- BGG rating
- 7.6
The Pillars of the Earth: Expansion Set
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #487
- BGG rating
- 7.3
The Pillars of the Earth
2006
Rules assistance for The Pillars of the Earth
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 90–120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for The Pillars of the Earth
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Pillars of the Earth is a board game released in 2006 for 2–4 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Michael Rieneck and Stefan Stadler and its main mechanics are Events, Worker Placement, and Market.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.5
The Pillars of the Earth: New Craftsmen
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2007
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About the game
Die Säulen der Erde / The Pillars of the Earth is based on the bestselling novel by Ken Follett and the 2006 game in the Kosmos line of literature-based games. At the beginning of the 13th century, construction of the greatest and most beautiful cathedral in England begins. Players are builders who try to contribute the most to this cathedral's construction and, in so doing, score the most victory points. Gameplay roughly consists of using workers to produce raw materials, and then using craftsmen to convert the materials into victory points. Workers may also be used to produce gold, the currency of the game. Players are also given three master builders each turn, each of which can do a variety of tasks, including recruiting more workers, buying or selling goods, or just obtaining victory points. Getting early choices with a master builder costs gold, as does purchasing better craftsmen. Players must strike a balance between earning gold to fund their purchases and earning victory points. Expanded by: The Pillars of the Earth Expansion Set (which include the Expansion Cards in some editions) The Pillars of the Earth: Expansion Cards (which are included in the Expansion Set in some editions)
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Devir
- Kaissa Chess & Games
- Cappelen Damm AS
- Galakta
- KOSMOS
- 999 Games
- Mayfair Games
- Albi
- Competo / Marektoy
- Stupor Mundi
- Filosofia Éditions
- IELLO
- Thames & Kosmos
Questions and answers
The Pillars of the Earth supports 2–4 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 Pillars of the Earth is 90–120 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 Pillars of the Earth 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 Pillars of the Earth has a complexity rating of 2.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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 Pillars of the Earth belongs to these categories: Economic, Medieval, and Novel-based. Its main mechanics are Events, Worker Placement, and Market. 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 Pillars of the Earth are: Michael Rieneck and Stefan Stadler. 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 Pillars of the Earth 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.