Scholars of the South Tigris takes place during the height of the Abbasid Caliphate, circa 830 AD. The Caliph has called upon the keenest minds to obtain scientific manuscripts from all over the known world. Players need to increase their influence in the House of Wisdom, and hire skilled linguists to translate the foreign scrolls into Arabic. In this Golden Age of wisdom and knowledge, be careful not to neglect one in pursuit of the other.

The goal of Scholars of the South Tigris is to be the player with the most victory points (VP) at the game’s end. Points are scored by translating scrolls, increasing knowledge in various areas of science and mathematics, influencing the 3 guilds, and by retiring translators after their years of faithful service. The game end is triggered once all 4 of the caliph cards have been revealed.