- BGG rating
- 6.7
Lords of War: Orcs versus Dwarves – Return Fire Booster Pack
- 2–8 players
- 30 min
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,622
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Lords of War: Orcs versus Dwarves
2012
Rules assistance for Lords of War: Orcs versus Dwarves
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–8 players
- 30 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.9/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Lords of War: Orcs versus Dwarves
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Lords of War: Orcs versus Dwarves is a board game released in 2012 for 2–8 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Nick Street and Martin Vaux and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Player Elimination.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Lords of War: Orcs versus Dwarves – Reversal of Fortunes Booster Pack
- 2–8 players
- 30 min
- 2015
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About the game
Lords of War: Orcs versus Dwarves is a dual-deck strategic card game for two-plus players which sees fantasy races engage in dynamic, tactical card battles. Orcs versus Dwarves was the first Lords of War game to be released, in December 2012, at the Dragonmeet Game Fair in London. The game went on to win the Best Strategic Card Game Award at the UK Games Expo 2013, along with Lords of War: Elves versus Lizardmen. During Lords of War battles players use hands of 6 units, drawn from their total 'army' of 36 cards, playing one card per turn at the start of their turn. Cards have unique formations of Attack Arrows on their edges and corners signifying which adjacent cards they attack once played, and the damage they will do. Some cards also have Ranged Attack values. Each card then has a Defence value which, when exceeded by attacking cards, sees that card defeated. At the end of a player's turn, once combat has been resolved, the player can then either draw a new card from their army deck to return their hand back up to 6 or retreat a unit that has not engaged in combat during that turn. The game is playable out of the box and contains two complete armies - the Orcs and the Dwarves. These factions are differentiated by their exclusive cards and strategies; the Dwarf faction plays more defensively, using some Ranged cards and powerful Berserker units to pick-off assailants, while the Orc army encourages players to attack more vigorously, often committing kamikaze moves to their tactical advantage. Orcs versus Dwarves is cross-compatible with Elves versus Lizardmen, meaning that all the Lords of War armies can be used to battle one another. The armies can also be blended together, using a strict Ranking System, to create Mercenary decks for tournament play.
Designers
Publishers
- Heidelberger Spieleverlag
- Galakta
- Black Box Games Publishing
- