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Outpost Gamma
- 2 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 1981
- BGG rank
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- BGG rating
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Goblin
1982
Rules assistance for Goblin
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 180 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.8/5
Rules assistant for Goblin
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Goblin is a board game released in 1982 for 2 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Howard Barasch and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Grid Movement.
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About the game
Goblin is a fantasy game of raiding and plunder for two players. Each player takes a turn at playing the Goblin King, leading raiders into the peaceful valley, pillaging and burning. The other player maneuvers the farmers and the Baron's troops in a desperate attempt to stave off the raids. The player who amasses the greatest amount of plunder as Goblin King, before being killed in battle or deposed by his own goblins, is the winner. Goblin is a light-hearted, free-wheeling game with a surprisingly subtle strategy. A print-and-play version of this game is available for free, authorized download from http://dwarfstar.brainiac.com/.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- (Web published)
- Heritage USA
- Dwarfstar Games
Questions and answers
Goblin 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 Goblin is 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 Goblin 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.
Goblin has a complexity rating of 2.8 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.
Goblin belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Wargame, and Print & Play. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, 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 Goblin are: Howard Barasch. 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 Goblin 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.