Tips alchemists - Revision history

Volker B: Line added for automatic deduction

2026-05-27T10:22:18Z

Line added for automatic deduction

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:22, 27 May 2026
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	Make use of the theory table. There's a lot of nonsense in it, everyone knows that. But keep in mind that your dear colleagues value reputation as much as you do. So there must be some truth in their theories. Find out what it is and use it to your advantage. Of course, this is not state of the art knowledge as you would get from your own experiments, but as told before you don’t need to know exactly. Confidence is sufficient. The grey crosses will help you.		Make use of the theory table. There's a lot of nonsense in it, everyone knows that. But keep in mind that your dear colleagues value reputation as much as you do. So there must be some truth in their theories. Find out what it is and use it to your advantage. Of course, this is not state of the art knowledge as you would get from your own experiments, but as told before you don’t need to know exactly. Confidence is sufficient. The grey crosses will help you.

			Automatic deduction isn't perfect yet. It misses crosses, sometimes a lot of crosses. Anyway, if you use it try to understand why it placed the crosses.

	== Publish ==		== Publish ==

Volker B: Headings moved down one level

2026-05-27T09:01:26Z

Headings moved down one level

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:01, 27 May 2026
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	= Don’t make mistakes =		== Don’t make mistakes ==
	It sounds so obvious. I hate to say that about half of my lost games are caused by not following this rule.		It sounds so obvious. I hate to say that about half of my lost games are caused by not following this rule.

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	Keep your deduction sheet up to date all the time.		Keep your deduction sheet up to date all the time.

	= Learn deduction =		== Learn deduction ==

	You have better things to do than being in the lab brewing potions. Good deduction skills save a lot of lab work.		You have better things to do than being in the lab brewing potions. Good deduction skills save a lot of lab work.
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	Make use of the theory table. There's a lot of nonsense in it, everyone knows that. But keep in mind that your dear colleagues value reputation as much as you do. So there must be some truth in their theories. Find out what it is and use it to your advantage. Of course, this is not state of the art knowledge as you would get from your own experiments, but as told before you don’t need to know exactly. Confidence is sufficient. The grey crosses will help you.		Make use of the theory table. There's a lot of nonsense in it, everyone knows that. But keep in mind that your dear colleagues value reputation as much as you do. So there must be some truth in their theories. Find out what it is and use it to your advantage. Of course, this is not state of the art knowledge as you would get from your own experiments, but as told before you don’t need to know exactly. Confidence is sufficient. The grey crosses will help you.

	= Publish =		== Publish ==

	Your seals are worth 19 points in total. This is about half of the points you’ll get in the game. Your first theory will be most likely hedged, maybe the second too. That's ok. You can't know everything at the beginning. Starting lastest with the third theory you should be able to bring out your starred seals.		Your seals are worth 19 points in total. This is about half of the points you’ll get in the game. Your first theory will be most likely hedged, maybe the second too. That's ok. You can't know everything at the beginning. Starting lastest with the third theory you should be able to bring out your starred seals.
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	Play for grants. You'll need the money you can get there. A good alchemist gets his first grant usually with the second seal.		Play for grants. You'll need the money you can get there. A good alchemist gets his first grant usually with the second seal.

	= Other =		== Other ==

	== Watch ==		=== Watch ===

	Watch what the others do. And watch also what they don't do.		Watch what the others do. And watch also what they don't do.

	== Plan your round ==		=== Plan your round ===

	This starts at selecting the position in play order and continues with placing the actions cubes. Make up your mind what you want to do in this round. Decide then if you have to go early of if you can be late in the round and get more stuff. Refine your decisions when you place the action cubes. You should know then what ingredients to take, what to sell, which discount to give, and so on. Of course it can happen that you must change your plans during the round, e.g. one of your colleages foraged the ingredient you badly needed just before you. Always have a plan B at hand.		This starts at selecting the position in play order and continues with placing the actions cubes. Make up your mind what you want to do in this round. Decide then if you have to go early of if you can be late in the round and get more stuff. Refine your decisions when you place the action cubes. You should know then what ingredients to take, what to sell, which discount to give, and so on. Of course it can happen that you must change your plans during the round, e.g. one of your colleages foraged the ingredient you badly needed just before you. Always have a plan B at hand.
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	Think about what the others will do. It will help you.		Think about what the others will do. It will help you.

