- BGG rating
- 6.2
Chaos & Alchemy: Substances
- 2–5 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #18,204
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Chaos & Alchemy
2012
Rules assistance for Chaos & Alchemy
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 20 min
- 13+
- Complexity 2.1/5
Rules assistant for Chaos & Alchemy
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Chaos & Alchemy is a board game released in 2012 for 2–5 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Michael Iachini and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Dice Rolling.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Chaos & Alchemy: Apprentices
- 2–5 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2014
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About the game
Chaos & Alchemy is a fast-paced game of laboratory building and rivalry between alchemists. Players conduct an experiment each turn by rolling 3 dice, hoping for each die to be at least as high as the shared Fortune Die. Each success lets the alchemist draw a new card from the deck or play a card from hand; each failure means a discard. Cards represent Innovations to improve the alchemist's laboratory, Misfortunes to make rivals' lives harder, Actions to immediately impact the game, and Reactions to respond to other alchemists' deeds. When an alchemist rolls doubles in an experiment, Chaos occurs and fortunes change. The experimenter re-rolls the Fortune Die, making success easier or harder to achieve. Players race to build up a laboratory sophisticated enough to turn lead into gold. The first player with 10 or more points of Innovations in the laboratory is the victor! Rule clarification: A standard experiment involves rolling 3 dice (this is unclear in the Second Edition rulebook).
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Game Salute
- Clay Crucible Games
Questions and answers
Chaos & Alchemy supports 2–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Chaos & Alchemy is 20 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Chaos & Alchemy for ages 13 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Chaos & Alchemy has a complexity rating of 2.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Chaos & Alchemy belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Dice. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Dice Rolling. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Chaos & Alchemy are: Michael Iachini. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Chaos & Alchemy as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.