Scythe
Factory Card Draft (Scythe)
Scythe groups frequently draft factory cards to reduce swingy random draws and improve strategic parity.
When first entering the Factory, draw 3 cards, keep 1, and return 2 to the bottom of the deck.
No Combat Star Before Turn 5 (Scythe)
This Scythe opening rule prevents early rush blowouts and gives engine factions time to develop.
Combat still resolves normally, but no combat star can be placed before the end of round 5.
Encounters for Trailing Players (Scythe)
A catch-up Scythe variant gives players behind on popularity or stars more comeback opportunities.
If you are 2+ stars behind the leader, your next encounter offers +1 bonus resource in addition to normal options.
Simultaneous Produce Planning (Scythe)
Scythe pacing improves when planning is parallelized during high-downtime turns.
During each player's turn, all other players may pre-select next mat section. No take-backs once active turn ends.
2-Player River Toll (Scythe)
This two-player Scythe house rule adds tactical friction where open maps otherwise create low-conflict runs.
In 2-player games, first crossing each river this game costs one extra coin or one resource.