	== Take Notes ==		=== Take Notes ===

	This is especially important for round-based games. You can’t remember everything over a couple of days. You may use the built-in notepad on the upper right. It opens automatically when you enter the board, if there's text in.		This is especially important for round-based games. You can’t remember everything over a couple of days. You may use the built-in notepad on the upper right. It opens automatically when you enter the board, if there's text in.

	== Take risks ==		=== Take risks ===

	You may fail. That’s ok in the early game. It may cost one reputation point, but you get something in return that’s worth more.		You may fail. That’s ok in the early game. It may cost one reputation point, but you get something in return that’s worth more.
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	You’ll find other situations. Push your luck.		You’ll find other situations. Push your luck.

	== Information Finding ==		=== Information Finding ===

	You can get information almost everywhere. Use all of it. Sometimes, what you get is too weak for deduction. But it still can be used to decide which charge to put on the hedged aspect in a theory.		You can get information almost everywhere. Use all of it. Sometimes, what you get is too weak for deduction. But it still can be used to decide which charge to put on the hedged aspect in a theory.

Volker B: Text completely reformatted in the hope that it is better readable in the "Strategy Tips" section below the games. Some wordings changed. No change in the overall content.

2026-05-27T08:33:57Z

Text completely reformatted in the hope that it is better readable in the "Strategy Tips" section below the games. Some wordings changed. No change in the overall content.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-#	Don’t make mistakes<p>It sounds so obvious. I hate to say that about half of my lost games are caused by not following this rule.</p>
+= Don’t make mistakes =
-#*	Play carefully
+It sounds so obvious. I hate to say that about half of my lost games are caused by not following this rule.
-#*  Check what has happened since your last move
-#*	Put your action cubes onto the right action
+Play carefully.
-#*	Place the crosses in the right column and row of your grid
-#*	have enough resources for the actions you want to do
+Check what has happened since your last move.
-#*	select the right alchemical and the right seal
-#*	select the correct ingredients for your potion
+Put your action cubes onto the right action.
-#*	look up the results in the right column
-#*	Double check everything before you commit
+Place the crosses in the right column and row of your grid.
-#*	Check if the action can still be done as planned
-#	Learn deduction<p>You have better things to do than being in the lab brewing potions. Good deduction skills can save a lot of lab work. For the beginning, you should have 16 crosses on your deduction grid if your first two experiments have different colors (not neutral). If you have only 14 crosses (many beginners only get 14) reread the Alchemicals section in “Basic Principles of Alchemy” to find the other two.</p><p>There’s more to deduction than is written in the rules. Find it out.</p><p>In a 3 or 4 player master game, a good alchemist needs 3-4 experiments to have his grid almost completed at the first conference. You’ll not meet him in the lab afterwards. 2 player or apprentice games need a bit more. </p><p>Learn all about the structure of alchemicals.</p>
+Have enough resources for the actions you want to do.
-#	You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know enough. And you don’t even have to know. You may also guess. Most times it is sufficient to be confident.
-#	It is better to know more about less than to know a bit about everything.
+Select the right alchemical and the right seal.
-#	Publish. Your seals are worth 19 points in total. This is about half of the points you’ll get in the game.
-#	Make use of the theory table<p>Your dear colleagues are morons (no offense meant, they think same of you) and publish nonsense all the time. You can’t trust them. Everyone knows that. However, they value reputation as much as you do. So, there must be some truth in their publications. Take advantage of their weakness and find out what it is. Of course, this is not state of the art knowledge, but as told before you don’t need to know exactly. Confidence is sufficient. The grey crosses will help you.</p>
+Select the correct ingredients for your potion.
-#	Play for grants. A good alchemist gets his first grant usually with the second seal.
-#   Watch what the others do, and also what they don't do
+Look up the results in the right column.
-#	Plan your round. This starts at selecting the position in play order and continues with placing the actions cubes. You should know then what ingredients to take, what to sell, which discount to give, and so on. Think about what the others will do. This is somewhere between guesswork and psychology, but it helps.
-#	Take notes<p>This is especially important for round-based games. You can’t remember everything over a couple of days. You may use the built-in notepad on the upper right, a sheet of paper or anything you like.</p>
+Double check everything before you commit.
-#	Take risks<p>You may fail. That’s ok in the early game. It may cost one reputation point, but you get something in return that’s worth more. </p><p>You may promise a higher guarantee for your potion than you know for sure. On the long run 50% of 3 gold is more than 100% of 1. Of course you should not do that if the next conference is due and you badly need the money for the printing.</p><p>Gold is scarce and valuable. Instead of spending it on a student you may choose to suffer damage yourself and spare the money for the next artifact. You’ll find other situations.</p>
-#	 You can get information almost everywhere. Use all of it.
+Check if the action can still be done as planned.

