Quick Answer
To play Star Realms Academy, set up the trade deck, each player takes a player board and starting deck, then take turns buying ships and bases to reduce your opponent's authority to zero.
Why Star Realms Academy is Great for New Players
Star Realms Academy is a simplified version of the popular Star Realms Deckbuilding Game. It uses less math and no reading, making it accessible for kids while still fun for adults. The game includes a large folding game board, 2 player boards, 60 game cards, 52 punchouts, and a rulebook.
If you're buying the Star Realms Academy Case of 6, you get six copies of the game, which is ideal for classrooms, game clubs, or parties. Each copy is self-contained, so you can run multiple games simultaneously.
How to Set Up and Play Star Realms Academy
- Unbox and Punch Out: Carefully punch out all 52 punchouts from the cardboard sheets. These include tokens for authority tracking and other game components. Discard the empty frames. Check that all punchouts are removed before starting; missing pieces can affect gameplay.
- Set Up the Game Board: Unfold the large game board and place it in the center of the play area. Each player takes a player board and places it in front of them. Ensure the board is flat and within reach of both players to avoid accidental moves.
- Prepare the Trade Deck: Shuffle the 60 game cards to form the trade deck. Place it face down on the designated area of the board. Then reveal the top five cards in a row to form the trade row. Always reveal exactly five cards; if you run out, reshuffle the discard pile to form a new deck.
- Create Starting Decks: Each player takes their starting deck of 10 cards (as indicated in the rulebook) and shuffles it. Place it face down next to their player board. Double-check that each player has the correct starting cards; a common mistake is mixing up decks.
- Determine First Player: Decide who goes first. You can flip a coin, roll a die, or use any random method. The first player draws a hand of five cards from their deck. Make sure the first player only draws five cards; drawing extra is a common error.
- Play Your Turn: On your turn, play cards from your hand to generate trade and combat. Use trade to buy cards from the trade row, and combat to attack your opponent. After playing, discard your hand and any played cards, then draw a new hand of five. Remember to discard all played cards and your hand before drawing; this keeps the deck cycling properly.
- Win the Game: The game ends when one player's authority reaches zero. That player loses, and the other player wins. If both players reach zero simultaneously, the player with the higher authority wins. Keep track of authority using the punchout tokens; a common mistake is forgetting to update authority after each attack.
Product Facts
-
Star Realms Academy Case of 6: The Star Realms Academy Case of 6 includes 6 copies of Star Realms Academy (WWGSR048), each with a large folding game board, 2 player boards, 60 game cards, 52 punchouts, and a rulebook. This makes it easy to host multiple games at once, perfect for group events or classroom use.
Star Realms Academy Case of 6
