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- BGG rating
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Indulgence
- 3–4 players
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Dragonmaster
1981
Rules assistance for Dragonmaster
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–4 players
- 30 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Dragonmaster
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Dragonmaster is a board game released in 1981 for 3–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by G. W. "Jerry" D'Arcey and its main mechanics are Trick-taking.
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About the game
Dragonmaster is a trick-taking card game based on an older game called Coup d'État. Each player is given a supply of plastic gems, which represent points. Each player will get to be the dealer for five different hands, with slightly different goals for each hand. After all cards have been dealt out, the dealer decides which hand best suits his or her current cards, and the other players are penalized points (in the form of crystals) for taking certain tricks or cards. For instance, if "first" or "last" is called, then a player is penalized for taking the first or last tricks. All players will get a chance to be dealer for five hands, but other players can steal this opportunity by taking all of the tricks during certain hands. At the end, the biggest pile of gems wins the game. Jewel contents: 10 clear (2 extra) 14 green (2 extra) 22 red (2 extra) 22 blue (2 extra)
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Milton Bradley
- E. S. Lowe Company Inc.
Questions and answers
Dragonmaster supports 3–4 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 Dragonmaster 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 Dragonmaster 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.
Dragonmaster has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Dragonmaster belongs to these categories: Card Game and Fantasy. Its main mechanics are Trick-taking. 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 Dragonmaster are: G. W. "Jerry" D'Arcey. 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 Dragonmaster 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.