Volker B: Point added to the mistakes

2026-05-25T14:45:36Z

Point added to the mistakes

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:45, 25 May 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	# Don’t make mistakes<p>It sounds so obvious. I hate to say that about half of my lost games are caused by not following this rule.</p>		# Don’t make mistakes<p>It sounds so obvious. I hate to say that about half of my lost games are caused by not following this rule.</p>
	#* Play carefully		#* Play carefully
			#* Check what has happened since your last move
	#* Put your action cubes onto the right action		#* Put your action cubes onto the right action
	#* Place the crosses in the right column and row of your grid		#* Place the crosses in the right column and row of your grid

Volker B: New point added.

2026-05-23T17:52:34Z

New point added.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:52, 23 May 2026
Line 15:		Line 15:
	# Make use of the theory table<p>Your dear colleagues are morons (no offense meant, they think same of you) and publish nonsense all the time. You can’t trust them. Everyone knows that. However, they value reputation as much as you do. So, there must be some truth in their publications. Take advantage of their weakness and find out what it is. Of course, this is not state of the art knowledge, but as told before you don’t need to know exactly. Confidence is sufficient. The grey crosses will help you.</p>		# Make use of the theory table<p>Your dear colleagues are morons (no offense meant, they think same of you) and publish nonsense all the time. You can’t trust them. Everyone knows that. However, they value reputation as much as you do. So, there must be some truth in their publications. Take advantage of their weakness and find out what it is. Of course, this is not state of the art knowledge, but as told before you don’t need to know exactly. Confidence is sufficient. The grey crosses will help you.</p>
	# Play for grants. A good alchemist gets his first grant usually with the second seal.		# Play for grants. A good alchemist gets his first grant usually with the second seal.
			# Watch what the others do, and also what they don't do
	# Plan your round. This starts at selecting the position in play order and continues with placing the actions cubes. You should know then what ingredients to take, what to sell, which discount to give, and so on. Think about what the others will do. This is somewhere between guesswork and psychology, but it helps.		# Plan your round. This starts at selecting the position in play order and continues with placing the actions cubes. You should know then what ingredients to take, what to sell, which discount to give, and so on. Think about what the others will do. This is somewhere between guesswork and psychology, but it helps.
	# Take notes<p>This is especially important for round-based games. You can’t remember everything over a couple of days. You may use the built-in notepad on the upper right, a sheet of paper or anything you like.</p>		# Take notes<p>This is especially important for round-based games. You can’t remember everything over a couple of days. You may use the built-in notepad on the upper right, a sheet of paper or anything you like.</p>
	# Take risks<p>You may fail. That’s ok in the early game. It may cost one reputation point, but you get something in return that’s worth more. </p><p>You may promise a higher guarantee for your potion than you know for sure. On the long run 50% of 3 gold is more than 100% of 1. Of course you should not do that if the next conference is due and you badly need the money for the printing.</p><p>Gold is scarce and valuable. Instead of spending it on a student you may choose to suffer damage yourself and spare the money for the next artifact. You’ll find other situations.</p>		# Take risks<p>You may fail. That’s ok in the early game. It may cost one reputation point, but you get something in return that’s worth more. </p><p>You may promise a higher guarantee for your potion than you know for sure. On the long run 50% of 3 gold is more than 100% of 1. Of course you should not do that if the next conference is due and you badly need the money for the printing.</p><p>Gold is scarce and valuable. Instead of spending it on a student you may choose to suffer damage yourself and spare the money for the next artifact. You’ll find other situations.</p>
	# You can get information almost everywhere. Use all of it.		# You can get information almost everywhere. Use all of it.

Volker B: Last bullet point in the mistakes section removed. It didn't contain useful information.

2026-05-23T05:03:41Z

Last bullet point in the mistakes section removed. It didn't contain useful information.

