The Pillars of the Earth
- Players
- 2-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 120 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.8 / 5
- Year
- 2006
About the game
The Pillars of the Earth is based on Ken Follett's bestselling novel and puts players in charge of builders competing to contribute the most to a great medieval cathedral. Players use workers to gather raw materials, then use craftsmen to turn those materials into victory points, all while managing gold to fund purchases. Three master builders per round let players recruit workers, trade goods, or score points directly, with earlier choices costing more gold. It's an elegant worker-placement and resource-conversion game with strong literary theming.
Hobbli's Notes
The Pillars of the Earth translates its source novel's themes of ambition and craftsmanship into a genuinely satisfying worker-placement loop, and the master builder auction adds a nice layer of tension to turn order. A great pick for fans of the book as well as euro gamers who enjoy resource-conversion puzzles.
What we like
- Rich literary theming tied directly to the bestselling novel.
- Elegant worker-placement and resource-conversion loop.
- Master builder special actions add tactical turn-order decisions.
- Satisfying sense of progress as the cathedral construction unfolds.
Keep in mind
- Master builder bidding can favor players with more gold on hand.
- Some luck in worker and resource availability each round.
- May feel dry to players unfamiliar with or uninterested in the novel.
Who it's for
Good for ages 12+ euro-game fans and fans of the novel who enjoy worker placement and resource conversion, in groups of 2-4.
