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Crusader Rex
2005
Rules assistance for Crusader Rex
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 180 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.9/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Crusader Rex
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Crusader Rex is a board game released in 2005 for 2 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Tom Dalgliesh and Jerry Taylor and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
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About the game
Crusader Rex is a block game of the 3rd Crusade. One player plays the Christian Franks, the other, the Muslim Saracens. The objective of the game is to control important Victory Cities such as Jerusalem, Acre, Damascus, and Antioch. The board depicts the Middle East from Antioch in the north to Egypt in the south, creating an engaging and elegant experience. You find yourself immersed in the theme and historical flavor that Crusader Rex has to offer. The Franks looking to take back the Holy Land, can they hold out until the powerful crusaders arrive, such historical figures as the ruthless Richard the Lionheart, Philip II of France, or even the 67 year old Frederick I red beard of Germania? As Saladin, who was the epitome of a chivalrous warrior, can you repeat history and retain the Holy Land for the Saracens? Crusader Rex plays a bit like other Columbia block war games but has many variants that give it its own historical flavor, such as siege warfare, knight charges, harrying, muster moves, freedom in set up, and more!
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Banana Games
- Columbia Games
Questions and answers
Crusader Rex supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Crusader Rex is 180 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 Crusader Rex 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.
Crusader Rex has a complexity rating of 2.9 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.
Crusader Rex belongs to these categories: Wargame and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Simultaneous Action Selection. 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 Crusader Rex are: Tom Dalgliesh and Jerry Taylor. 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 Crusader Rex 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.