Scythe Starting Strategies - The Mill

[@GameKingFaiz]

5:27 - Strategy talk begins, but it is a rehash of the video that Jamey Stagmeir did on Board Game Network, if you've seen that you can skip ahead 11:05 - Non-Jamey strategy/thoughts

[@TheMillShow]

GameKingFaiz Thank you for the timestamps!

[@Anvilarm07]

Very helpful. I played my first game of Scythe today and while I understood the mechanics I didn't have a clue about strategy. I still had a ton of fun and look forward to playing again.

[@TheMillShow]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed your first game of Scythe. It is honestly still gives me a thrill when I get it to the table. First few games, it's just a matter of pushing buttons and seeing how everything works. Once you start to see some of the same combinations of mats you can find some really good combinations that help move you forward quickly. Scythe is, after all, a race. :)

[@dannylyons2286]

Thanks for your time and effort Dusty. Your tips are sound, and also greatly appreciated.

[@TheMillShow]

Thank you for the very kind words, Danny. They are also greatly appreciated. :)

[@PiotrTheGreat]

don't be so modest, very helpful video for me as a complete beginner. many thx =)

[@TheMillShow]

Thank you for saying so, Piotr.

[@MrCactusThrower]

This man so humble, spit that knowledge

[@vladimirjuric81]

Thank you for your time and effort to make this video. Keep up the good work :)

[@TheMillShow]

Vladimir - Thank you so much for the kind words.

[@HorseIRL]

Great Video. I just started learning scythe. Probably late to the party but the game is great regardless of my time of purchase!

[@kirksellman1999]

Good job explaining this for beginners.

[@TheMillShow]

Glad it was helpful!

[@haydenl5210]

Great production quality in these videos! Keep them up please

[@TheMillShow]

Thank you so much, Hayden. They are a regular Saturday release, sometimes with some oddball releases from time to time, but I try and get them out on Saturdays. I appreciate you checking out The Mill.

[@mdmccu2]

Going into each faction’s strategy sounds intense, but super helpful for sharing with newbies who are trying to make the most of the unique abilities. Love to give some feedback on those! Another note, I think that another strategy that must be taken into account is that Scythe, while fundamentally the same no matter how many players, requires different tactics at different player counts. 4-5 person games don’t see much of this effect. In 2-3 player games, you know it will be easier to spread out later in the game so you need to identify when the game is ending in order to spread out and maximize coins. Likewise in 6-7 player games the board is so crowded that you need to hurry to claim territory before you lose the ability to produce on a resource type or before you lose the ability to spread out before being forced to engage in combat or lose popularity when workers retreat. Speaking of combat, the stakes are a lot higher in high player count games, because there are 5+ players who could take advantage of your reduced power after combat. Less so in small player count games.

[@TheMillShow]

Matthew McCue You would be shocked how many of these notes I have to remember to talk about some of exactly that and then the red light comes on and I'm not even sure of my name. 🙄

[@mdmccu2]

I think you do a great job, Dusty. 😉

[@TheMillShow]

Sincerely, thank you. Those pats on the back mean wonders to people, like myself, who still aren't the most comfortable putting themselves out there. So it really does mean more than you might think. Thank you.

[@mdmccu2]

It’s all sincere! I like the idea that you put yourself out there like this. I’ve been toying with podcasting/game reviews for a long time and I’ve never followed through, and you did! It’s great man, and you managed to tackle a crazy subject with a lot of nuance. I’ll shoot you a message on the Facebook group with some ideas about strategy for your individual factions!

[@styks6480]

Hey man! I really like your production quality and video. It's unfortunate that board games channels have a hard time getting traction with the current KZbin algorithms. None the less, great job! You've gotten yourself a subscriber.

[@TheMillShow]

Cody Hey thank you so much for the kind words. The production quality is 100% thanks to my wife. She's an exceptional photographer and I guess she's working on her videography too. I'm very lucky to have her as a partner in this (and life). I hope you enjoy the other videos too. Happy to have you aboard.

