Wizard’s Academy (2016) Board Game

Wizard’s Academy is a cooperative board game that was released in in 2016. It is designed by Sean Andrew “Muttonhead” Murray and Ludwin Schouten, with artwork by 3DTotal Games. The game is set in a fantasy world where players take on the roles of wizards-in-training at a magical academy. The goal is to work together to cast spells, brew potions, and fend off various magical threats in order to graduate from the academy.

Game Components of Wizard’s Academy

Player mats and miniatures: Each player selects a character and takes the corresponding mat and miniature.

Game boards: The Academy board and Spell board are central to the game.

Room tiles: These are shuffled and randomly placed on the Academy board.

Spell deck: Spells are chosen and placed on the Spell board based on their levels.

Disaster and Progression decks: These decks act as a timer and introduce various challenges.

Mana tokens: Players start with a set amount of mana depending on the scenario.

Glyph tokens: Used for casting spells.

Imp, troll, and demon figures: Representing various threats.

Guardian figures: Placed in specified rooms depending on the scenario.

How To Setup Wizard’s Academy

To set up the game, players first select their characters and take the corresponding player mats and miniatures. The Academy board and Spell board are set up in the center. Room tiles are shuffled and randomly placed on the Academy board. The Spell deck is shuffled, and spells are laid out on the Spell board according to their levels. Disaster and Progression decks are prepared and placed on the Spell board. Each player draws a Disaster card and places it near their mat. Players place their miniatures on the Mana Crystal room tile with the specified amount of mana. Guardian figures, imp, troll, and demon figures, and Glyph tokens are placed according to the scenario requirements.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Turns: Each turn involves playing a Disaster card, drawing a new one, and taking three actions.

Actions:
– Move to adjacent rooms.
– Take room actions (e.g., gain equipment, bind spells).
– Cast spells using glyphs.

Spell Casting: Spells are face down on the Spell board; casting a spell reveals its effect, which can be helpful or a botched spell causing negative consequences.

Binding Spells: Players can bind spells in the Library to ensure they can cast known spells reliably.

Objective: Players must work together to accomplish scenario goals before the Mana Crystal is depleted or the game timer runs out.

Player Experience

Wizard’s Academy offers a dynamic and unpredictable experience. Players must navigate through a magical academy, managing various threats and challenges while trying to master their spells. The game’s setup and rules can be quite fiddly, and the board state can change drastically, making strategy challenging to maintain. However, this unpredictability adds a layer of excitement and teamwork, as players must cooperate to survive the magical emergencies.

Pros

Cooperative Gameplay: Encourages teamwork and collaboration among players.

Dynamic Scenarios: Each game can be different due to the random setup and Disaster cards.

Complex Spell System: Adds depth and unpredictability to the game.

Thematic Integration: Immersive fantasy setting with magical elements and creatures.

Cons

Complex Setup: Setting up the game can be time-consuming and fiddly.

High Luck Factor: The random nature of the game can lead to frustration if luck is not on your side.

Strategy Challenges: Maintaining a strategy can be difficult due to the changing board state.

Personal Thoughts on Wizard’s Academy

Wizard’s Academy is ideal for players who enjoy cooperative games with a high level of complexity and unpredictability. It is particularly suited for fans of fantasy and magic, as the game’s thematic integration is quite strong. However, players who prefer more straightforward rules and less luck-based games might find this challenging. It’s a great choice for groups looking to test their teamwork and adaptability in a magical setting.

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