I love this game! I admit my own setback in playing is that I am so focused on my own strategy that I forget to watch the other player. That is my hint to you: you must take everything into consideration. I really recommend this game, thought provoking, amazing set up, fabulous art, the plays have enormous random capabilities.
This was my gateway game. I had played 7 wonders, Catan, Dominion, and other popular gateway games and I bounced off of all of them -- but then I played Scythe.
I started playing Iron Harvest last wekk, (a RTS in the scythe universe) and since I liked it so much, I went out and got Scythe with all of the expansions and the Digital Edition.
It’s cool that you cover scythe, even though it’s alrdy a bit „older“. I don’t like that most reviews cover only the latest games since it’s also interesting how games hold up when they are already a bit older and I think the review quality gets even better if the reviewer had more time to play the game and have more experience with the game. I think an important measurement of how good a game is, is whether the game is still played after few years or not. I guess there are a lot of games that were interesting when they first came out but were forgotten quite quickly :)
It’s a keeper. We played the campaign and since then we haven’t played it. To many games and to little time to get 4 or more ppl to the table. But it’s a little like eclipse,with you building up and then....... someone get into YOUR space and attack. So you collect things and do your thing and you have an eye on the others. But just wait for it. You will be attacked. Because you have the stars for winning a battle. And looks great and I’ve painted all quite good =)
I think the mantra "Scythe is not for everyone" is probably the most accurate statement about this game. There's nothing wrong with any player who doesn't "get Scythe", and I applaud them for at least giving this title a try even if it didn't meet their expectations. For the rest of us, the tremendous amount of player agency and choice, viable strategies, meaningful expansion content and overall production values have become the features by which we've judged other reputable games. Years on, I'm still learning tactical nuances and the subtle art of sequencing your turns for optimal efficiency. A focused strategy goes far in Scythe, and that important lesson gets driven home after a few games. It's also a handsome game without any bling- but there's a ton of additional material (both official and 3rd party-sponsored) for those that want to trick out their personal copy. My daughter noted the Xenomorph on the modular board. She's been enthralled by this game, although her biggest complaint is Jamey's choice of title- the box cover displays a stylistic sickle, NOT a scythe! 🤔
I just got the digital version of Scythe and I definitely enjoy the strategy of the game so far. I'll def check out your strategy video and get some early game tips.
Nice video, great cover up maybe the best sum-up video about Scythe I know. Jakub Rozalski is the artist of ilustrations and creator of whole theme, world in Scythe. My second favourite boardgame after This War Of Mine TBG. I have all expansions, Legendary Box, and modular board. Even it wasn't cheapeast buy it's one of few games that are totally worth 100% of their price. But despite all pros and some cons the best thing which shows how this game is great that people still talking about Scythe and still playing a lot, still on top 50 hot games on BGG and on top 20 games of all time on BGG. I agree that this game is not for everyone but at least everyone should give it a try. Scythe for me is essential game and one of the most important board games of XXI century. Ofc I am proud that world 1920+ created by polish artist Jakub Rozalski was incorporated into such a great game as Scythe.
A very interesting dissection of Scythe. This is a game that has always befuddled me a bit. I'm attracted to the art and resource gathering, but put off by area control and combat. Your cromulent speech has truly embiggened me. I will have to check out your opening strategy vid, and give it another go. I also love that you covered an "older" game. Great vid! ***** 5 Stars!
You're not alone in those feelings. I love it, but one of my friends hates it. If you have an opportunity to play with some modules from The Rise of Fenris they can change how much attacking happens in the game and it definitely changes to feel of the game.
This is a great sum-up of Scythe. It's a little too heavy and point salad-y (and maybe a little too mean for my taste) BUT it is a great game overall and not one to be missed if you're at all on the fence. If you're still not sure if you'd like it I def recommend intro vid's (including Shea's, linked above) or even the digital version on Steam that has a solid (and thorough!) teach for this game.
9:33 But the thing is, is that this game dis-incentivizes combat as much as possible - and there are other ways to win without combat. Yes, I admit that some strategies do require a player to win at least one combat, but not all of them.
Here is my review of Scythe, "A game that looks awesome, but when it comes down to it, its you playing against yourself as fast as you can get to the finish line as possible, with other players who are also playing the game....against themselves."
