Beyond the Thebes
Objective
The objective of the game "Beyond the Thebes" is to become a successful archaeologist by discovering valuable artifacts from excavation sites across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and gaining prestige and victory points through exhibitions.
Game Components
- Game board displaying a map of Europe with various cities.
- Player figures for each participant.
- Excavation site tokens.
- Knowledge cards collected for research tasks.
- Artifact cards that are worth points at the end of the game.
- Time tokens representing the time spent.
- Bonus cards and special cards providing additional skills or advantages.
Setup
- Each player chooses a color and receives the corresponding figure.
- Shuffle the knowledge cards and distribute them to the respective cities on the board.
- Each excavation site receives a stack of excavation cards.
- Place bonus and special cards nearby.
- Each player starts with a certain number of randomly drawn knowledge cards.
- All players start in the same city on the game board (usually Paris).
Gameplay
The game is played in rounds with players taking turns.
- Movement on the board:
- A player can move to a different city, spending the indicated travel time (weeks).
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In each city, a player can perform one action.
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Actions in cities:
- Acquire knowledge cards: Collect cards with archaeological knowledge for the five excavation sites.
- Lecture or exhibition: Organize exhibitions or lectures to gain prestige.
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Start excavations: Go to an excavation site and use knowledge cards to discover artifacts.
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Excavations:
- Decide the time you want to spend excavating. Your current knowledge determines the number of cards you can draw.
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Draw artifact cards. Note that the deck may also contain blanks (no finds).
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Time mechanics:
- Turn order is determined by the timeline – the player with the least spent time goes first.
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Every action, movement, or excavation costs time, moving you forward on the timeline.
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Year change and end phase:
- The game spans over two years. After the second year, proceed to endgame scoring.
Scoring and Endgame
At the end of the second year, players tally their points: - Artifacts: Collected artifacts earn points. - Exhibitions and lectures: Successful exhibitions and lectures bring additional points. - Bonus and special cards provide extra points or advantages.
The player with the most points wins the game.
Strategy Tips
- Balancing between travel, knowledge collection, and excavations is crucial.
- Early planning for exhibitions can provide strategic advantage points.
- Excavations are risky, so it's essential to use time and knowledge wisely to avoid blanks.
These mechanisms offer not only a strategic competition but also insight into archaeological adventures, providing both fun and a tactical challenge.