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:03, 23 May 2026
Line 9:		Line 9:
	#* Double check everything before you commit		#* Double check everything before you commit
	#* Check if the action can still be done as planned		#* Check if the action can still be done as planned
	~~#* I guess there’s more~~
	# Learn deduction<p>You have better things to do than being in the lab brewing potions. Good deduction skills can save a lot of lab work. For the beginning, you should have 16 crosses on your deduction grid if your first two experiments have different colors (not neutral). If you have only 14 crosses (many beginners only get 14) reread the Alchemicals section in “Basic Principles of Alchemy” to find the other two.</p><p>There’s more to deduction than is written in the rules. Find it out.</p><p>In a 3 or 4 player master game, a good alchemist needs 3-4 experiments to have his grid almost completed at the first conference. You’ll not meet him in the lab afterwards. 2 player or apprentice games need a bit more. </p><p>Learn all about the structure of alchemicals.</p>		# Learn deduction<p>You have better things to do than being in the lab brewing potions. Good deduction skills can save a lot of lab work. For the beginning, you should have 16 crosses on your deduction grid if your first two experiments have different colors (not neutral). If you have only 14 crosses (many beginners only get 14) reread the Alchemicals section in “Basic Principles of Alchemy” to find the other two.</p><p>There’s more to deduction than is written in the rules. Find it out.</p><p>In a 3 or 4 player master game, a good alchemist needs 3-4 experiments to have his grid almost completed at the first conference. You’ll not meet him in the lab afterwards. 2 player or apprentice games need a bit more. </p><p>Learn all about the structure of alchemicals.</p>
	# You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know enough. And you don’t even have to know. You may also guess. Most times it is sufficient to be confident.		# You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know enough. And you don’t even have to know. You may also guess. Most times it is sufficient to be confident.

Volker B: Order of sentences changed in the "Learn deduction" section

2026-05-23T04:59:12Z

Order of sentences changed in the "Learn deduction" section

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:59, 23 May 2026
Line 10:		Line 10:
	#* Check if the action can still be done as planned		#* Check if the action can still be done as planned
	#* I guess there’s more		#* I guess there’s more
	# Learn deduction<p>You have better things to do than being in the lab brewing potions. Good deduction skills can save a lot of lab work. For the beginning, you should have 16 crosses on your deduction grid if your first two experiments have different colors (not neutral). If you have only 14 crosses (many beginners only get 14) reread the Alchemicals section in “Basic Principles of Alchemy” to find the other two.</p><p>There’s more to deduction than is written in the rules. Find it out.</p><p>In a 3 or 4 player master game, a good alchemist needs 3-4 experiments to have his grid almost completed at the first conference. 2 player or apprentice games need a bit more~~. You’ll not meet him in the lab afterwards~~.</p><p>Learn all about the structure of alchemicals.</p>		# Learn deduction<p>You have better things to do than being in the lab brewing potions. Good deduction skills can save a lot of lab work. For the beginning, you should have 16 crosses on your deduction grid if your first two experiments have different colors (not neutral). If you have only 14 crosses (many beginners only get 14) reread the Alchemicals section in “Basic Principles of Alchemy” to find the other two.</p><p>There’s more to deduction than is written in the rules. Find it out.</p><p>In a 3 or 4 player master game, a good alchemist needs 3-4 experiments to have his grid almost completed at the first conference. You’ll not meet him in the lab afterwards. 2 player or apprentice games need a bit more. </p><p>Learn all about the structure of alchemicals.</p>
	# You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know enough. And you don’t even have to know. You may also guess. Most times it is sufficient to be confident.		# You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know enough. And you don’t even have to know. You may also guess. Most times it is sufficient to be confident.
	# It is better to know more about less than to know a bit about everything.		# It is better to know more about less than to know a bit about everything.

Volker B: Line about potion selling added to the "take risks" point.

2026-05-23T04:52:32Z

Line about potion selling added to the "take risks" point.

