
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,892
- BGG rating
- 6.1
And They're Off!
- 2–22 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 1993

1983
Rules assistance for Calamity!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Calamity! is a board game released in 1983 for 2–6 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Derek Carver, Ian Livingstone, and Andrew Lloyd Webber and its main mechanics are Trading.
Calamity is Games Workshop game published in association with the Sentry Group of Insurance companies. A typical insurance game, where you, as a company, insure risks in this dangerous world. Designed by Andrew Lloyd Webber (yes the famous one). Mechanics from Derek Carver and Ian Livingstone. (OOP 1983)
Calamity! supports 2–6 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 Calamity! is 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 Calamity! 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.
Calamity! 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.
Calamity! belongs to these categories: Economic. Its main mechanics are Trading. 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 Calamity! are: Derek Carver, Ian Livingstone, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. 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 Calamity! 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.