The concept of turning lead into gold mesmerized people for centuries. They’re so close on the Periodic Table, and they each bear some interesting properties. The difference is that lead is a hunk of rock, useless for most people’s purposes besides wearing those heavy vests at the dentist. Gold on the other hand, now we can do a lot with gold. It’s worth a lot more money, it’s pretty to look at, and, well, did we mention it was worth a lot of money?
Everyone’s always after the Philosopher’s Stone…
People tried, legitimately, for a very long time to make it work, but while they yielded a number of accidental scientific discoveries, that was one nut that was never cracked.
But what if we could? That is the ultimate question is it not? What if we could make alchemy produce something substantially valuable and able to be reproduced with ease?
Speculation often revolved around an object of powerful and often mystic properties, called the Philosopher’s Stone. With it, we could get the gold we wanted – and lots more. The Philosopher’s Stone was also considered to be one of the key ingredients in making the Elixir of Life, which also wasn’t a shabby prospect. They tried that too, but we wonder if some of those experiments yielded things that probably just tasted terrible…
In the game of Magnum Opus, players are put into this very quest. You are all alchemists, and you are all pretty sure that creating / finding the Philosopher’s Stone isn’t just possible, but it’s within your grasps. So the race is on!
Each player must conduct experiments by acquiring ingredients from the board and mixing them together to make various discoveries. In this deckbuilder, you have to get the items you want mixed into your tableau and attempt the transformation of those items. Perhaps you will learn how to make lead into gold, or perhaps the items will just incinerate in front of you.
This is all controlled by the Discovery Matrix, a grid of sixteen possible card combinations. Within that grid lies three combinations you can uncover that will provide the necessary clues on which ingredients you need to amass to achieve the ultimate transformation – the Philosopher’s Stone! By mixing strategic decision-making with a fair share of luck, you will find what you seek before everyone else.
Creating that won’t just make you powerful and famous, but it will be the culmination of your life’s work. Your…Magnum Opus if you will.
So we’re going to help with that, by offering up a copy of the game. Well, that, plus something else. The thing is, it hasn’t been revealed yet. We’d love to tell you, but us master alchemists have to keep a secret or two to ourselves. For now.
From now until midnight on Sunday August 31st, you can check the contest out on our Facebook page, or by entering below. Just follow the entry form, and proceed with the contest. The more you do, even if just one, you still have a better chance than not entering at all. Of course you’re welcome to do that too. But your odds of winning drop to zero. No pressure or anything.
The Fine Print: The Cardboard Republic, in conjunction with Clever Mojo Games, is giving this game away strictly for entertainment purposes. This act is not a paid endorsement by Clever Mojo, Game Salute or any other entity. This contest is open to individuals only. Staff members of The Cardboard Republic, Clever Mojo Games, and Game Salute are not eligible to participate.