- BGG rank
- BGG #7,962
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Bismarck (Second Edition)
- 2 players
- 150–240 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 1978
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- BGG #15,745
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Ironbottom Sound
1981
Rules assistance for Ironbottom Sound
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Ironbottom Sound
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ironbottom Sound is a board game released in 1981 for 2–4 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jack Greene and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Simultaneous Action Selection, and Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
Simultaneous-plotting hex-based naval game based on actions near Guadalcanal during WWII. Ten scenarios are provided, five historical and five balanced "tournament" situation. Scale is 600 yards/hex. Gunfire and torpedo fire are figured in "factors" per turret, with all guns of the same caliber firing on a single target rolling once, using a range-modified ordered-pair of dice against a table, for number of hits. The location of each hit is then determined by another ordered-pair roll against another table. Each ship has a damage sheet showing its gunnery and torpedo layout, and giving number of factors for each turret/mount. It also serves as the damage record sheet for the ship, and specifies armor thickness over protected locations (e.g. belt, primary turrets, secondary turrets, bridge). A ship sinks when its last hull box is marked off. The game is basically set up for two-player ftf, but short rules for PBM, moderated two-player, and moderated multi-player are provided. The second edition, Iron bottom Sound 2 (note post-WWII spelling of title), was published by Moments in History in 1998. Some significant rules changes (torpedo rules in particular) and a different scenario mix. Includes a night convoy battle in the Mediterranean.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Hobby Japan
- Quarterdeck Games
Questions and answers
Ironbottom Sound supports 2–4 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 Ironbottom Sound is 120 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 Ironbottom Sound 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.
Ironbottom Sound has a complexity rating of 3.2 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.
Ironbottom Sound belongs to these categories: Wargame, Nautical, and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Simultaneous Action Selection, and Hexagon Grid. 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 Ironbottom Sound are: Jack Greene. 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 Ironbottom Sound 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.