Battle Cattle: Quest for the Holy Pail
- 2 players
- 2000
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,808
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Battle Cattle
1996
Rules assistance for Battle Cattle
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–8 players
- 30–60 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Battle Cattle
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Battle Cattle is a board game released in 1996 for 2–8 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Aldo Ghiozzi, Matt Stipicevich, and W. Jason Peck and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Take That, and Player Elimination.
Expansions
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About the game
Has been published in 3 editions thus far. Aldo Ghiozzi helmed the second edition. W. Jason Peck joined the design team for 3rd edition. Description for the 2nd edition: Battle Cattle: Second Edition Expansion in a world of swords and sorcery. Gather all the cud available as your Angus Wizard prepares to fire a Magic Moo-ssile! Have your Corriente Pailadin last a little longer by Laying On Hooves! Animate dead cow carcasses with your Jersey Necowmancer! Description for the 3rd edition: I MOO YOU A THIRD TIME!" Moo-ve over people ‘cause the cows are comin’ home and they’re packin’! The udder devastation continues with a new evolution of Battle Cattle. Battle Cattle: Third Edition brings you the realism you’ve been licking your chops for! Use these new and revised tabletop miniatures rules to play realistic Battle Cattle combat parallel to the cows from the Official Battle Cattle miniatures line (sold separately). Also included are more cow breeds, weapons, modifications and accessories. 48 pages of perfect bound rules in a traditional 8.5” x 11” book with one full color pasture battlefield and full color cow chips to play…(You meant cow CHITS, right? You’re not really putting cow dung in the game, are you?)…Mooooo…
Mechanics
Publishers
- Steve Jackson Games
- Wingnut Games
- Oberon Games
Questions and answers
Battle Cattle supports 2–8 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 Battle Cattle is 30–60 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 Battle Cattle for ages 8 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.
Battle Cattle has a complexity rating of 1.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Battle Cattle belongs to these categories: Fighting, Humor, and Animals. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Take That, and Player Elimination. 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 Battle Cattle are: Aldo Ghiozzi, Matt Stipicevich, and W. Jason Peck. 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 Battle Cattle 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.