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High Frontier 4 All
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Lords of the Renaissance
1996
Rules assistance for Lords of the Renaissance
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–12 players
- 300 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.3/5
Rules assistant for Lords of the Renaissance
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Lords of the Renaissance is a board game released in 1996 for 2–12 players, 300 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Phil Eklund and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Auction / Bidding, and Pick-up and Deliver.
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About the game
Description from the publisher: Lords of the Renaissance is a game for 2-12 players set at the end of the Dark Ages. Each player starts as a Merchant Prince of a European Duchy, operating a bank or merchant company speculating in the silk trade. Players also act as a military or financial adviser to one of the great empires, advising their suzerains in matters of conquest, shipbuilding, and the construction of cathedrals and libraries. Through the establishment of trade routes and the paying of tributes, players grow rich, as they are emboldened to fight to protect their monopolies or expand their influence. Plenty of Machiavellian intrigue as players shift allegiances and conspire to become emperors themselves.
Designers
Publishers
- Sierra Madre Games
Questions and answers
Lords of the Renaissance supports 2–12 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 Lords of the Renaissance is 300 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 Lords of the Renaissance 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.
Lords of the Renaissance has a complexity rating of 3.3 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.
Lords of the Renaissance belongs to these categories: Economic, Wargame, and Political. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Auction / Bidding, and Pick-up and Deliver. 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 Lords of the Renaissance are: Phil Eklund. 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 Lords of the Renaissance 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.