
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,469
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Kharkov: The Soviet Spring Offensive, 1942
- 2 players
- 240 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 1978

1971
Rules assistance for Dark Ages: Tactical Warfare, 500-1300
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Dark Ages: Tactical Warfare, 500-1300 is a board game released in 1971 for 2 players, 120–180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Stephen B. Patrick and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
Tactical Warfare 700-1300 A.D. It covers all the major military systems such as the Vikings, Crusaders, Muslim Cavalry, Byzantine Legions and Mongol Hordes. It has 14 scenarios that cover the major battles from the Battle of Tours in 732 to the Battle of Liegnitz in 1241. It has one general map that all 14 battles are fought on, in different locations on the map. There are 6 types of infantry units, 4 types of cavalry units and Viking fleets. Victory is gained by destroying enemy units and a special rule accounts for the "panic threshold" of the troops. There are two types of combat, melee and missile. It uses an odds based combat results table, a terrain effect chart and a combat unit capability chart.
Dark Ages: Tactical Warfare, 500-1300 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 Dark Ages: Tactical Warfare, 500-1300 is 120–180 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 Dark Ages: Tactical Warfare, 500-1300 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.
Dark Ages: Tactical Warfare, 500-1300 has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Dark Ages: Tactical Warfare, 500-1300 belongs to these categories: Wargame and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid. 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 Dark Ages: Tactical Warfare, 500-1300 are: Stephen B. Patrick. 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 Dark Ages: Tactical Warfare, 500-1300 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.