- BGG rank
- BGG #10,020
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Classic Warlord
- 2–7 players
- 360 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,406
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Apocalypse: The Game of Nuclear Devastation
1980
Rules assistance for Apocalypse: The Game of Nuclear Devastation
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60–240 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Apocalypse: The Game of Nuclear Devastation
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Apocalypse: The Game of Nuclear Devastation is a board game released in 1980 for 2–4 players, 60–240 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Mike Hayes and its main mechanics are Area Movement, Dice Rolling, and Area Majority / Influence.
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About the game
This was the Games Workshop licenced version of The Warlord that only had half the original mapboard (Western Europe), was only for 4 players, and had some amended game-rules. It went on to earn a dedicated following of its own but GW never developed or re-issued the product after the initial release. Game start was different, decided by random allocation of city starting locations. Radiation markers could be cleared away as an entire turn action of non-fighting and non-moving armies. H-Bombs were removed from the game completely. Eventually the GW licence would expire, and ownership and rights would revert to Mike Hayes, who then went on to re-publish his 2012 Classic Warlord version with the full map and H-Bombs restored and rules re-organised for the more classic gameplay from the earlier Red Box and Blue Box versions.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Games Workshop Ltd.
Questions and answers
Apocalypse: The Game of Nuclear Devastation 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 Apocalypse: The Game of Nuclear Devastation is 60–240 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 Apocalypse: The Game of Nuclear Devastation for ages 10 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.
Apocalypse: The Game of Nuclear Devastation 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.
Apocalypse: The Game of Nuclear Devastation belongs to these categories: Wargame, Bluffing, and Modern Warfare. Its main mechanics are Area Movement, Dice Rolling, and Area Majority / Influence. 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 Apocalypse: The Game of Nuclear Devastation are: Mike Hayes. 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 Apocalypse: The Game of Nuclear Devastation 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.