[@scythereaping]

I love Scythe. I learned that the first 5 moves are crucial. I usually have my workers set already by that point and spread them out as area control and I tend to analyze the map so I can deploy mechs as well as build monuments. I love to diversify my resources and even them out. I also tend to collect Combat Cards early on just in case I face my opponent.

[@CascadeHush]

Almost everybody says get riverwalk out first. I find the special move ability is almost always more useful (usually the second mech from the left). More important to build the mine as soon as you reasonably can. If you are increasing your workers, you should have a hex with 4 workers on it by about turn 4 or 5 (plus another worker on a different hex). Build the mine and a mech on that hex and then use a mech to move all those workers out of your home area onto a tunnel space. From that point on, riverwalk is not that crucial, since you can expand into the centre area without it.

[@TheMillShow]

Very good points! I like Polania myself, and that 'build the mine' strategy is positively necessary! Do you find the 4 or 5 workers on the board - get a mech - is as important for Nordic given their ability to swim? Probably so, so that you can move all of those workers quickly. Do you find yourself trying to clog up the middle as quickly as possible and to what extent? Do you try and get them 1 on a territory? Or try and make it more painful to hassle them?

[@RobertKonigsberg]

Excellent suggestion

[@BishopSheenRosaries]

I find the factory is least essential if you are Rusviet because the beauty of factory cards is being able to move every turn and you can do that anyways as Rusviet

[@MagicMikeD]

Great video, One thing I would add, the factory card "is" valuable late in the game because you can move continuously with it. You can take the move action, and then the factory action, even if you skip the top factory action, you can still use the bottom factory move action to drop off workers with a mech. This allows you to grab as many territories as possible at end game. Depending on your popularity, this can be the deciding factor in a game. Of course if you are the Rusviet Faction, then you can take the same action twice in a row, so this a moot point for them.

[@TheMillShow]

Hey Mike, thanks for that tip. You're absolutely right. Once you see the end nearing, the factory card is a great method for getting spread out across the board. I may not have said so very well in the video, but it was my intention to convey that sometimes conditions happen that make pursuing the factory a losing proposition, where you'd lose more than you gain. Perhaps that's even more true of Rusviet. But you're 100% right, that Factory card is very valuable late game from a movement perspective. I didn't rewatch the video, but I bet I didn't explain that well. Thank you again, Mike.

[@CascadeHush]

Turns out it can be really handy for Saxony, for grabbing extra combat opportunities and/or occupation based objective.

[@patrickterry775]

Another beginner tip/strategy: Upgrading is great, but you only need to upgrade 2-3 times in most games (move, bolster, produce). Don't commit to staring in upgrades because of the extra turns it takes (12 vs 8). That said, here are the exceptions that that generality: 1. Rusviet can handle it because of faction ability 2. Engineering is viable because upgrade is on the produce action, but only if your faction starts with oil. If you can't get to oil until mid game, forget about it. 3. Industrial is worth considering if you start with oil because you could commit to getting upgrade and power stars, but youd have to be willing to sit at home or spending 0 power until you're at 16.

[@TheMillShow]

Patrick Terry - Very good points. Thank you for sharing them.

[@CascadeHush]

I have always prioritized upgrading, because it suits my temperament and the kind of approach I take in other games. But I think you are right, the first 3 upgrades make the biggest difference and the last 2 or so are only really worthwhile to get the star out. Keep in mind that sometimes you might be able to do an upgrade in one turn that will let you do something in your next turn you wouldn't be able to do, and even though you may only benefit from that upgrade once, if it lets you avoid a trade or produce and do something else a turn earlier, it might be worth it. Point is, don't feel like you have to get all the upgrades, you don't, but also keep an eye out for the opportunities. Tonight I upgraded the build action just to build my last building, because I had no other need for production, had the oil and the upgrade action available anyway, and had 1 less wood than I would have needed for that building.

