Scythe, the Jamey Stegmaier masterpiece set in the evocative steam-punk world of post Great War Europa depicted by the creative genius of Jakub Rozalski, has dominated my groaning game shelves for over a decade. Like all Stonemaier offerings the production quality is top notch with solid boxes and heavyweight components and with all the versions, expansions and add-ons that’s kilos of connected pleasure to accommodate!
With the arrival of the latest in the lineage, Duel of Meloch it’s time to summate the story so far, through a brief list of all the products and where they fit in. Followed by thoughts on where you might start or, if you are already one of the 600,000+ players in the Scythe world, where to go next.
Scythe Range
The four Stand-alone games with their expansions
SCYTHE – the original heavyweight Euro game of agro-warfare in 1920s Europa
- INVADERS FROM AFAR: adds two new factions and player mats
- THE WIND GAMBIT: adds airships and 2 new playable modules
- THE RISE OF FENRIS: resettable legend style campaign game
- MODULAR BOARD: enables endless variable terrain starts
- ENCOUNTERS: 32 new encounter cards #43-74
- BOARD EXPANSION: enables big hex side of the board for 7 players
EXPEDITIONS - standalone sequel set in comet struck Siberia East of Europa
- GEARS OF CORRUPTION: 2 new mechs, 4 new character/companion combos and a 6th player
- DUEL OF MELOCH: Scythe style player versus Expeditions style player
- MY LITTLE SCYTHE: Intro to Scythe concepts with cute graphics and animals
- PIE IN THE SKY: Aerial expansion plus 2 new animal pairs
+ a host of extra bits and pieces like coins, tokens, cards, inserts etc. and the legendary big box by Stonemaier themselves or a host of 3rd party suppliers.
One Scythe Doesn't Fit All
It’s not the Scythe that’s important but what you are going to do with it!
Scythe is more than just a big heavy Eurogame it is a combination of of an RPG with a compelling storyline and an asymmetric worker placement, resource management and engine-building contest of skill.
I was deeply attracted to the Art and dystopian atmosphere of this post Great War Europa which resonates throughout the board, encounter cards, factions, characters, and all their miniatures. You can enjoy Scythe games without considering the thematic elements (and I would suggest My Little Scythe if you do) but when you immerse yourself in the full story depth you double the pleasure.
All the character factions have their own abilities and special attributes for their mechs whilst each player mat gives a different focus to start levels and top and bottom row actions to fit their characterisation: INDUSTRIAL; AGRICULTURAL; INNOVATIVE; PATRIOTIC etc
What Scythe is not, is a full on wargame. People have been put off by the excellently sculpted mech miniatures stomping around and the destructive scenes in some of the Encounter vignettes thinking there would be endless aggression but this is not the case. There’s often little combat with informed play using the Mechs as transport and defence. My little Scythe can have more combat albeit in a sanitised pie fight!
Comet Book Horror
Expeditions is an excellent stand-alone game set in the same world with a focus on exploring and defeating comet borne corruption. Though it continues some of the storyline threads it uses completely different gameplay and introduces new characters and companions. Cited, by some, as an easier introduction to Scythe itself I must demur for its new way of working is unfamiliar and complex. Notwithstanding that it’s well worth it.
So, let’s consider Duel of Meloch. Another beautifully produced stand alone game with tons of content. Jamey Stegmaier works hard to please his loyal game fans. Everything in his designed Scythe world (i.e. not My little Scythe) fits together and new developments are designed as modules that can be back-fitted into earlier releases. So the extra boards and characters in Rise of Fenris for example can be used in Standard Scythe games. Also there are always Automata rules for solo play if you can’t find opponents.
Duel of Meloch is the pinnacle of this design concept giving you the ability to play any of the Scythe factions and playmats against any of the Expeditions characters and companions against any other. These can be the included Turkish like Constantinople and desert themed cards or the native Indian Nikte and a mech boat on legs or any others you may already have. Cleverly allowing the introduction of new themed sets like CCGs.
Also the new combat card system is a great improvement on the Scythe basic which I’ll add for all my future Scythe games but you don’t have to!
Cutesy Scythe that's not Pony
My Little Scythe is a lovely, lovely game with a lot of the great Scythe gameplay elements with all the nastiness stripped out. It is easily accessible and the quickest way to involve 6 players.
So What's Your Scythe
Recommendations
Scythe, Expeditions and My Little Scythe are all great games that should be in any thinking player’s collection. With the first two plus Duel of Meloch focusing on the eerily evocative Europa environment and the last focussing on making the game mechanics more manageable.
Suits you
- Choose Scythe for its immersive, beautiful alternate-history art, strategic development and little luck element in the encounter cards.
- Expand with Rise of Fenris to give a meaningful resettable campaign even more theme and plug and play modules.
- If you play a lot get the modular board expansion to vary Scythe layouts
- Get Expeditions if exploration is your thing, uncovering new territory in a great game with a bit more of a creeping horror slant.
- Add Gears of Corruption for a quick start and better balance to Expeditions
- My Little Scythe for an easier, great game for up to 6 players with less story.Duel of Meloch content-rich pack for existing players but not an easy pickup and may be too short. Grants great new combat card system
Is this your Scythe?
- Invaders from Afar for the 2 extra factions that were pre-printed on the board
- Board Expansion if you often get many players and like the extra space
More Meh than Mech - Do you want fly’s with that?
- The Wind Gambit nice models but doesn’t add much
- Pie in the Sky complicates a nice clean game but does give extra characters
