Duel of Meloch
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You know Scythe by heart. Your opponent just opened Expeditions. In 45 minutes, one of you will have won using rules the other has never used.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
When two universes collide on the same map
Jamey Stegmaier has taken the mechanics of Scythe (a territory control eurogame) and Expeditions (a narrative choice adventure) and pitted them against each other. Set in the dieselpunk universe of Jakub Rozalski, Duel of Meloch is a standalone game that doesn't require either base game: inside the box, you'll find everything you need to play, including a new Scythe faction and a new Expeditions mech.
One player moves according to Scythe's rules: top/bottom actions, resources, combat with power cards. The other uses the Expeditions system: discovery tiles, companions, narrative choices. The map is narrow (10 locations), the double Triumph Track races quickly towards 4 stars, and Meloch — the dark entity that gives the game its title — grants a small advantage to your opponent every time you place a star. Every turn counts, no one is ever out of the race.
What they say abroad
"You don't need Scythe or Expeditions. You need an opponent who knows the other system."
You don't need Scythe or Expeditions. You need an opponent who knows the other system.
— Stonemaier Games
It's a design experiment: two engines, one map, no symmetry. We'll update once the first games show if it truly works as promised.
— FroGames
Duel of Meloch
Confirmed by box contents: the solo mode has a dedicated Automa — 20 Automa cards, 6 phase cards, 4 helper boards, and a separate rulebook. It's not a fallback, but a system designed specifically for solo play, in the vein of the acclaimed Scythe Automa. We haven't tried it yet, but so many dedicated components are a great sign: we're raising our initial estimate and will update after playing.
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · first reading: based on rules and official presentation, updated after first playsTwo arsenals, one map
What you'll find in the box
Scythe System
A complete new faction with player mat, miniatures, top/bottom actions, resources to produce, and combat with power cards. If you know Scythe, you're already good to go.
Expeditions System
A new mech, character, and companion. You explore, make narrative decisions, unlock discovery tiles (items, meteorites, quests). Expeditions rules included.
Double-sided map
Only 10 locations and 2 lakes. Narrow, claustrophobic, designed for continuous clashes. No one stays isolated for long.
Meloch and the Triumph Track
Race towards 4 stars, but each star you place gives a small boost to your opponent. Meloch balances the game: no one runs away with it.
Two systems that shouldn't meet, a map that leaves no escape. In the end, you'll only talk about that star placed at the wrong moment.
🎲Components4 sections · dual system + solo
In the box you'll also find 1 alliance token and 1 Scythe base tile: these are not used in Duel of Meloch, they are only for integrating the components into the base game.
🃏Recommended sleeves3 formats · 142 total cards
📖RulebookEnglish · duel + solo
Come si gioca
Video dimostrativo di gameplay.
🎲How to PlayThe rules in four steps▼
How to Play
The flow of each (asymmetrical) turn
There is no shared turn: everyone plays with their own system, alternating. The map is the only common ground.
Choose a column on your player mat. Perform the top action (move, produce, trade, enlist) and then, if you can pay, the bottom action (upgrade, build, deploy mech, bolster). Place workers, gather resources, control locations.
Move your character or mech. If you enter an unexplored location, draw a discovery tile (item, meteorite, quest). Many tiles give you narrative choices: read the text, choose A or B, take the reward or suffer the consequence.
If you occupy the same location as your opponent, a confrontation may occur. Scythe plays power cards from hand and spends resources; Expeditions uses its combat cards and companion abilities. The winner stays, the loser retreats.
Complete an objective (for Scythe: 6 workers, all mechs deployed, etc.; for Expeditions: quests, meteorites, location control). Place a star on the Triumph Track. Meloch gives your opponent a boost. First to 4 stars wins.
⏱️Your First GameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Asymmetrical Setup
You choose the Scythe faction, prepare your player mat, position your mech. Across the table, your opponent builds their Expeditions deck, chooses their companion, places their character. You know you will win in completely different ways, but the map is the same.
First Contacts
You move towards a key resource. They explore a discovery tile. You cross paths at a location: you produce wood, they draw a meteorite card. Meloch observes. Still no stars, but the map is too small to avoid each other.
The First Star and the Boost
You complete an objective and place your first star on the Triumph Track. Meloch intervenes: your opponent receives a small advantage (an extra card, a resource, a bonus movement). The race immediately rebalances. No one can escape.