I much prefer a wargame to Scythe - or a worker-placement game for a matter of fact. This is in between chairs and that is why I dislike it. But there are so many games that there is a games for anybody. But this isn't for me. Edit: D'oh! Great review Shea. ^^
The presence, production and theme of the game are just awesome. The game should give me all I like about board games. But still to me it's just a 7.5 which is more than good but not great either. The biggest reasons are the following: 1. Having a card encounter which gives you a mech or building exactly when you need it (especially in the beginning of the game) while others dont, is bad randomness in an otherwise quite strategic eurogame. 2. On the one hand, movement sometimes taking forever and on the other hand some special actions as well as the tunnel system making you jump over half of the board adds such a weird unrealistic disbalance, thats to me it just fells like an awful design. Some players feeling like chained on their "island" while others can kind of beam around, to me is no fun. All in all this game feels too restrictive and the action selection in the end even feels abstract.
that card swinginess is definitely a hallmark of jamey stegmaier designs... viticulture, tapestry especially, and it sounds like scythe too? i think jamey just really digs that card-driven drama! :)
Disagree about too much space with 2 players. My wife & I play 2 players all the time with both modular & nornal board. We'd never play it on a smaller board. Scythe is a rare game that works well with all player counts - from 1 to 7.
@@rahdo I see. I guess I've seen enough reviews of yours that I'm surprised when you say a game was not the right fit for you and your wife. I get surprised when the game has confrontational elements that would have been known beforehand, but you gave it a go anyway. Can't think of any examples at the moment. in the case of Scythe, I'm intrigued by the fact Jamey restricted combat here because he's not a big fan of it and even made it unnecessary for victory. I am looking forward to Mosaic and what it offers.
I love this game! I admit my own setback in playing is that I am so focused on my own strategy that I forget to watch the other player. That is my hint to you: you must take everything into consideration. I really recommend this game, thought provoking, amazing set up, fabulous art, the plays have enormous random capabilities.
One of my all-time favorites. In can't bring it to the table often enough but every time it hits the table I enjoy it tremendously.
This was my gateway game. I had played 7 wonders, Catan, Dominion, and other popular gateway games and I bounced off of all of them -- but then I played Scythe.
I started playing Iron Harvest last wekk, (a RTS in the scythe universe) and since I liked it so much, I went out and got Scythe with all of the expansions and the Digital Edition.
Scythe is an amazing 2 player game if you use the coop module of the Fenris expansion.
Especially combined with the modular board
I absolutely love this game at two players! And with the modular board you can play with only one tile if you want more interaction.
I saw this pop up and thought I had time traveled a few years to pre covid times. But even tho I've played scythe a ton still enjoyed this
That and young Rhado! Haha. Yes I know its not him.
Thanks for the strategy guide! We have not played ours yet. We started with My Little Scythe which is great fun! Cheers!
It’s cool that you cover scythe, even though it’s alrdy a bit „older“. I don’t like that most reviews cover only the latest games since it’s also interesting how games hold up when they are already a bit older and I think the review quality gets even better if the reviewer had more time to play the game and have more experience with the game.
I think an important measurement of how good a game is, is whether the game is still played after few years or not. I guess there are a lot of games that were interesting when they first came out but were forgotten quite quickly :)
Or - it could be that someone new/newer to the hobby just discovered the older game and wanted to give it a try! :-)
9:17 Yep, exactly! The first time I saw this game, I saw the mechs and I assumed that this game is a war-game.
One of my favorites of all time!!!
It’s a keeper. We played the campaign and since then we haven’t played it. To many games and to little time to get 4 or more ppl to the table. But it’s a little like eclipse,with you building up and then....... someone get into YOUR space and attack. So you collect things and do your thing and you have an eye on the others. But just wait for it. You will be attacked. Because you have the stars for winning a battle. And looks great and I’ve painted all quite good =)
I think the mantra "Scythe is not for everyone" is probably the most accurate statement about this game. There's nothing wrong with any player who doesn't "get Scythe", and I applaud them for at least giving this title a try even if it didn't meet their expectations.
For the rest of us, the tremendous amount of player agency and choice, viable strategies, meaningful expansion content and overall production values have become the features by which we've judged other reputable games. Years on, I'm still learning tactical nuances and the subtle art of sequencing your turns for optimal efficiency. A focused strategy goes far in Scythe, and that important lesson gets driven home after a few games.
It's also a handsome game without any bling- but there's a ton of additional material (both official and 3rd party-sponsored) for those that want to trick out their personal copy.
My daughter noted the Xenomorph on the modular board. She's been enthralled by this game, although her biggest complaint is Jamey's choice of title- the box cover displays a stylistic sickle, NOT a scythe! 🤔
I just got the digital version of Scythe and I definitely enjoy the strategy of the game so far. I'll def check out your strategy video and get some early game tips.
Nice video, great cover up maybe the best sum-up video about Scythe I know. Jakub Rozalski is the artist of ilustrations and creator of whole theme, world in Scythe.
My second favourite boardgame after This War Of Mine TBG. I have all expansions, Legendary Box, and modular board. Even it wasn't cheapeast buy it's one of few games that are totally worth 100% of their price.
