# Alma Mater

Alma Mater is a board game for 2–4 players. It plays in 90–150 minutes and is meant for ages 12 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 4. It is rated 7.8 out of 10 by 31 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $43.54 (United States).

- **Players:** 2–4 (best with 4)
- **Playing time:** 90–150 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 12+
- **Complexity:** 3.7 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2020
- **Categories:** Renaissance
- **Mechanics:** End Game Bonuses, Worker Placement, Closed Drafting, Tile Placement, Hand Management
- **Ludoya rating:** 7.8 out of 10, from 31 reviews
- **Owned by:** 97 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 116
- **Unique players:** 187

**Designers:** Virginio Gigli, Antonio Tinto, Acchittocca, Stefano Luperto, Flaminia Brasini

**Artists:** Chris Quilliams

**Publishers:** eggertspiele

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gamers Guild AZ | 43.54 $ | https://gamersguildaz.com/products/alma-mater |
| Mathom | 25 € | https://mathom.es/es/ofertas/47286-alma-mater-8435407635364.html |
| 401 Games | 74.95 $ | https://store.401games.ca/products/alma-mater |
| Gigamesh | 24.95 € | https://gigamesh.com/alma-mater/ |
| Curiosity Shop | 25 € | https://www.thecuriosityshop.es/products/alma-mater-ingles |
| Magia de Tinta | 47.95 € | https://www.magiadetinta.com/es/juegos/5684-alma-mater-8435407635364.html |
| Va de jocs | 50 € | https://vadejocs.es/producto/alma-mater |
| Games Empire | 104.99 $ | https://gamesempire.com.au/products/almamater |
| Spielezar | 72.9 Fr. | https://www.spielezar.ch/brettspiele/alma-mater |

## Expansions

- [Alma Mater: New Students](https://www.ludoya.com/games/alma-mater-new-students)

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## Rules questions

### How many masters do I have to place on an action space that's already been used this round?

To use an unoccupied action space you place 1 master; if there are already masters on that space you must place one more master than the highest number of masters of a single color already there, and you may not use a space where you already have masters. (p. 8)

### If a professor has already been recruited by someone else, do I still have to pay ducats to recruit them?

If another player recruited the professor before you, you must pay exactly the same books that player paid but you do not pay any ducats; after recruiting you may immediately give a free lecture and then exhaust the professor. (p. 9)

### What's the difference between green and black research steps — do I always have to meet costs to advance?

A green research step lets you advance one level on the research track without meeting the requirements or paying the cost, while a black research step only lets you advance if you meet the shown requirements or pay the cost; if you gain both in the same turn you may choose the order, and you cannot save research steps for later. (p. 5)

### When is the book reputation set and how does it affect student recruitment and income?

The book reputation track is established at the end of the first round (and rearranged in later rounds) based on players' positions on the research track; it determines which textbook ranks/colors you must spend to recruit students and also modifies the ducats you gain during the income phase. (pp. 7, 8)

### If I place a tutor on the bishop, does it count toward determining next round's turn order?

Tutors count as masters for most effects but tutors placed on the bishop do not affect the player order; only regular masters on the bishop determine turn order. (p. 8; bishop rules p. 10)

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/alma-mater)
- [Alma Mater in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/alma-mater)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/299960)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-19. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._