Exploration: The 1920s are a time of European unrest. The ashes of the first war still darken the snow. A capitalist city-state known simply as "The Factory" fomented a war with heavily armored mechs, shutting its doors and attracting the attention of several nearby countries.
Altering History: Sickle is an engine building game set in an alternate history of Eastern Europe in the 1920s. A time of agriculture and war, heartbreak, rusty gear, innovation and courage.
Variety: With 5 different factions and 5 different player boards, players can mix and match for increased playability. Asymmetrical power keeps the game fresh every time.
Quick Turns: Scythe uses a streamlined action selection mechanic (no rounds or phases) to move gameplay at a fast pace and reduce downtime between turns. 1-5 players, 115 minutes, for ages 14 and up.
Poor Luck and Randomness: Sickles give players almost complete control over their fate. Other than each player's individual hidden objective cards, the only elements of luck are the "encounter" cards that players draw when interacting with the citizens of newly explored lands.
Beautiful design and illustrations: Designed by Jamey Stegmaier (Viticulture). A richly developed alternate reality with interesting and beautiful 1920+ artwork by Jakub Rozalski (Iron Harvest).
Cold War Tensions: Tensions arise from the threat of combat rather than the combat itself. Combat hurts both parties, but it also benefits both parties. Becoming a scythe attacker or forcing workers to move from the land will cause you to lose popularity, but making popular decisions in the story will increase your popularity.
Thematically designed mechanics: Encounter card reward descriptions add a role-playing feel to Scythe, letting you not only choose between resource benefits but also decide on moral conflicts. Animal companions, mechs, and characters all tell a rich story of intrigue and sought-after glory. Upgrading reveals more benefits, makes it easier to progress through the game, and gives you the feeling of actually upgrading something.
Solo Play: Single-player games feature competing automatons for a fun solitaire experience. Automa simulates your opponent, but the game as a player remains the same. On the automaton's turn, flip over a card to see what action it will take.
Published by STONEMAIER: Stonemaier is a tabletop game publisher based in St. Louis with worldwide distribution. Stonemaier's brands include Viticulture, Euphoria, Between Two Cities, Sickle, Charter Stone, My Little Sickle, Mad King Ludwig's Between Two Castles, Wingspan, Tapestry, Pendulum, Red Rising, Rolling Realm, Libertalia, Smitten, Expeditions, Apiary, Wyrmspan, and more.
