The Pillars of the Earth (2006) Board Game

The Pillars of the Earth is a board game adaptation of the bestselling historical novel by Ken Follett. Published in 2006 by KOSMOS, the game is designed by Michael Rieneck and Stefan Stadler, featuring artwork by Michael Menzel, Anke Pohl, and Thilo Rick. The game plunges players into the world of 12th-century England, where they take on the roles of builders working on the grand construction of Kingsbridge Cathedral.

Game Components of The Pillars of the Earth

Main Board: Beautifully illustrated, standard size.

Cathedral Blocks: 6 blocks to represent the progress of the cathedral construction.

Resource Cubes: Stone, wood, sand, and metal.

Craftsman Cards: Each with a specific cost and benefit.

Laborer Cards: Showing the number of laborers and the location they can be assigned to.

Master Builder Pawns: 3 pawns per player, which are drawn from a bag to determine action order.

Event Cards: Reveal good or bad events each round.

Privilege Cards: Provide various benefits, some immediate, some persistent.

Neutral Laborers: Additional workers that can be acquired.

Gold Tokens: For tracking player wealth and taxes.

How To Setup The Pillars of the Earth

To set up the game, start by placing the main board in the center of the playing area. Each player selects a set of Master Builder pawns and places them in a bag. The resource market is filled with the appropriate resources (stone, wood, sand) for each space. Seven laborer cards are shuffled and laid out at the bottom of the board, with two set aside for the next round. Each player starts with a set of neutral laborers and a starting amount of gold. The cathedral blocks are placed nearby to be added one per round.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Resource Drafting: Players draft laborer cards to commit workers to various resource-gathering locations.

Worker Placement: Master Builder pawns are drawn from a bag, determining the order in which players place their pawns on action spaces. Players can choose to place their pawn and pay the associated cost or pass.

Action Resolution: Actions resolve in numerical order around the board, including event resolution, resource distribution, and tax collection.

Objective: The game objective is to earn the most victory points by efficiently gathering and using resources to build the cathedral and complete various tasks.

Player Experience

The Pillars of the Earth offers a unique blend of strategy and luck. The mechanic of drawing Master Builder pawns from a bag adds an element of unpredictability, as being the first pawn drawn can be both advantageous and costly. Players must balance resource gathering with the need to manage their gold and mitigate the effects of random events.

Pros

Unique Worker Placement Mechanic: The pawn-drawing system adds a fresh twist to traditional worker placement.

Beautiful Components: The main board and cathedral blocks are visually appealing.

Strategic Depth: Players must carefully manage resources and laborers to achieve the best outcomes.

Replayability: Random events and the variability in laborer card draws ensure each game is different.

Cons

Randomness: The game relies heavily on random elements, such as the event cards and the King’s tax demands, which can feel outdated.

Ambiguity in Card Text: Some card effects can be unclear, requiring consultation of the rules or forums.

Pointless Cathedral Building: The cathedral construction feels more like a round marker than a meaningful game mechanic.

Personal Thoughts on The Pillars of the Earth

The Pillars of the Earth is a game suited for fans of worker placement and resource management who appreciate a mix of strategy and luck. While it may feel a bit dated in some mechanics, the game still offers a engaging and challenging experience. It is particularly enjoyable for those who like to manage multiple tasks and resources efficiently. However, players seeking a highly cooperative or thematic experience might find the cathedral construction aspect less satisfying.

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