
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,225
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Britannia
- 3–5 players
- 180–300 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 1986

1980
Rules assistance for Alaric the Goth: Fall of the Western Roman Empire
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Alaric the Goth: Fall of the Western Roman Empire is a board game released in 1980 for 2–7 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Paul L. Van Patten, Jr. and its main mechanics are Area Movement, Dice Rolling, and Simulation.
"Alaric the Goth" is a grand strategic wargame of the Barbarian invasions of the Western Roman Empire during the Fourth and Fifth centuries A.D. The game is abstract and is not a direct simulation. Can be played solitaire by playing the Romans and defending against the oncoming hordes, led by Alaric, the man who finally brought about the Fall of the Roman Empire. Can be combined with Attila the Hun: The Roman Empire in the East which simulates the Barbarian invasions of the Eastern Roman Empire.
Alaric the Goth: Fall of the Western Roman Empire supports 2–7 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 Alaric the Goth: Fall of the Western Roman Empire is 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 Alaric the Goth: Fall of the Western Roman Empire 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.
Alaric the Goth: Fall of the Western Roman Empire has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Alaric the Goth: Fall of the Western Roman Empire belongs to these categories: Wargame and Ancient. Its main mechanics are Area Movement, Dice Rolling, and Simulation. 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 Alaric the Goth: Fall of the Western Roman Empire are: Paul L. Van Patten, Jr.. 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 Alaric the Goth: Fall of the Western Roman Empire 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.