- BGG rating
- 7.3
The Institute for Magical Arts: Ethereal Powers Expansion
- 2 players
- 30–60 min
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,278
- BGG rating
- 6.8
The Institute for Magical Arts
2015
Rules assistance for The Institute for Magical Arts
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for The Institute for Magical Arts
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Institute for Magical Arts is a board game released in 2015 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Steve Finn and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Area Majority / Influence.
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About the game
The Institute for Magical Arts is in a state of discord due to the mysterious disappearance of its principal magician and headmaster, Dr. Finneas. Two senior wizards are now contending to fill his shoes and bring a state of harmony back to the Institute. However, the wizards have contrasting ideas about the Institute's direction. To gain the title of headmaster, the wizards must gain the trust of their colleagues and gather as much magical powers through the tools of their trade as possible. The Institute for Magical Arts is a two-player dice and area control game in which players use dice rolls to place "power stones" onto different cards in an attempt to win those cards. Once won, cards offer either special powers or victory points or both.
Designers
Publishers
- Dr. Finn's Games
Questions and answers
The Institute for Magical Arts supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for The Institute for Magical Arts is 30 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 The Institute for Magical Arts for ages 8 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.
The Institute for Magical Arts has a complexity rating of 1.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
The Institute for Magical Arts belongs to these categories: Fantasy and Dice. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Area Majority / Influence. 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 The Institute for Magical Arts are: Steve Finn. 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 The Institute for Magical Arts 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.