Scythe: Digital Edition is a Miscellaneous game, developed by The Knights of Unity and published by Asmodee Digital, which was released in 2018.

Reading Time: 6 minutesMy eldest daughter is not yet 4 years old. We are waiting with great anticipation for the day that we all can play a game together that doesn’t come in a yellow box. Nothing against HABA, they make amazing games, but there are only so many times I can feign excitement when playing My First Orchard. A lot of these early games are mostly just toys with rules and trying to get my daughter to follow those rules can be stressful.So while I wait for the day that my daughter can play some meatier games, I make a list of those I can’t wait to play with her. Mice and Mystics is one I am very excited for, as are the likes of Takenoko, Potion Explosion, and anything from Kids Table Board Gaming.

My Little Scythe was high on the list—as both a fan of My Little Pony and Scythe I couldn’t be more excited to play it with her.When Jamey offered me the chance to review it, I pounced. Spoilers: I was right to be excited for it.

OverviewMy Little Scythe (henceforth MLS) came about when a devoted father wanted to play Scythe with his children. The game was tweaked and colored into a My Little Pony version that you can still find online if you look hard enough. The community was so enamored by the redesign that it won the Golden Geek Award in 2017. Stonemaier games took the idea and printed a version that wouldn’t get them sued for copyright claims.If you’ve played, you’ll see the roots of MLS: the first player to complete a set number of objectives ends the game, you have a popularity track, a military strength track, exploration cards, military cards, resources kept on the board, etc.But everything has been covered with a big splash of My Little Pony paint. It’s bright and kid-friendly with a complete overhaul of the theme. No longer are you anachronistic mech-deploying European soldiers, now you are anthropomorphic animals seeking glory and excitement. Popularity is now friendship, fighting now involves throwing pies, and everything is just so darn cute.

My Little Scythe GameplayThe goal of the game is to gain 4 trophies, very similar to the star system from Scythe. The first player to earn 4 trophies ends the game, but every other player gets one more turn to catch up. Ties—which are exceptionally common—are broken by the player with the most friendship.

Because friendship is victory. (edited for trademark infringement).On your turn you’ll take one of three actions: move, seek, or make. Each action is outlined using iconography on your player board and you’ll move a pawn to mark which action you take so that you don’t repeat an action. The Move action will move one of your two miniatures along with the resources underneath them. Seek will have you spawn more resources onto the board, while the third action, Make, lets you use your resources to upgrade your actions, gain pies, or draw combat cards.If you move into a space containing another player’s miniature, you start a pie fight.

You each bid a number of pies and can add extra using a combat card. The player with the most pies wins and gets to keep any resources now in that space. This is the brunt of player interaction in the game and, depending on the child, could cause some conflict at the table. However, not only is winning a combat one of the trophies available, but the defeated player gets a small bonus when their miniature is returned to base camp.The last thing I want to bring up is how to gain friendship.

There are quests on the board that unlock adventure cards with three choices, usually consisting of a moral positive, moral negative, and a pass. While some of these increase friendship, the main way to increase it is with the seek action. When you seek to add resources, any resources you add to spaces containing enemy miniatures grants you 1 friendship.

It’s good to give!For ChildrenThis is not a game for older experienced gamers and I don’t think the theme of it will draw in newer adult players. My Little Scythe is for the gamer parent, the one hoping to play something more interesting with their children or just hoping to lead their kids into heavier games. One of the best things about Scythe is the hybrid nature of its gameplay and MLS does well in providing that same sort of low-interaction yet still competitive Euro for children.

I can not stress this enough, the game is really simple. As it should be!When it was just the adults playing, the actions were fairly obvious. Ties happen often because of the simplicity of gaining more trophies. Most require only two or three more actions from your current state, making the game abundantly simple.

The random elements of the seek dice can also be frustrating, spawning resources everywhere but your territory. You’ll also beg for more movement and never get it, often making the game feel a bit slow. But, again, I’m an adult playing this and in no way should be considered the target audience. This game is not for adults!I am never going to pull this out for my normal group, we will just play Scythe instead. But I have already opened this multiple times for my 3 year old. She has no idea how the game works, but MLS is a great toy for her all the same due to the wonderful miniatures and shiny gems. We played with her sitting next to mommy, let her roll the dice and move the minis, and read her the adventure cards like tiny stories.

