
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,690
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Board Game
- 1–3 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2024

Rules assistance for Dragons Down: Desolation
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.
Dragons Down: Desolation is an expansion for Dragons Down released in 2024 for 1–6 players, 30–180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Scott DeMers and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Die Icon Resolution.
The first expansion for Dragons Down. Now you can adventure in the sinister swamps and perilous plains... or add them to your existing base game to create an epic experience. Allows for up to 6 players Two new terrain packs (Sinister Swamps and Perilous Plains) 12 new map tiles 30+ new monsters 8+ new natives 25+ new treasures 12 new missions 10 new items 6 new lineage cards (adding the Half-elf and Half-orc lineages) 10 new classes (assassin, bard, battle mage, black knight, executioner, paladin, ranger, runesword, soulless, and trickster) 2 new civilization locations 3 new merchants —description from the designer
Dragons Down: Desolation supports 1–6 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 Dragons Down: Desolation is 30–180 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 Dragons Down: Desolation 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.
Dragons Down: Desolation 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.
Dragons Down: Desolation belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Dice. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Die Icon Resolution. 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 Dragons Down: Desolation are: Scott DeMers. 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 Dragons Down: Desolation as an expansion for Dragons Down. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Dragons Down to use it. Check that your edition of Dragons Down is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.