
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,492
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Harpoon 4: Modern Tactical Naval Warfare
- 2–8 players
- 150 min
- Complexity 4.4/5
- 1997

Expansion for Harpoon V: Modern Tactical Naval Combat 1955 - 2020
2020
Rules assistance for Harpoon Player's Handbook: 5th Edition
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.
Harpoon Player's Handbook: 5th Edition is an expansion for Harpoon V: Modern Tactical Naval Combat 1955 - 2020 released in 2020 for 1–8 players, 150 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Larry Bond and Chris Carlson and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Paper-and-Pencil, and Measurement Movement.
The Harpoon Player's Handbook is a compilation of all the charts and tables contained in the rulebook. Use of this playing aid greatly assists the flow of play in multiple player games, as all of the data is right at hand, along with references to the appropriate section of the rulebook.
Harpoon Player's Handbook: 5th Edition supports 1–8 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 Harpoon Player's Handbook: 5th Edition is 150 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 Harpoon Player's Handbook: 5th Edition 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.
Harpoon Player's Handbook: 5th Edition has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Harpoon Player's Handbook: 5th Edition belongs to these categories: Wargame, Nautical, and Modern Warfare. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Paper-and-Pencil, and Measurement 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 Harpoon Player's Handbook: 5th Edition are: Larry Bond and Chris Carlson. 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 Harpoon Player's Handbook: 5th Edition as an expansion for Harpoon V: Modern Tactical Naval Combat 1955 - 2020. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Harpoon V: Modern Tactical Naval Combat 1955 - 2020 to use it. Check that your edition of Harpoon V: Modern Tactical Naval Combat 1955 - 2020 is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.