- BGG rating
- 6.2
Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields – Elf Lord
- 2–4 players
- 15 min
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #19,749
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields
2012
Rules assistance for Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 13+
- Complexity 2.2/5
Rules assistant for Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields is a board game released in 2012 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Richard Launius and Sean Brown and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Dice Rolling.
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About the game
Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields is set in the world of Richard Launius' Defenders of the Realm, but is a stand-alone, non-cooperative game in which players compete against one another either one-on-one, two-on-one, or two-on-two. One side represents the Dark Lord's invading army, while the other plays the heroes defending the realm. Fourteen battlefield cards are included in the game, and three are laid out at random over which the sides will compete. Players take turns playing cards onto one of the battlefields in play in order to build up enough strength to claim that battlefield card. (Players hold seven cards with two players, five cards with four, and eight vs. four/four with three.) Each battlefield card bears a special power that the winner of that card receives as a reward, such as "Remove all cards from one battlefield", "Choose the next battlefield to activate", and "Force the loser to give up one won battle". The first team to claim any five battlefields or three battlefields of the same color wins, although rules are provided for shorter games.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Eagle-Gryphon Games
Questions and answers
Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields supports 2–4 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 Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields is 30 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 Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields for ages 13 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.
Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields 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.
Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Dice. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Dice Rolling. 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 Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields are: Richard Launius and Sean Brown. 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 Defenders of the Realm: Battlefields 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.