Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
As the seasons of GearSeed shift, so do the reigns of power in this peculiar and ever changing world. In SYNOD, which consists of only eighteen cards (15 Noble cards and 3 Favor/Synod cards), each player vies for control of the Synod of GearSeed.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Read the full game description
As the seasons of GearSeed shift, so do the reigns of power in this peculiar and ever changing world. In SYNOD, which consists of only eighteen cards (15 Noble cards and 3 Favor/Synod cards), each player vies for control of the Synod of GearSeed. Using Noble cards belonging to the three Castes of GearSeed (Coalkin, Thorned, and Gremlin), players assert their influence in the Synod. Noble cards can be played either face up or face down. When played face up, Noble cards grant the player a special ability, influence, and the possibility of granting the favor of their Caste to the player. Face down cards are revealed at the end of the game and grant influence and are worth points if the requirements of their schemes are met. With simple mechanisms, engaging gameplay, a limited card pool, and meaningful choices, it's not about the cards you draw; it's how and when you play them.