This game isn’t for her yet, but it will be.For the correct demographic the game even comes with lots of lore to draw them in. A whole extra page detailing the story of their minis and an included paint guide if they want to start down that hobby. The game also includes a solo mode for when the caretakers can’t join in.From One Parent To AnotherLook, most non-parents have stopped reading by this point, so let’s get a bit more personal. You, like me, have learned a very valuable lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic: being a parent to a bored child is easily the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do in my life.

The very idea of a rainy day scares me. Whatever outlet I can give them is worth the investment; My Little Scythe is a very good investment.I open the box to let my 3 year old play with the minis while I take the break to maybe, finally, use the toilet. As she gets older, I hope to actually play the game with her—thankfully it’s fun for both parties. When we can play Scythe together, I think that’s when I know it is time to put My Little Scythe away.

And should she ever become a parent herself, I’ll give her the copy for her own kids.Just not at first. After all she’s put me through she can endure a few extra months of stress before I hand it over. ConclusionMy Little Scythe is exactly what you expect it to be: a watered down version of Scythe full of bright colors and a kiddie theme.

This is a game for children, which means it has a high toy-like aesthetic and a simple set of rules. But that connection with Scythe is strong, making the game a great stepping-stone to move your little woodland adventurer towards the meatier titles. I highly recommend it for all you parents out there looking for something worth putting on the table.

Scythe is a board game for 1 to 5 players designed by Jamey Stegmaier and published by Stonemaier Games in 2016. Set in an alternate history 1920s Europe, in Scythe players control factions which produce resources, build economic infrastructure, and use giant dieselpunk war machines called mechs to fight and control territory.^[1] Players take up to two actions per turn using unique player boards, with the game proceeding until one player has achieved six achievements, at which point the players receive coins for their achievements and territories controlled, with the player with the most coins winning.^[2]

The game was originally released via Kickstarter, raising over $1.8 million.^[3][4]Scythe received very positive reviews, with particularly strong praise for the game's artwork, which was produced by Polish painter Jakub Różalski under the name World of 1920+.^[5][2][1] As of 2020, Scythe is ranked 11th among all board games on BoardGameGeek.^[6]

Gameplay[edit]

In Scythe, players represent different factions in an alternate history 1920s Europe recovering from a great war, where each faction is seeking its fortune. Players build an economic engine by choosing one of four main actions each turn, listed on the top of their personal player board, which cannot be the same as the main action they selected in their previous turn. They can also take a corresponding second action listed on their player board. These actions allow them to move units on the board, trade for or produce goods, bolster their military, deploy mechs, enlist recruits for continuous bonuses, build structures, and upgrade their actions to make them stronger or cheaper.^[7]

This is the latest installment in the long-running racing franchsie. Mxgp 2019. Parents need to know that MXGP 2019: The Official Motocross Video Game is a dirt bike racing game for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PCs.

Each player has six stars that they will place on the board upon completion of certain goals, such as deploying all four of their mechs.^[1] When one player has deployed all their stars, the game immediately ends, with each star and territory controlled granting a certain amount of money depending on how much popularity the player has achieved during the game. The player who has the most money is the winner.^[8]

Release and reception[edit]

Scythe was initially sold via Kickstarter, with backers contributing over $1.8 million during the campaign.^[9] It was delivered to backers in July 2016 and released in retail stores the following month.

Scythe won 5 Golden Geek awards for 2016 from BoardGameGeek, winning for Board Game of the Year, Artwork & Presentation, Strategy Game, and Solo Game, and placing as a runner-up for Most Innovative.^[10]Scythe also won the Origins award for 2016 board game of the year.^[11]

The game was featured as one of Geek and Sundry's best board games of 2016, with reviewer Charlie Theel saying that 'Scythe is a fantastic design that will not soon be forgotten.'^[12]Popular Mechanics also dubbed Scythe 'the best game of 2016.'^[13]

Scythe's artwork has received exceptional praise from reviewers for its images of agrarian life juxtaposed with giant war machines.^[14][8]

