JoyDivision is the gamer handle of a fantastic Scythe player. I became familiar with him on the Scythe Discord channel after asking some general questions about strategy. He’s well respected in that community and he’s one of the inaugural winners of the Discord Scythe Tournament. Aside from being a great player, he runs a YouTube channel focusing on recorded games he’s played on Digital Edition Scythe where he goes over his matches and details his strategies to his viewers.
Though we’ve never met in person – what, with living in different timezones and all that – JoyDivision seems like a kind and laid back guy with a radiating intelligence that can’t hide behind computer screens. So though our “Table Talk” was more of a Discord chat, it was still a great time talking Scythe strategy and what aspects of his gameplay make him such a great player.
And yes, he does listen to Joy Division. Due to my propensity of borderline “dad-joke” intellect, I had to ask …
Introduction.
Norman:
Thanks for your time! To start, the question I’m always interested in with fellow players is; what got you into Scythe?
JoyDivision:
I got scythe as a gift for the holidays a few years ago and played it with my family for a few days. The box was too big for me to take home at the time, but I found that on my flight back I was thinking about it constantly. So, as soon as I arrived home, I went out and bought a 2nd copy – and it’s been non stop from there.
I think what I liked about it at first was a mixture of its complexity and the 1920’s theme; but I realized quickly that the part about Scythe I enjoyed most was figuring out different strategies for winning. Trying to be a little faster or a little more efficient each time. That’s what really kept me hooked all of this time.
Norman:
That makes a great deal of sense. It’s definitely a game of evolving potential for strategy.
Along with the strategy, what would you say Scythe is comparable to as far as gameplay? Like, if you were describing it to someone who hasn’t played before.
JoyDivision:
I tend to go with “it’s like Settlers of Catan with giant robots that can fight,” which will get a laugh or two at best. But honestly it’s quite unique, not sure I’ve played another game like it before.
Norman:
Hahaha, yes, I think the Catan meets robots description is accurate though.
Discord Tournament.
Norman:
Now, you were one of the winners of the first ever Discord tournament?
JoyDivision:
Yes, right around Covid-19 Stay at Home Orders I heard about a tournament taking place over the Scythe Tabletop Simulator, and I ended up doing quite well. It was a great experience and I feel like I’ve improved tremendously as a player by going through it and being exposed to all the different playstyles out there. It definitely expanded my horizons in the strategy department.
A competitive scene for Scythe is something I have always desired and I was beyond thrilled to be a part of this tournament, which has been such a good step in that direction. Big shout outs to Reyl, Azor, and all of the other organizers from Scythe Discord who made this possible.
Norman:
Prior to that, was your experience in competitive Scythe just playing ranked games on the Digital Edition?
JoyDivision:
Prior to the tournament my experience was largely digital edition. Though, my first year playing Scythe I had a really consistent group of friends that would play once a week. My friends are all really competitive and they certainly made me better, so it was always exciting for me, but I typically ran the table back then.
I started moving to the Digital Edition so that I could play more often and found that I continued to win. I really enjoyed playing ranked games and watching my progression, but things started to slow down for me in 2018 – 2019. The ELO system (Digital Edition’s player ranking) was not functioning at all and the player count started dropping. It was difficult to find competitive games, and playing random combinations wasn’t appealing to me given how imbalanced the in-game randomizer was (and still is).
Things eventually picked back up though, and some kinks were worked out in the Digital Edition which got me playing more regularly. I started to meet and play against some talented players there and my game count really climbed.
Norman:
Oh gotcha, sounds like you definitely have a great deal of playing experience.
JoyDivision:
Yes, I have played quite a bit over the past three years, but there are so many combinations and matchups that the game never feels old. I’m always picking up little things here and there which I try to apply to similar situations in the future. Scythe is a wonderful game.
Norman:
Oh for real, I can definitely resonate with that.
What do you think helped give the resurgence to players in the Digital Edition?
JoyDivision:
Well, for one, needing to stay home and limit contact with others during the COVID-19 Pandemic brought more people online where they might normally elect to play in person. There was also a timely update to the Digital Edition that removed some frustrating bugs and also made it possible to gain ELO again, which encouraged ranked play. So, largely the environment shifting towards online play, but also the improved player experience helped a lot.
Norman:
Gotcha. Many newer players to Digital Edition (myself included) hadn’t experienced that aspect of the online game, so it’s interesting to know about.
Staying in the Zone During Games.
Norman:
As you’re presently engaging in another Discord Tournament, do you find you have any routines during play to keep you in the zone; like playing certain music or chugging Monster Energy drinks?
JoyDivision:
Haha, yes I see what you mean. There are a few playlists I rotate between while playing Scythe
which I like to have with me during the game. I also 100% make a really good cup of coffee before my game and I tend to take the day off of playing before my tournament games so that I’m fresh and ready. Sometimes I feel like Scythe can be quite the mental drain.
Norman:
That makes a great deal of sense. I can imagine being clear headed for a tournament is super important.
