players take on the roles of guild masters competing to recruit students, complete contracts, and ultimately claim victory.

Game Components of Guild Academies of Valeria

Custom dice

Tiles for academy rooms

Student and professor tokens

Council minister cards

Quest cards

Gold and victory point tokens

Solo mode deck

Round and questing tokens

Artwork by Mihajlo Dimitrievski.

How To Setup Guild Academies of Valeria

To set up the game, each player chooses a Headmaster token and places their academy board within reach. The docks are populated with student dice, and the council ministers are placed on their respective spaces. Each player receives a set of steward tokens and starting gold. The quest cards and academy room tiles are shuffled and placed within reach. The game includes a detailed rulebook for specific setup instructions.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Action Selection: Players place steward tokens on docks to draft students (dice) and perform actions.

Dice Drafting: Students are drafted from the docks, and their values determine the cost and benefits of actions.

Dice Manipulation: Players can use magic to affect the education level of their students.

Tile Drafting: Academy rooms are built to educate students.

Resource Management: Managing gold to perform actions.

Engine Building: Building the academy to improve education and quest completion.

Contract Fulfillment: Completing quests ordered by the King.

Game Objective: The goal is to graduate well-educated students, complete quests, and influence council ministers to score the most victory points.

Player Experience

Playing **Guild Academies of Valeria** is an engaging experience that combines strategic planning with tactical decisions. Players must balance recruiting top students with managing resources, building their academy, and influencing council ministers. The game offers a solo mode and supports 1-4 players, with each game lasting about 90-120 minutes. The dice-drafting mechanism adds a layer of unpredictability, while the action selection and resource management keep the game dynamic and challenging.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Combines multiple mechanics like action selection, dice drafting, and resource management.

Variable Setup: Ensures each game is different due to the random placement of students and academy rooms.

Solo Mode: Includes a solo mode for players who prefer to play alone.

Engaging Theme: The theme of running a mage academy is unique and appealing.

Replayability: High replayability due to the various choices and strategies available.

Cons

Runaway Leader Problem: There is a potential for a runaway leader, though it is less pronounced compared to other games in the series.

Complex Setup: The game requires a detailed setup process.

Lengthy Gameplay: Games can take up to 120 minutes to complete.

Personal Thoughts on Guild Academies of Valeria

**Guild Academies of Valeria** is ideal for seasoned board gamers who enjoy complex strategies and multiple mechanics. It is particularly suited for fans of the Valeria series and those who appreciate games with a strong theme and high replayability. While it may not be for beginners due to its complexity, the game offers a rich and engaging experience that rewards careful planning and strategic decision-making.

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