Europe in the 1920s is in a state of instability. The snow is still tinted black by the remnants of the First World War. The heavily armored mechs used by the capitalistic city-state known as “The Factory” to fuel the war have closed, attracting the attention of multiple neighboring countries.
The 1920s alternate history setting of the game Scythe provides a setting for engine building. It’s a time of farming and war, of rusting gears and broken hearts, of bravery and ingenuity. In the game Scythe, each player takes on the role of a figure from one of five Eastern European groups that is fighting for riches and the right to own property surrounding the enigmatic Factory. In the game, players take control of land, recruit new players, gather resources, acquire villagers, construct buildings, and unleash terrifying mechs.
Every player starts the game with a unique starting position, concealed purpose, and resources (power, cash, combat skill, and popularity). The asymmetrical aspect of the game and the distinctiveness of each faction are enhanced by the carefully calibrated starting positions (each faction always starts in the same place).
Scythe’s action-selection method is minimalistic, with no rounds or stages, to minimize downtime in between turns and keep gameplay moving quickly. There is no player elimination, but there is enough direct conflict for those who seek it out.
Players in Scythe have nearly total control over their destiny. The only random or unpredictable aspects are the “encounter” cards that players will get from their interactions with the inhabitants of recently discovered regions, aside from each player’s unique hidden objective card. The player can choose from a variety of options on each encounter card, which helps them to lessen the draw’s luck.
Combat is also a decision-making process rather than a random event. There is an element of engine building in every facet of Scythe. In order to increase their efficiency, players can upgrade their actions, construct structures to move closer to the center of the map, hire new recruits to strengthen their characters, activate mechs to keep enemies out, and extend their boundaries to harvest additional kinds and amounts of resources.
Throughout the game, these engine-building elements give it impetus and forward motion. Even when playing the same faction more than over, the sequence in which players enhance their engine adds to the distinctive sense of each game.
- Players 1–5; 90–115 minutes
- 14 years of age or older
The board game Scythe (for 1–5 players, 115 minutes) is set in an alternate history of the 1920s. It’s a time of farming and war, of rusting gears and broken hearts, of bravery and ingenuity.
Players in Scythe have nearly total control over their destiny. The only components of chance, aside from each player’s unique secret objective card, are encounter cards, which players will get when interacting with the inhabitants of recently discovered regions, and combat cards, which temporarily increase your advantage in battle. Combat is also a decision-making process rather than a random event.
Scythe’s action-selection method is minimalistic, with no rounds or stages, to minimize downtime in between turns and keep gameplay moving quickly. There is a lot of direct combat, yet neither player removal nor the ability to kill or destroy units exists.
There is an element of engine building in every facet of Scythe. In order to increase their efficiency, players can upgrade their actions, construct structures to move closer to the center of the map, hire new recruits to strengthen their characters, use mechs to keep enemies out, and extend their boundaries to harvest additional kinds and amounts of resources.
Throughout the game, these engine-building elements give it impetus and forward motion. Even when playing the same faction more than over, the sequence in which players enhance their engine adds to the distinctive sense of each game.
A scythe has been completed. After completing the three-expansion narrative arc and acquiring finishing materials such as the modular board, the Legendary Box, and the entire rulebook, Scythe is complete. While we will continue to reprint and support both new and old Scythians, the Scythe game has reached its conclusion and will not be expanded. Expeditions, the sequel to Scythe, is also set in the environment constructed by Jakub Rozalski in the 1920s or later.
Components
- 1 box (300x365x98mm)
- 2 rulebooks (multiplayer and solo)
- 1 quick reference guide
- 5 player mats
- 5 faction mats
- 1 game board (624x818mm); the back can be combined with a separate board extension for bigger hexes
- 80 wooden resource tokens
- 80 coins tokens
- 12 multiplier tokens
- 12 encounter tokens
- 6 structure bonus tiles
- 42 combat cards
- 23 objective cards
- 28 encounter cards
- 12 factory cards
- 2 power dials
- 5 riverwalk cards
- 5 quick-start cards
- 5 wooden action tokens
- 5 wooden popularity tokens
- 5 wooden power tokens
- 36 wooden star tokens
- 20 wooden structure tokens
- 20 wooden recruit tokens
- 20 plastic mech miniatures
- 5 plastic character miniatures
- 48 wooden workers
- 36 wooden technology cubes
Card sizes (for sleeves; this includes all cards, including promos):
- 44x67mm: 42 cards
- 57x87mm: 58 cards
- 70x110mm: 64 cards