And naturally, I have to follow up on your music playlists.
JoyDivision:
This is probably my most listened to playlist:
Also the Katana Zero OST, and I enjoy VA-11 HALL-A.
Norman:
Dooood, so cool to meet a fellow Synthwave fan! Love it!
Favorite Faction & Mat Combination.
Norman:
So we all know the main question the readers and I are wanting to know ….
What is your absolute favorite Faction/Mat combo?
JoyDivision:
Haha, of course, of course.
Norman:
And I mean, more to the point of what you like to play, not necessarily what you would want to win a tournament.
JoyDivision:
I love to see things like Saxony Innovative, Crimea Militant, Polania Innovative, and Rusviet Militant. I think the common theme for me is “Does it let me Move around the board well and let me deploy mechs easily?”
Norman:
Yep, looking for some open horizons.
JoyDivision:
Yes. I particularly like the way that Saxony and Polania play, as I think their abilities can really change the game. But it’s hard not to want to play something as powerful as Rusviet or Crimea when paired with the boards I like. I’m much more interested in engaging with my opponents than playing the perfect engine or making the most efficient turn order. I would rather see how fast I can play while impacting the moves my opponent will take. So, more of a go by feel approach after the first 3 – 5 turns really.
Norman:
That’s definitely something I haven’t heard before. Seems to me, the typical play is to be reactive after the first few turns, but you’re speaking toward causing opponents to react to what you do. I like that.
JoyDivision:
Yes, that’s definitely the position I prefer to be in.
Norman:
Right. And there’s so many out of the box concepts with good players, so I can see how much better off you are in that place.
JoyDivision:
Yeah, I find that the higher up you go, the more adaptable you have to be. There are a lot of solid players out there but if you’re too rigid with what you’re doing, someone can really ruin your day. And typically I enjoy being the one who is doing the ruining, LOL.
Norman:
Hahaha, of course!
Combat Tactics.
Norman:
So, specifically to this point, in my favorite video you have up on your YouTube channel “Saxony Innovative,” one of your first out of base Move actions you do is to bait Albion into attacking you by bumping their worker and stealing some oil.
How often do you employ these tactics, and are there only certain factions you can use to provoke opponents like this?
JoyDivision:
I would say that it’s most common to occur with a faction like Saxony, however; I tend to offer up positions to other players that have a cost associated with it. So in that regard I do it all the time. I try to see how much opponents are willing to pay to take a board position or a resource.
For example: “Is this Crimea player willing to lose 3 Popularity to claim the Tunnel Tundra?” “Will this Rusviet player spend Power in order to get their Food back?” I like to get a feel for what someone will do several times before a combat even takes place. So when this goes well, it’s like you’re spending the exact amount of resources needed to achieve victory. Of course when it doesn’t go well it can be pretty devastating but at least you learn something for next time!
Norman:
Well said! That’s definitely not an easy concept to employ in my level of experience, so it’s really intriguing to hear about.
Is it safe to assume you enjoy other tabletop games?
JoyDivision:
I do, though Scythe is definitely my most heavily enjoyed tabletop game. I am much more likely to play a video game than another board game for example.
Norman:
Gotcha, that makes sense.
Well, I did promise to only hold you up for a limited amount of questions, so one more question if you don’t mind.
JoyDivision:
Sure thing.
Norman:
You talked a bit earlier about some of the brokenness of the Digital Edition, and of course a lot of players speak to certain non-banned combos in the game being overpowered.
Game Improvement(s).
Norman:
So, if you could change something about the entire game, what would it be?
JoyDivision:
I actually really enjoy how “broken” the game is, and for that reason I think the change I would most support would be a drafting or bidding system that is integrated into regular play*. I’m not so much interested in changing how a faction plays or banning anything; rather, my desire would be that random board assignments never happen in this game.
*(For those unfamiliar with drafting or bidding; in it’s simplest form it’s basically auctioning for a faction, mat, or combo that you want to play. In Scythe game play, that would look something like taking turns around your table or on an app bidding coin for what you want to play that would come off your end game total.
Here’s a bidding app presently used by Discord players for Scythe.
As an example; Rusviet, Nordic, Togawa, and Albion are the factions to choose from. Rusviet clearly has the most advantages of those factions, so the players of this theoretical game end up bidding more often for it than the other factions. And let’s say by the end of the draft, the player who gets Rusviet ended up bidding $15 on it while Nordic, Togawa, and Albion players only ended up spending $3 or less. Now, the Rusviet player gets the advantages of playing Rusviet against slower opposing factions; however, they also have the disadvantage of having to take $15 from their end game score – which as many players know can be a sizable swing).
Norman:
Ahhhhh, that actually would be a great addition!
Very cool man, well thank you for your time.
JoyDivision:
Hey, no problem, thanks for taking up the reins on The Daily Scythe!
Check out JoyDivision’s YouTube channel. Check out more of our Table Talk interviews and keep an eye out for more future Table Talk content!
Happy gaming!
- Norman