Inevitable Clash
You control 3 locations with your workers, they have just unlocked a powerful companion. You clash over a critical resource: you play power cards, they resolve a narrative choice that gives them bonus combat. One of you loses ground, the other places the second star. 3–3, all open.
Final Race to 4 Stars
You have 3 stars, they have 3. The fourth can come from a thousand different paths: territory control for you, completed quest for them. Every turn is a calculation: if you place the star first and they immediately respond with Meloch's boost, will they overtake you? Or do you wait and risk them finishing first? Someone places the fourth star. End.
🐸What to Know BeforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
What to Know Beforehand
Three things you need to know
You need to know at least one of the two games
Duel of Meloch is standalone: the rules are included. But if neither player knows Scythe or Expeditions, the learning curve is double. It's better if at least one of you has already played one of the two systems: you'll quickly teach the other, watching their moves.
The asymmetry is radical
It's not a duel with the same weapons. Scythe is engine building and economics, Expeditions is exploration and narrative. Meloch balances with boosts, but if one of the two systems is intrinsically faster on the 10-location map, you'll only find out by playing. With so little BGG data, we have no confirmation.
Compatibility: yes, but not necessary
If you own Scythe or Expeditions, you can mix factions, characters, discovery decks. But it's not mandatory: Duel of Meloch contains everything you need to play immediately. Compatibility is a bonus for those who want variety, not a requirement.
🏆Victory and DefeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it Ends
How to win
First to 4 stars on the Triumph Track wins immediately. End of game, no point counting.
Victory (4 stars)
- Complete 4 objectives of your system (Scythe: workers, mechs, control, upgrades, etc.; Expeditions: quests, meteorites, discoveries)
- Place the fourth star on the Triumph Track before your opponent
- You win even if your opponent has 3 stars: only who finishes first counts
Defeat
- Your opponent places the fourth star before you
- You lose too many combats and fail to control key locations for your objectives
- Meloch slows you down with boosts to your opponent every time you advance, and they overtake you at the end
It's a design experiment: two opposing philosophies, one map, an arbiter who balances on the fly. Does it work? We'll find out together.
💬Frequently Asked QuestionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about Duel of Meloch
Do I need to own Scythe or Expeditions to play Duel of Meloch?
No. Duel of Meloch is a complete standalone game: inside the box, you'll find all the rules, components, and materials for both systems (Scythe and Expeditions). You can play without owning either of the base games. However, if you do own them, you can mix factions, characters, and decks to increase variety.
How does Meloch work? Why does the opponent receive a boost when I place a star?
Meloch is the balancing mechanism: every time you place a star on the Triumph Track, your opponent receives a small advantage (an extra card, a resource, a bonus movement — exact details are not yet public). It serves to keep the game tense: if you run ahead, Meloch pulls you back. No one dominates for too long.
What mechanics does Duel of Meloch use?
Card Play Conflict Resolution (combats resolved with cards), Hexagon Grid (hex map), Variable Player Powers (asymmetrical powers between Scythe and Expeditions), Action Selection (Scythe uses player mat with top/bottom actions), Narrative Choices (Expeditions uses discovery tiles with A/B choices). Two completely different systems on the same map.
How long does a game last? Is it always 45 minutes?
The box states 45 minutes. The map is small (10 locations), the Triumph Track moves fast (4 stars), Meloch speeds up the race. With players who know the systems, 45 minutes is realistic. If both are learning, the first game might take longer.
Is Duel of Meloch available in Italian?
The edition sold on FroGames is in English (publisher: Stonemaier Games). It includes an English rulebook and English text on Expeditions cards. There is currently no localized Italian edition.
Duel of Meloch is a competitive game for 1-2 players, 45 minutes, ages 14+, designed by Jamey Stegmaier and illustrated by Jakub Rozalski. It combines the mechanics of Scythe (eurogame, engine building) with those of Expeditions (narrative exploration) in an asymmetrical duel on a tight 10-location map. One player uses the Scythe system, the other Expeditions; Meloch balances the race to 4 stars by giving the opponent boosts whenever you place a star. Complete standalone, compatible with all existing Scythe and Expeditions expansions. Published by Stonemaier Games. Available on FroGames.it
Duel of Meloch
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
The photos on the website often come from BoardGameGeek and are intended to give you an idea of the game. They may vary slightly from the version you receive. The content declared by the publisher is always binding.
📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
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