Embark on a historical journey within the venerable walls of Bornem Abbey, the centerpiece of our new board game, Abbates. Players assume the roles of abbots competing to acquire the most prestigious collections of stained-glass windows, precious artefacts and ancient manuscripts from the monumental Abbey library.
Set against the atmospheric backdrop of the Abbey, the game unfolds on a dynamic 3x3 grid, representing the central courtyard encircled by the hallways through which the abbot figurines navigate. Players move their abbots along these corridors, strategically selecting rows or columns from the grid to acquire the most coveted artefacts. Utilizing abbot cards, players can execute sequences that emulate "The Rule of Saint Benedict." Successfully aligning their plays with these revered guidelines rewards players with powerful bonus cards, enhancing their ability to dictate the course of the game.
Scoring in Abbates demands both tactical acumen and foresight, as players must assemble their collections according to specific patterns to amass points. However, strategic depth is added through the penalty system, where players must minimize the point discrepancies between the Cistercian Chapter points on their played and collected cards, adding a layer of challenge that reflects the historical complexities of monastic life.
—description from the designer