
- BGG rating
- 7.0
DBR Army Lists Book 1
- 2 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 1995

1997
Rules assistance for De Bellis Renationis
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.
De Bellis Renationis is a board game released in 1997 for 1–2 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Philip C. Barker and Richard Bodley Scott and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Action Points, and Measurement Movement.
Renaissance-era rules from the DBx series (which includes De Bellis Antiquitatis: Quick Play Wargame Rules with Army Lists for Ancient and Medieval Battles, introductory rules for ancient/medieval periods; De Bellis Multitudinis: Wargames Rules for Ancient and Medieval Battles – 3000 BC to 1500 AD, an advanced version of DBA, and Hordes of the Things, a fantasy version of DBA. The rules cover the entire 200 year (plus) period from 1494 to 1700. Re-implements: De Bellis Antiquitatis: Quick Play Wargame Rules with Army Lists for Ancient and Medieval Battles De Bellis Multitudinis: Wargames Rules for Ancient and Medieval Battles – 3000 BC to 1500 AD Hordes of the Things
De Bellis Renationis supports 1–2 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 De Bellis Renationis 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 De Bellis Renationis for ages 14 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.
De Bellis Renationis has a complexity rating of 3.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
De Bellis Renationis belongs to these categories: Wargame, Miniatures, and Renaissance. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Action Points, and Measurement Movement. 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 De Bellis Renationis are: Philip C. Barker and Richard Bodley Scott. 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 De Bellis Renationis 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.