
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,257
- BGG rating
- 6.1
The Lord of the Rings: Journey to Mordor
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2015

2010
Rules assistance for Der Pate
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.
Der Pate is a board game released in 2010 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Michael Rieneck and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling.
Der Pate (Eng: The Godfather) is one of the 2010 Essen releases of Kosmos. Here is a loose translation of their promo text on their website. Each player is the head of one of New York's Mafia clans and tries to earn the most money with illegal activities, e.g. running casinos or betting agencies. To hinder the opponents you can tip off the FBI about their activities or (more bluntly) initiate a vendetta. With the help of your Consigliere you can make offers the opposition cannot refuse and take over a business the FBI just shut down. You can also influence the press to improve your reputation and use the help of a prosecutor who is a friend of the family to get your relatives out of jail. Just don't be prissy or you won't become the boss of bosses.
Der Pate 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 Der Pate 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 Der Pate 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.
Der Pate has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
Der Pate belongs to these categories: Economic, Movies / TV / Radio theme, and Dice. Its main mechanics are 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 Der Pate are: Michael Rieneck. 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 Der Pate 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.