Scythe: The Wind Gambit won a Golden Geek award for the best expansion to a game in 2017.^[15]

Scythe is rated as one of the top ten board games of all time at Board Game Geek.^[16]

Expansions and digital edition[edit]

The first expansion, Scythe: Invaders From Afar, was released in July 2017, adding two new factions to the game and increasing the maximum player count from 5 to 7.^[17] The second expansion, Scythe: The Wind Gambit, was released in December 2017, adding airships and variable end-game conditions to the game.^[18]The third and final expansion, titled The Rise of Fenris and released in the third quarter of 2018, added an 8 game campaign with 11 modules that can be used in different combinations,^[19] as well as a cooperative play mode.^[20]

Asmodee Digital released Scythe: Digital Edition via Steam in September 2018 for a price of $19.99.^[21]

In December 2018, Stonemaier Games released Scythe Encounters, a mini-expansion containing 32 promotional encounter cards, many of which were created from fan submissions.^[22]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abcZimmerman, Aaron (July 30, 2016). 'Scythe review: The most-hyped board game of 2016 delivers'. Ars Technica. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
2. ^ ^abGuarino, Ben (September 16, 2016). 'The Most Hyped Board Game of 2016 Earned It'. Inverse. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
3. ^Oide, Thomas (March 8, 2017). 'Fueled by love of games, MU professor creates successful board game of his own'. Columbia Missourian. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
4. ^Fenske, Sarah (March 26, 2016). 'St. Louis-Based Company's Kickstarter Rakes in $1.5 Million (Seriously)'. The Riverfront Times. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
5. ^Plunkett, Luke (July 12, 2016). 'Scythe: The Kotaku Review'. Kotaku. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
6. ^'Browse Board Games BoardGameGeek'. boardgamegeek.com. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
7. ^East, Oliver (June 16, 2017). 'Scythe Review – Strategic Turn Based Brilliance'. Just Push Start. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
8. ^ ^abHall, Charlie (August 12, 2016). 'In Scythe, my buffalo fights for the people'. Polygon. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
9. ^Paez, Danny (December 18, 2015). 'Crowdfunded board games surge despite video market'. CNBC. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
10. ^Hall, Charlie (March 9, 2016). 'The best board games of 2016'. Polygon. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
11. ^'Scythe named Game of the Year at Origins Awards'. Tabletop Gaming. June 19, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
12. ^Theel, Charlie (December 28, 2016). 'The Best Board Games of 2016 – Scythe'. Geek and Sundry. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
13. ^Herkewitz, William (September 29, 2017). 'The 50 Best New Board Games'. Popular Mechanics. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
14. ^Bolding, Jonathan (December 22, 2016). 'Our favorite board games for PC gamers'. PC Gamer. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
15. ^Hall, Charlie (March 14, 2018). 'The best board games of 2017, as chosen by the Board Game Geek community'. Polygon. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
16. ^Francis, Eric (June 19, 2018). 'This Board-Gaming Craze Comes With $2,700 Tables'. Bloomberg. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
17. ^East, Oliver (July 31, 2017). 'Scythe: Invaders From Afar Review - New Factions, New Fun'. Just Push Start. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
18. ^Hall, Charlie (April 17, 2017). 'This expansion will completely change the best board game of 2016'. Polygon. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
19. ^Hall, Charlie (January 3, 2018). 'Scythe will get a campaign expansion this year (update)'. Polygon. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
20. ^Heller, Emily (January 24, 2019). 'The best strategy board games to mix up game night'. Polygon. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
21. ^Law, Keith (September 15, 2018). 'Review: Mega-hit boardgame Scythe goes digital on Steam'. Ars Technica. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
22. ^Elderkin, Beth (October 23, 2018). 'Galactic Scoundrels and Teddy Bears Rise Up in the Latest Tabletop Gaming News'. Gizmodo. Retrieved June 27, 2019.

External links[edit]

• Scythe at BoardGameGeek
• How to play Scythe on Watch It Played
• Scythe Review on Dice Tower
• Scythe on Steam
• Iron Harvest, an RTS video game for the PC based on Jakub Różalski's World of 1920+.