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- BGG #2,023
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- 7.3
Tramways
- 1–5 players
- 120 min
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- 2016
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- BGG #6,490
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Aelderman
2023
Rules assistance for Aelderman
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 100–180 min
- 14+
- Complexity 4.2/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Aelderman
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Aelderman is a board game released in 2023 for 1–4 players, 100–180 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Johannes Rogoll and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Income, and Area Movement.
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About the game
Join us on a journey to the Middle Ages - a time when emerging trading cities became important influential factors in the political game for power and wealth. Originating in Luebeck, the Hanseatic Trade League is formed, long-distance traders join forces and thereby create unprecedented wealth in northern Europe. There are many opportunities for young merchants to gain power and influence. Nevertheless, only few have the chance to be elected to the most influential position and thus lead the Hanseatic Trade League as Aelderman. Aelderman is a competitive Euro-Game for 2-4 players. You embody an ambitious merchant in the medieval Hanseatic League and fight for your place at the top of the trade alliance! Through lucrative trading with other Hanseatic cities, you increase your wealth and gain more and more influence in the entire region of the North and Baltic Sea. Meanwhile, you contribute to the development of the flourishing city of Luebeck by commissioning useful buildings. Try to secure important privileges during the Hanseatic Convention in the Council Hall before your opponents take them away from you. Use your limited action points wisely to trade goods and gain wealth. But money alone will not be enough to win this strategic Euro-Game. Rather you must secure as many victory points in the form of council votes as possible through influence majorities on the sea map, your reputation in the city of Luebeck and through various privileges and luxury goods to become Aelderman and win the game. —description from the publisher
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Rockerl Games
Questions and answers
Aelderman supports 1–4 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 Aelderman is 100–180 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 Aelderman for ages 14 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.
Aelderman has a complexity rating of 4.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
Aelderman belongs to these categories: Economic, Exploration, and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Income, and Area Movement. 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 Aelderman are: Johannes Rogoll. 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 Aelderman 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.