But despite all pros and some cons the best thing which shows how this game is great that people still talking about Scythe and still playing a lot, still on top 50 hot games on BGG and on top 20 games of all time on BGG.
I agree that this game is not for everyone but at least everyone should give it a try.
Scythe for me is essential game and one of the most important board games of XXI century.
Ofc I am proud that world 1920+ created by polish artist Jakub Rozalski was incorporated into such a great game as Scythe.
A very interesting dissection of Scythe. This is a game that has always befuddled me a bit. I'm attracted to the art and resource gathering, but put off by area control and combat. Your cromulent speech has truly embiggened me. I will have to check out your opening strategy vid, and give it another go. I also love that you covered an "older" game. Great vid! ***** 5 Stars!
You're not alone in those feelings. I love it, but one of my friends hates it. If you have an opportunity to play with some modules from The Rise of Fenris they can change how much attacking happens in the game and it definitely changes to feel of the game.
This is a great sum-up of Scythe. It's a little too heavy and point salad-y (and maybe a little too mean for my taste) BUT it is a great game overall and not one to be missed if you're at all on the fence. If you're still not sure if you'd like it I def recommend intro vid's (including Shea's, linked above) or even the digital version on Steam that has a solid (and thorough!) teach for this game.
It has been 3 years late... But still a very enjoyable video to watch. Better late than never as they say
9:33 But the thing is, is that this game dis-incentivizes combat as much as possible - and there are other ways to win without combat. Yes, I admit that some strategies do require a player to win at least one combat, but not all of them.
6:24 What about 3-player Scythe? Does it work (better than 2-player; but not as well as 4-player)?
Basically, yeah. I prefer four, but I would have no problem playing three player.
Funny. Have this game for years, now a review by you. Still love it. Only con for me ? The original board offers place for the first expansion. 🤔
Here is my review of Scythe, "A game that looks awesome, but when it comes down to it, its you playing against yourself as fast as you can get to the finish line as possible, with other players who are also playing the game....against themselves."
true up until the point that my mech tries to steal all your stuff :)
Insightful analysis
I much prefer a wargame to Scythe - or a worker-placement game for a matter of fact. This is in between chairs and that is why I dislike it. But there are so many games that there is a games for anybody. But this isn't for me.
Edit: D'oh! Great review Shea. ^^
The presence, production and theme of the game are just awesome.
The game should give me all I like about board games.
But still to me it's just a 7.5 which is more than good but not great either.
The biggest reasons are the following:
1. Having a card encounter which gives you a mech or building exactly when you need it (especially in the beginning of the game) while others dont, is bad randomness in an otherwise quite strategic eurogame.
2. On the one hand, movement sometimes taking forever and on the other hand some special actions as well as the tunnel system making you jump over half of the board adds such a weird unrealistic disbalance, thats to me it just fells like an awful design.
Some players feeling like chained on their "island" while others can kind of beam around, to me is no fun.
All in all this game feels too restrictive and the action selection in the end even feels abstract.
that card swinginess is definitely a hallmark of jamey stegmaier designs... viticulture, tapestry especially, and it sounds like scythe too? i think jamey just really digs that card-driven drama! :)
Since we'll never get to see a Rahdo runthrough of Scythe, what did he think of the game from watching Shea?
i've always loved the design of scythe, but shea further convinced me that it's not for us. maybe someday we'll try that co-op expansion :)
will there be a Shea runs through Twilight Imperium 4? we know you love it!
it has been discussed :)
Curious to find out how he rates it at 2p 😉
I'm still on the fence about this game. I'm sure is giving a solid experience but somehow I don't think I will enjoy has much i want
Disagree about too much space with 2 players. My wife & I play 2 players all the time with both modular & nornal board. We'd never play it on a smaller board. Scythe is a rare game that works well with all player counts - from 1 to 7.
Does Rahdo like this game?
never played it!
@@rahdo Wow. Neither have I actually, but I just bought it. I figured this was right up your alley.
nope, the mechs have always kept me away. don't want to raid other people's stockpiles :)
@@rahdo I see. I guess I've seen enough reviews of yours that I'm surprised when you say a game was not the right fit for you and your wife. I get surprised when the game has confrontational elements that would have been known beforehand, but you gave it a go anyway. Can't think of any examples at the moment. in the case of Scythe, I'm intrigued by the fact Jamey restricted combat here because he's not a big fan of it and even made it unnecessary for victory. I am looking forward to Mosaic and what it offers.
in this case, the designer (jamey) actually directly told me directly we probably wouldn't enjoy it, so i took a pass and had shea cover it instead :)
Visually lovely but I just can't get into it.