Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Low interaction
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
Die Säulen der Erde / The Pillars of the Earth is based on the bestselling novel by Ken Follett and the 2006 game in the Kosmos line of literature-based games. At the beginning of the 13th century, construction of the greatest and most beautiful cathedral in England begins.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Market
Buy and sell through a shared supply whose availability or prices can change.
Worker Placement
Commit limited workers to action spaces before opponents occupy them.
Events
Triggered events alter the shared state, rules, or available choices.
Turn Order: Random
Determine or change the order in which players take their turns.
Read the full game description
Die Säulen der Erde / The Pillars of the Earth is based on the bestselling novel by Ken Follett and the 2006 game in the Kosmos line of literature-based games. At the beginning of the 13th century, construction of the greatest and most beautiful cathedral in England begins. Players are builders who try to contribute the most to this cathedral's construction and, in so doing, score the most victory points. Gameplay roughly consists of using workers to produce raw materials, and then using craftsmen to convert the materials into victory points. Workers may also be used to produce gold, the currency of the game. Players are also given three master builders each turn, each of which can do a variety of tasks, including recruiting more workers, buying or selling goods, or just obtaining victory points. Getting early choices with a master builder costs gold, as does purchasing better craftsmen. Players must strike a balance between earning gold to fund their purchases and earning victory points. Expanded by: The Pillars of the Earth Expansion Set (which include the Expansion Cards in some editions) The Pillars of the Earth: Expansion Cards (which are included in the Expansion Set in some editions)