The Academy (2023)

Overview

The Academy is no ordinary place. Here you have to prove yourself in mysterious disciplines, above all: in role reversal! In each round of The Academy, players take on a different role, and your goal is to win tricks, complete round goals, and thereby collect awards. In the end, whoever has three awards and "The Ace in the Sleeve" wins.

Distribute role cards at random. The roles "Mastermind" and "Team Player" then determine a trump suit and a round rule for the current round. With eight cards in hand, players then start to play. Each role has a special task, the fulfillment of which earns an award at the end of the round. For example, "Captain" and "Team Player" must win more tricks together than "Mastermind", whereas "Mastermind" wants to win at least as many tricks as "Captain" and "Team Player" combined. ("Rebel" has nothing to do with any of that and pursues their own goals.)

The Captain leads to the first trick, and other players must follow suit, if possible; otherwise they can play any card, including trump. The winner leads to the next trick, and once all tricks have been played, players receive an award if they have met their role's goal. If no one has won, pass the roles clockwise and start a new round.