FAQ
10 answered questions4 official
Rules questions from the BoardGameGeek forum. Answers marked Official were confirmed by ThunderGryph Games or the designers.
Common mistakes
- Starting with an empty Desk — everyone starts with 4 Coins and 4 Research. Ruling · Rule
- Reading a Prohibition Tile as a goal — it shows what you must not have. Ruling · Rule
- Doing both groups around a Suspicion line for free — the second group costs 1 Suspicion. Ruling · Rule
- Putting a later passer behind earlier passers — each new passer goes to the left, so they act earlier next Cycle. Ruling · Rule
- Scoring the set Invention per item — it is 3 VP per complete Treatise + Observation + Invention set. Ruling · Rule
Showing 10 of 10
Do players start with any Coins or Research Tokens? The rulebook does not say. Official
Yes: 4 Coins and 4 Research Tokens, and one Book in each Subject. The line was cut from the draft rulebook because the crowdfunding campaign later announced an asymmetric start.
Source: BGG thread
With 2 or 3 players, do the Wax Seals of the unused colour count as "another player's" seal on a Treatise?
Yes. A neutral Wax Seal placed by a Setup Card counts as another player's seal already on that Treatise, so you may Copy or Read it.
Source: BGG thread
Icons are split into two groups by a line with a Suspicion icon on it. What do I get? Official
Either group for free, or both groups if you increase your Suspicion by 1.
Source: BGG thread
A card gives me the Natural Philosopher icon. What does it do?
It lets you assign your Natural Philosopher to an action space as part of this action, without spending a separate turn — for example playing a Treatise for its Books and placing your figure in the same turn. Your figure must still be available.
Source: BGG thread
If several players pass in the same round, who goes first next Cycle?
The one who passed later. Each passing player puts their marker to the left of markers already in the Passing Area, and at the end of the round the whole group moves down to the Future Turn Order Track in that order. Players who pass in a later round go after them.
Source: BGG thread
When does the Inquisition start adding Suspicion?
At the end of the first round of actions in which someone passed while others are still playing, the Inquisition Token flips face up. From the next round on, every Main Action other than Pass costs 1 Suspicion.
Source: BGG thread
For end-game scoring and Graduation Tiles, do Wax Seals placed by Copy a Treatise count? Official
Yes. Every Wax Seal you have placed or discarded counts.
Source: BGG thread
Invention 22, Copernican side: what does the "×2" next to the Observation Tile mean? Official
When you Observe the Sky with it, you gain the icons on the Observation Tile you take twice. It is a Once per Cycle Invention, so using it is a Main Action.
Source: BGG thread
The End-Game Invention that shows 3 VP × (Treatise + Observation + Invention): 3 points for each item?
No — 3 VP for each complete set of one Treatise written or copied, one Observation Tile and one Invention.
Source: BGG thread
How do I read a Prohibition Tile?
It shows what the Inquisition forbids. You are safe while you have fewer of the pictured things than the number shown; if you reach it, you fail and gain Suspicion. "Have" means anywhere: hand, play area, discard pile, deck or board — cards removed from the game do not count.
Source: BGG thread; BGG thread