Overview
This video provides a complete walkthrough of the board game Scythe, covering setup, gameplay mechanics, turn structure, actions, combat, and scoring, as well as end-game conditions.
Game Setup
- Place the main board in the center; choose the standard or expanded version.
- Distribute encounter tokens, shuffle and place combat, encounter, objective, and factory cards as instructed.
- Randomly select and display one structure bonus tile.
- Organize resources (wood, oil, food, metal), coins, and multipliers in supply.
- Assign each player a faction and player mat, aligning tokens and components accordingly.
- Set up faction-specific pieces: position character, initial workers, and place mechs, technology cubes, recruits, structures, stars, power, and popularity as indicated on mats.
- Distribute quick reference cards to each player; determine first player using lowest value on the mat.
- Place power dials nearby.
Game Objective & Flow
- Players lead factions to expand across the map, gain resources, and complete objectives.
- The winner is the player with the most wealth after one player places their sixth star.
- Turns proceed clockwise; each turn consists of selecting an action section on the player mat and performing top and/or bottom row actions.
Actions and Movement
- Four top row actions: Move/Gain, Bolster, Trade, Produce.
- Move: Move up to two units or gain coins, resolving any resulting combat.
- Movement is limited by terrain and river/lake rules, with tunnels connecting specific spaces.
- Entering enemy-controlled territories may initiate combat; workers are forced to retreat and attackers lose popularity for displacing them.
- Only characters can trigger encounters or enter the factory for special cards.
Combat & Encounters
- Combat is resolved secretly using power dials and combat cards, with the winner placing a star.
- Retreating units return to home base; the attacker loses popularity for displacing workers.
- Players may freely make informal coin-based agreements, but only coins can be exchanged, and deals are non-binding.
- Encounters provide thematic choices with set costs/benefits, available only to characters.
Bottom Row Actions
- Upgrade: Spend resources to shift cubes, unlocking new benefits and lowering costs.
- Deploy: Spend resources to place mechs, unlocking unique movement/combat abilities.
- Build: Spend resources to place structures, granting ongoing benefits and scoring opportunities.
- Enlist: Gain one-time and ongoing bonuses for certain actions taken by self or adjacent players.
Objectives, Stars, and Endgame
- Achieve objectives (one per game) by revealing and meeting card conditions; place a star.
- Stars are awarded for milestones (upgrades, deploying mechs, building, enlisting, producing workers, objectives, combat wins, reaching popularity/power thresholds).
- Game ends when a player places their sixth star; final scoring involves coins, stars, territory control, resources, and structure bonuses.
Final Scoring & Tiebreakers
- Sum coins, coins for stars, coins per territory, coins for resources, and structure bonus coins.
- Ties are broken by, in order: most pieces in play, highest power, popularity, resources, territory, and stars.
Additional Notes
- Each faction has a unique special ability; details are on mats and rulebook.
- Solo rules are available, but not covered in this video.
- Players may record achievements on a special sheet provided.