[@gilliandockins9178]

Great video!

[@TheMillShow]

Thank you kindly, Gillian.

[@jarvbricks7422]

Just brought ride of Fenris, we’re up to episode 4, it’s fantastic loving the variation

[@youtubeadministration8037]

When you play Crimea all the time and place all the mechs "the ride of fenris"

[@benjespina]

Thank you for making this video, bro! :) subscribed

[@TheMillShow]

Thank you kindly, Benjamin. Welcome to The Mill. :)

[@antonnieuwkoopable]

Thanks for this video (and all the others)! I agree with you that the turn by turn strategies aren't fun but also like to ignore all the interaction between players and the game (encounters). Global strategy is more helpful as it doesn't really matters which faction or mat you play, you can always apply it. About the kind of strategy video's your are considering: -What kind of players is this channel aiming for? And who are actually watching it? - make a distinction between video's for novice and experts. Everything at the same time is distracting . Me personal like to see something about a pre game/begin game assessment(0-2 stars), mid game assessment(3-4 stars) and end game assessment 4-5 stars). So break the game in 3 parts and make a list with things you have to take in account. For example: Pre-game: How do I get my six stars/the most points, what actions Am I likely going to do very often (so upgrading pays of), what resources I have easy access to, Where are my opponents and where can I easily expand. What are the strength and possible weaknesses of my faction. Mid-Game: Is my begin game strategy working? Do I have to adjust based on other players moves and accessible resources? End game: Am I in the lead, how can i end the game as soon as possible? Am I behind? How can I get the most points (not stars necessarily) as possible and/or How can I stall the game by discouraging another player to end the game. Just my two coins :)............. Again: Thanks for your videos, I really like watching them.

[@TheMillShow]

Thank you so much. Those are terrific points. It helps to know who my audience is, who the particular strategy is pointed toward, etc. Another thing I totally forgot to mention was the game is a much different game at higher player counts... or so I'm led to believe. The truth is that I've never played Scythe at greater than 3 players, and also I'm definitely not an expert by any stretch. So I can rule out serving that group, without question. Now that isn't to say that I won't eventually get there, or that I won't find their own strategy guides, summarize them, credit them and present it, but for now.. to maintain credibility - or establish? - credibility, I shouldn't pretend to be something I'm not. All of that said, I really like the idea of the 0-2, 3-4, and 5-6 idea. I think, for the most part, that 0-2 can operate in a bubble. I think you can get those 2 stars without 'leaving home' and without much consideration for what others are doing. The rest though, more often than not, it's situational. That isn't to say that I couldn't find some common truths, or common themes, among those star levels, but I think they are more fluid than the first two. Harder to pin down. I've started to get more and more messages with terrific ideas like this and I'm constantly humbled by this community. Y'all are crazy smart. You've definitely given me some really helpful ideas here. I guess all of that was burying the lede, when I was thinking about doing general faction strategy it was just that, sort of general, sort of faction characteristics, their faction ability that makes them unique, their starting area. I also was thinking about a "first few turns" type of video, where I just randomly drew a faction and and player mat and sort of talked through what I thought my strategy might be for that particular combination.

[@manzell]

One thing that's developed in our meta (we usually play 4-6 players from a pool of about 8 players) is that the Special Objective cards end up being too powerful, since certain ones allow for relatively easy 3-star turns (complete a combat, complete a bottom-row star, and hit your special objective) which are the crux of our games.

[@TheMillShow]

It sounds like you guys are far tactical and strategic than me. There isn't a game that passes where I don't go, 'aww, man, I should have did a move instead of a bolster so I could do this and have that bottom row action'. I'm still sort of awful at planning. I pay too much attention to what everyone else is doing and then when my turn rolls around it's like.. 'oh yeah, ummm.. ' quick decision and then near immediate regret. lol. Not every turn, but way more often than I'd like.

