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- BGG #2,813
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Confusion: Espionage and Deception in the Cold War
- 2 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1992
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,764
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Epaminondas
1975
Rules assistance for Epaminondas
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.9/5
Rules assistant for Epaminondas
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Epaminondas is a board game released in 1975 for 2 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Robert Abbott and its main mechanics are Square Grid and Grid Movement.
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About the game
Epaminondas is one of Bob Abbott's masterpieces, sadly poorly known. It's a pure abstract 2 player game, white versus black, the board is somewhat similar to the one in Brain Trainer or Othello. Epaminondas is named after the Theban general who invented the phalanx formation he used to defeat the Spartans in 371 B.C. The term "phalanx" is used in the game to describe a connected group of two or more pieces in a straight line, either orthogonally or diagonally. Epaminondas is played on a 14 x 12 checkered board with 28 black pieces and 28 white pieces. The objective is to move your pieces across the board onto your opponent's back rank, the row closest to him, by moving your phalanxes and capturing enemy pieces. Re-implements: Crossings that is on a 8x8 board.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Hexagames (I)
- nestorgames
- Ariel Productions Ltd
- Bütehorn Spiele (Buchholz Verlag)
- Robert Abbott
Questions and answers
Epaminondas supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Epaminondas 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 Epaminondas for ages 10 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.
Epaminondas has a complexity rating of 2.9 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.
Epaminondas belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Square Grid and Grid 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 Epaminondas are: Robert Abbott. 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 Epaminondas 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.