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Omen: A Reign of War
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SYNOD
2016
Rules assistance for SYNOD
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 10–15 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for SYNOD
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
SYNOD is a board game released in 2016 for 2 players and 10–15 minutes per game. It was designed by John Clowdus and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
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About the game
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.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Small Box Games
Questions and answers
SYNOD supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for SYNOD is 10–15 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
SYNOD has a complexity rating of 1.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
SYNOD belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Political. Its main mechanics are Hand Management. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of SYNOD are: John Clowdus. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists SYNOD as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.