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:52, 23 May 2026
Line 18:		Line 18:
	# Plan your round. This starts at selecting the position in play order and continues with placing the actions cubes. You should know then what ingredients to take, what to sell, which discount to give, and so on. Think about what the others will do. This is somewhere between guesswork and psychology, but it helps.		# Plan your round. This starts at selecting the position in play order and continues with placing the actions cubes. You should know then what ingredients to take, what to sell, which discount to give, and so on. Think about what the others will do. This is somewhere between guesswork and psychology, but it helps.
	# Take notes<p>This is especially important for round-based games. You can’t remember everything over a couple of days. You may use the built-in notepad on the upper right, a sheet of paper or anything you like.</p>		# Take notes<p>This is especially important for round-based games. You can’t remember everything over a couple of days. You may use the built-in notepad on the upper right, a sheet of paper or anything you like.</p>
	# Take risks<p>You may fail. That’s ok in the early game. It may cost one reputation point, but you get something in return that’s worth more. </p><p>Gold is scarce and valuable. Instead of spending it on a student you may choose to suffer damage yourself and spare the money for the next artifact. You’ll find other situations.</p>		# Take risks<p>You may fail. That’s ok in the early game. It may cost one reputation point, but you get something in return that’s worth more. </p><p>You may promise a higher guarantee for your potion than you know for sure. On the long run 50% of 3 gold is more than 100% of 1. Of course you should not do that if the next conference is due and you badly need the money for the printing.</p><p>Gold is scarce and valuable. Instead of spending it on a student you may choose to suffer damage yourself and spare the money for the next artifact. You’ll find other situations.</p>
	# You can get information almost everywhere. Use all of it.		# You can get information almost everywhere. Use all of it.

Volker B: Created page with "# Don’t make mistakes
It sounds so obvious. I hate to say that about half of my lost games are caused by not following this rule.
#* Play carefully #* Put your action cubes onto the right action #* Place the crosses in the right column and row of your grid #* have enough resources for the actions you want to do #* select the right alchemical and the right seal #* select the correct ingredients for your potion #* look up the results in the right column #* Double c..."

2026-05-21T14:58:44Z

Created page with "# Don’t make mistakesIt sounds so obvious. I hate to say that about half of my lost games are caused by not following this rule. #* Play carefully #* Put your action cubes onto the right action #* Place the crosses in the right column and row of your grid #* have enough resources for the actions you want to do #* select the right alchemical and the right seal #* select the correct ingredients for your potion #* look up the results in the right column #* Double c..."

New page

# Don’t make mistakesIt sounds so obvious. I hate to say that about half of my lost games are caused by not following this rule.
#* Play carefully
#* Put your action cubes onto the right action
#* Place the crosses in the right column and row of your grid
#* have enough resources for the actions you want to do
#* select the right alchemical and the right seal
#* select the correct ingredients for your potion
#* look up the results in the right column
#* Double check everything before you commit
#* Check if the action can still be done as planned
#* I guess there’s more
# Learn deductionYou have better things to do than being in the lab brewing potions. Good deduction skills can save a lot of lab work. For the beginning, you should have 16 crosses on your deduction grid if your first two experiments have different colors (not neutral). If you have only 14 crosses (many beginners only get 14) reread the Alchemicals section in “Basic Principles of Alchemy” to find the other two.There’s more to deduction than is written in the rules. Find it out.In a 3 or 4 player master game, a good alchemist needs 3-4 experiments to have his grid almost completed at the first conference. 2 player or apprentice games need a bit more. You’ll not meet him in the lab afterwards.Learn all about the structure of alchemicals.
# You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know enough. And you don’t even have to know. You may also guess. Most times it is sufficient to be confident.
# It is better to know more about less than to know a bit about everything.
# Publish. Your seals are worth 19 points in total. This is about half of the points you’ll get in the game.
# Make use of the theory tableYour dear colleagues are morons (no offense meant, they think same of you) and publish nonsense all the time. You can’t trust them. Everyone knows that. However, they value reputation as much as you do. So, there must be some truth in their publications. Take advantage of their weakness and find out what it is. Of course, this is not state of the art knowledge, but as told before you don’t need to know exactly. Confidence is sufficient. The grey crosses will help you.
# Play for grants. A good alchemist gets his first grant usually with the second seal.
# Plan your round. This starts at selecting the position in play order and continues with placing the actions cubes. You should know then what ingredients to take, what to sell, which discount to give, and so on. Think about what the others will do. This is somewhere between guesswork and psychology, but it helps.
# Take notesThis is especially important for round-based games. You can’t remember everything over a couple of days. You may use the built-in notepad on the upper right, a sheet of paper or anything you like.
# Take risksYou may fail. That’s ok in the early game. It may cost one reputation point, but you get something in return that’s worth more. Gold is scarce and valuable. Instead of spending it on a student you may choose to suffer damage yourself and spare the money for the next artifact. You’ll find other situations.
# You can get information almost everywhere. Use all of it.