- BGG rank
- BGG #2,692
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Pastiche
- 2–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,772
- BGG rating
- 5.6
The Crow and the Pitcher
2010
Rules assistance for The Crow and the Pitcher
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–4 players
- 20 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.8/5
Rules assistant for The Crow and the Pitcher
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Crow and the Pitcher is a board game released in 2010 for 3–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Sean MacDonald and its main mechanics are Trick-taking.
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About the game
The Crow and the Pitcher is a trick-taking game based on the Aesop fable of the same name. Players must play off one another in order to gain points, but the highest suited card is not always the one that takes the trick, so one must be as clever as the Crow in Aesop's fable to score points and not perish from thirst. The deck consists of three colored suits of stone cards (numbered 2-10) and one set of black "thirst" cards (also numbered 2-10); a separate deck of pitcher cards has values from 6 to 13, with some duplicates, and one pitcher is revealed each trick. One player leads the first trick with a stone card, and other players must follow suit, if possible. If a player cannot follow suit, she can play a thirst card instead, and from the next round thirst cards can lead the trick. Whoever wins a trick leads the next trick, so winning tricks helps you dictate play. If the sum of the colored cards is less than the pitcher value, then the lowest card matching the lead wins; this player gets all cards played (positive points for colors, negative for thirst) and the Pitcher card (worth -5 points). If the sum of the colored cards is equal to or greater than the pitcher value, then the highest card matching the lead wins, and this player gets all cards played (again, positive points for colors, negative for thirst). In all cases, cards valued higher than the trick's pitcher card do not count toward determining whether the pitcher is full. If the trick is led by a thirst card, the highest thirst card wins, and that player takes all thirst cards played – so make sure you hold onto your low value thirst cards to avoid winning a thirst-led trick! After three rounds, the player with the high score wins.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- 5th Street Games
- NoMADS GAMES (I)
Questions and answers
The Crow and the Pitcher supports 3–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for The Crow and the Pitcher is 20 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.
The catalogue lists The Crow and the Pitcher for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
The Crow and the Pitcher 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.
The Crow and the Pitcher belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Trick-taking. 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 The Crow and the Pitcher are: Sean MacDonald. 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 The Crow and the Pitcher 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.