[@CascadeHush]

I had a 4 star turn once as Saxony - Took a move action, won 2 combat, got 2 objectives. We each had about 2 stars out when I did that... game over, black wins.

[@MrUSAFMatt]

LMAO we have been playing workers completely wrong. We did not know you had to pay that cost everytime you produced rather we just payed the cost when getting the worker once. I also did not know that you can continue to do bottom row actions once all have been completed so that is great advice.

[@TheMillShow]

Oh Matt, is your game of Scythe ever going to change. :) Don't feel bad though. I can't tell you how many games of Scythe or some other game I've played where I go back to flip through the rulebook and go.. 'ohhh man! waitaminute....' lol. Early on I didn't catch that The Mill can produce on it's own. I thought 3 territories was the absolute max you could produce on. But if you have a Mill, you can potentially produce on 4 territories once you've upgraded production.

[@MrL0rn3]

so funny to see you talking about 250 subscribers when you are at 3k now :)

[@TheMillShow]

It's been a fun journey since 250 subs. :) Thanks for checking out the video, Lorne.

[@raustzeal4212]

that was a solid 5 minutes and 30 seconds of preamble... too long

[@TheMillShow]

I debated whether I wanted to acknowledge this comment or not. I think we both see what I decided. At first I took this negatively. It felt a little mean spirited, and I thought, maybe you gave me one of the thumbs down this video has. But I decided to look at it another way. I want to actually thank you for this comment. How can I improve if I don't hear constructive criticism? I'm very new to KZbin and have had few opportunities to speak in front of a crowd and honestly I still get a little nervous when I hit record. I don't know why. But you did provide me feedback, and for that I appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to comment. I have to assume you watched at least 5 minutes and 30 seconds, so thank you for that too. I don't know that I was able to act on your feedback this week, but hopefully as I continue this grand experiment I do a little bit better by you. Take care! Thank you again.

[@raustzeal4212]

@@TheMillShow it was intended to be constructive. I watched the rest of the video and just skipped the preamble. Don't over think things too much this is the Internet lol. Wouldn't want to scare people off from talking about the hobby in the first place. I live in quite a remote area so i envy the Americans.

[@cobleau]

@@raustzeal4212 He responded to you in a very gentleman and kind way. But let me tell you: it's not just 'the internet lol". Comments matter, but phrasing matters too. Your comment, the way in was written, was mean. Learn from it too. We shouldn't allow ourselves to be mean because "it's the internet lol". You should be able to say face to face everything you write here. Peace, man ✌️

[@maximilianberbechelov]

Turn one build? What cheat codes do you use? :D

[@TheMillShow]

Maximilian Berbechelov Yeah, I goofed on terminology a couple times. I'm sure I meant produce. 😂

[@nielsvankleef4755]

16:49 "It's pretty exscything"?

[@TheMillShow]

I would love to tell you it was intentional or a pun, but it was just me tripping over my tongue as I'm wont to do. :)

[@nielsvankleef4755]

@@TheMillShow I didn't hear you trip over your tongue, I just found it funny to say. I noticed more words in other videos of you which you can add the word scythe into. :P

[@kase1993]

How is speed mech helpful if you can't leave your home area due to rivers?

[@darkwing_don2391]

Build a tunnel in your own base.

[@kase1993]

@@darkwing_don2391 Do you mean on the faction base itself, or the area in which you start the game (hexes that are adjacent to your base)?

[@darkwing_don2391]

@@kase1993 The hexes adjacent to your base. You have two open spots to build on right there, and they should remain safe for a while. The river serves as both a cage and a wall.

[@redwlfjsc]

You're at 306! w00t!

[@TheMillShow]

Joshua Calandrillo //Fortnite Celly// or something more my age. 😂

[@zimmymine5017]

I play scythe every day still lol

[@Thesussysuscat]

You're at 1.59 K followers as I'm watching LOL