- BGG rating
- 7.1
Rules assistance for Arctic Scavengers: HQ
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.6/5
Rules assistant for Arctic Scavengers: HQ
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Arctic Scavengers: HQ is an expansion for Arctic Scavengers released in 2011 for 2–5 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Robert K. Gabhart and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Open Drafting.
About the game
In this first expansion for Arctic Scavengers, the concept of tribe leader roles is added, providing each player with unique capabilities. Additionally, players each maintain a base camp (HQ) that can be upgraded adding an additional dimension to the game. An official 2-player variant is included with this game. The game consists of a 54-card deck containing: 10 Tribe Leader roles (providing unique player powers) 4 Buildings to flesh out your headquarters 3 Gangs (end-game victory condition similar to Catan's 'Largest Army' or 'Longest Road') 2 Mercenaries (Medic and Engineer) 2 New Tools (Rifle and Toolkit) A handful of additional Pills and Medkits (to balance out the new tools and keep the ratio in check)
Designers
Publishers
- Driftwood Games
Questions and answers
Arctic Scavengers: HQ supports 2–5 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 Arctic Scavengers: HQ is 45 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 Arctic Scavengers: HQ 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.
Arctic Scavengers: HQ has a complexity rating of 2.6 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.
Arctic Scavengers: HQ belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fighting, and Bluffing. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Open Drafting. 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 Arctic Scavengers: HQ are: Robert K. Gabhart. 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 Arctic Scavengers: HQ as an expansion for Arctic Scavengers. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Arctic Scavengers to use it. Check that your edition of Arctic Scavengers is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.