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Scythe

A highly acclaimed, competitive engine-building board game set in an alternate-history 1920s Europa
Series: Scythe
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Brief Description
Five factions vie for dominance in a war-torn, mech-filled, dieselpunk 1920s Europe.  1-5 Players  |  90-115 Mins  |  Ages 14+ Features: Card Play Conflict Resolution, Contracts, End Game Bonuses, Force Commitment, Grid Movement, Hexagon Grid, King of the Hill, Movement Points, Solo / Solitaire Game, Take... Read More

Players

2+ players

Time to play

90+ minutes

Age

13-18 years / Adults

Game type

Base Game

$15999
Elsewhere:
$16999
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Scythe

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Five factions vie for dominance in a war-torn, mech-filled, dieselpunk 1920s Europe. 

1-5 Players  |  90-115 Mins  |  Ages 14+

Features: Card Play Conflict Resolution, Contracts, End Game Bonuses, Force Commitment, Grid Movement, Hexagon Grid, King of the Hill, Movement Points, Solo / Solitaire Game, Take That, Tech Trees / Tech Tracks, Variable Player Powers, Variable Set-up, Victory Points as a Resource, Zone of Control

Theme: Economic, Fighting, Science Fiction, Territory Building

Description:

It is a time of unrest in 1920s Europa. The ashes from the first great war still darken the snow. The capitalistic city-state known simply as “The Factory”, which fueled the war with heavily armored mechs, has closed its doors, drawing the attention of several nearby countries.

Scythe is an engine-building game set in an alternate-history 1920s period. It is a time of farming and war, broken hearts and rusted gears, innovation and valor. In Scythe, each player represents a character from one of five factions of Eastern Europe who are attempting to earn their fortune and claim their faction's stake in the land around the mysterious Factory. Players conquer territory, enlist new recruits, reap resources, gain villagers, build structures, and activate monstrous mechs.

Each player begins the game with different resources (power, coins, combat acumen, and popularity), a different starting location, and a hidden goal. Starting positions are specially calibrated to contribute to each faction’s uniqueness and the asymmetrical nature of the game (each faction always starts in the same place).

Scythe gives players almost complete control over their fate. Other than each player’s individual hidden objective card, the only elements of luck or variability are “encounter” cards that players will draw as they interact with the citizens of newly explored lands. Each encounter card provides the player with several options, allowing them to mitigate the luck of the draw through their selection. Combat is also driven by choices, not luck or randomness.

Scythe uses a streamlined action-selection mechanism (no rounds or phases) to keep gameplay moving at a brisk pace and reduce downtime between turns. While there is plenty of direct conflict for players who seek it, there is no player elimination.

Every part of Scythe has an aspect of engine-building to it. Players can upgrade actions to become more efficient, build structures that improve their position on the map, enlist new recruits to enhance character abilities, activate mechs to deter opponents from invading, and expand their borders to reap greater types and quantities of resources. These engine-building aspects create a sense of momentum and progress throughout the game. The order in which players improve their engine adds to the unique feel of each game, even when playing one faction multiple times.

AWARDS & HONORS

  • 2017 Scelto dai Goblin Winner
  • 2017 Lys Passioné Finalist
  • 2017 JUG Adult Game of the Year Finalist
  • 2017 Jogo do Ano Nominee
  • 2017 International Gamers Award - General Strategy: Multi-player Nominee
  • 2017 Gra Roku Best Original Artwork Winner
  • 2017 Gra Roku Advanced Game of the Year Nominee
  • 2017 Goblin Magnifico Nominee
  • 2017 Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Board Game Nominee
  • 2017 As d'Or - Jeu de l'Année Expert Winner
  • 2017 As d'Or - Jeu de l'Année Expert Nominee
  • 2016 Tric Trac Nominee
  • 2016 Tric Trac d'Or
  • 2016 Swiss Gamers Award Winner
  • 2016 Swiss Gamers Award Nominee
  • 2016 Meeples' Choice Nominee
  • 2016 Jocul Anului în România Advanced Finalist
  • 2016 Golden Geek Most Innovative Board Game Nominee
  • 2016 Golden Geek Board Game of the Year Winner
  • 2016 Golden Geek Board Game of the Year Nominee
  • 2016 Golden Geek Best Thematic Board Game Winner
  • 2016 Golden Geek Best Thematic Board Game Nominee
  • 2016 Golden Geek Best Strategy Board Game Winner
  • 2016 Golden Geek Best Strategy Board Game Nominee
  • 2016 Golden Geek Best Solo Board Game Winner
  • 2016 Golden Geek Best Solo Board Game Nominee
  • 2016 Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork & Presentation Winner
  • 2016 Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork & Presentation Nominee
  • 2016 Cardboard Republic Architect Laurel Nominee
  • 2016 Board Game Quest Awards Game of the Year Nominee
  • 2016 Board Game Quest Awards Best Strategy/Euro Game Winner
  • 2016 Board Game Quest Awards Best Strategy/Euro Game Nominee
  • 2016 Board Game Quest Awards Best Production Values Nominee

Lists

Board Games for the Strategy Dad

Series: Scythe

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  • Scythe
    Scythe
    Five factions vie for dominance in a war-torn, mech-filled, dieselpunk 1920s Europe.  1-5 Players  |  90-115 Mins  |  Ages 14+ Features: Card Play Conflict Resolution, Contracts, End Game Bonuses, Force Commitment, Grid Movement, Hexagon Grid, King of the Hill, Movement Points, Solo / Solitaire Game, Take That, Tech Trees / Tech Tracks, Variable Player Powers, Variable Set-up, Victory Points as...
    2+ players
    $15999
    Elsewhere:
    $16999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Scythe Invaders from Afar
    Scythe Invaders from Afar
    While empires rise and fall in Eastern Europa, the rest of the world takes notice. Two distant factions, Albion and Togawa, send emissaries to scout the land and employ their own distinct styles of conquering.This expansion to Scythe adds 2 new factions, each with 5 miniatures, 31 custom wooden tokens, and 1 faction mat. It also includes new cardboard tokens,...
    $5999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Scythe the Wind Gambit
    Scythe the Wind Gambit
    Mankind has long been confined to travel by land and sea, but a new technology has emerged from the greatest minds in Eastern Europa: airships. These steam-driven behemoths sail freely across the sky, aiding their empire's expansion through innovation and confrontation. As the years pass, the world has come to understand that no single faction will rise above the rest...
    2–6 players
    $4999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Scythe Encounters
    Scythe Encounters
    In June 2018, Scythe fans were invited to make a design for ONE encounter card using specific art. Jamey reviewed the submissions, selected his favorites (often mixing and matching various submissions), and developed them. Now the Scythe Encounters promo boxed set is a reality! Scythe Encounters is a boxed set of 32 brand-new promo encounter cards. These cards feature a...
    $3495
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Scythe the Rise of Fenris
    Scythe the Rise of Fenris
    Empires have risen and fallen in the aftermath of the Great War, and Europa stands on the precipice of a new era. The economy is robust, morale is high, and defenses are strong. There are reports from the countryside of strange soldiers with glowing eyes, but they seem distant and harmless. Scythe: The Rise of Fenris, the conclusion to the Scythe expansion...
    1-5 players
    $9999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Scythe Legendary Box
    Scythe Legendary Box
    The Scythe Legendary Box is designed to hold the Scythe core game plus all expansions (present and future), accessories, and promos. It features a dual-layered bottom half and a top that is the exact same dimensions as all other Scythe tops, allowing backers and fans of the original top to use it interchangeably with the new top. The Legendary Box...
    $8995
    In Stock
    Ships today

Product Details

INFORMATION

Barcode: 653341025005

Publisher: Stonemaier Games

Board game features: Base Game, Expansion available

Board game mechanics: Area control, Economic simulation, Strategy, Tile-based

Color pattern: Multicolor, Blue, Bronze, Brown

Gameplay skills: Strategic thinking, Tactical decision making, Pattern recognition

Recommended age group: 13-18 years, Adults

Toy game material: Cardboard

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 3320g

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Board Games Cam's Picks for His Dad Competitive Board Games In-Stock Board Games Nature Board Games Sci-Fi & Fantasy Board Games Sci-Fi & Fantasy Gifts Science Fiction Board Games Series: Scythe Stonemaier Games Strategy Board Games Thematic Board Games Two Player Board Games

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