The Quacks of Quedlinburg: The Alchemists

Overview

The second expansion for The Quacks of Quedlinburg. Adds essence-brewing mechanics where players produce essences during the game and spend them for powerful one-time effects. Also introduces new ingredient book sets and new Fortune Teller cards. Requires the base game; compatible with The Herb Witches expansion.

New Components

Component	Quantity
Alchemist flask boards	4 (1 per player)
Essence cubes (4 colors)	several per color
Essence recipe tiles	multiple
Ingredient books — Set 6 (green, blue, red, yellow, purple, black)	6
New Fortune Teller cards	several
Almanac supplement	1

Setup Changes

1. Alchemist flask board: Each player places an alchemist flask board next to their pot. This board tracks which essences you’ve brewed and which you have available to spend.
2. Essence cubes: Place all essence cubes in a general supply, sorted by color.
3. Essence recipe tiles: Lay out the essence recipe tiles near the scoring track. These show which chip combinations produce which essences.
4. Ingredient books: You may use Set 6 books instead of earlier sets. Follow standard setup rules.
5. Fortune Teller cards: Shuffle the new cards into the existing deck.

Rule Changes

Essences

Essences are a new resource earned during the Evaluation Phase and spent for powerful one-time bonuses.

Brewing essences (Evaluation Phase, after step B):

• After resolving chip actions, check your pot against the essence recipe tiles.
• If your pot contains the required chip combination for a recipe, you brew that essence: take the matching essence cube from the supply and place it on your alchemist flask board.
• You may brew multiple essences per turn if you meet multiple recipes.
• Each recipe can only be brewed once per turn, but you can accumulate the same essence type across turns.

Spending essences:

• Essences can be spent at specific times listed on each essence type’s reference.
• Common effects include: re-drawing a chip, moving your droplet, gaining bonus coins, or protecting against explosion.
• Spent essences return to the general supply.
• You may spend multiple essences per turn (even of different types).

New Ingredient Book Set (Set 6)

Set 6 ingredient books introduce chip effects that interact with the essence system:

• Some chips generate essences when drawn.
• Some chip effects are enhanced if you have certain essences available.
• The specific interactions are detailed in the Set 6 almanac supplement.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Essence brewing and explosions: If your pot explodes, you may still brew essences from the chips already placed before exploding. Essence brewing happens after chip actions (step B), which is before the D/E choice.
• Essence limit: There is no per-player limit on stored essences. You are limited only by the supply of essence cubes.
• Combining with Herb Witches: If using both expansions, herb witch powers and essence effects can stack. Resolve witch powers first, then essence effects, unless a specific timing conflict arises (resolve in the active player’s favor).
• Essence recipes and chip values: Recipes may require specific chip values (e.g., a green 2-chip), not just colors. Check the recipe tiles carefully.
• Fortune Teller cards: Some new cards interact with essences (granting free essences or modifying brewing). If a card references essences and you’re not using this expansion, ignore that part.
• Spending essences during Potions Phase: Some essences can be spent mid-draw (e.g., to return a white chip). This does not count as using your flask — you may use both in the same turn.

Player Reference

Essences: Brewed during Evaluation Phase from chip combinations in your pot

Brewing timing: After step B (chip actions), before step C (rubies)

Spending: Per essence type’s rules — some during Potions Phase, some during Evaluation

Compatibility: Works with base game alone or with The Herb Witches expansion

New books: Set 6 — chip effects interact with essence system