Welcome to Encyclopedia! The year is 1739, and as ambitious naturalists and adventurers, you have been recruited by the Count de Buffon—Darwin’s predecessor—to help him create his first encyclopedia of natural history. To do this, you will conduct research, organize ambitious expeditions, and publish studies on the world’s most fascinating creatures!
The board game Encyclopedia is a dice-based worker placement game. At the beginning of each round, you will draw and roll dice, then place them on your player board. These dice can then be used to perform an action each turn, depending on their color and value. Your actions may involve preparing for expeditions by going to the Embassy, visiting the Bank to raise funds, or hiring a research team at the University. Once you are ready to set out, you will choose the animal cards you wish to study and then organize expeditions to observe them in their natural habitats. When your research is complete, you will be able to publish your findings in an effort to become the greatest contributor to Buffon’s Encyclopedia. Every publication you make will earn you victory points, and at the end of the game, you will score points based on the animal collections and research gathered throughout the game. The naturalist with the most points wins!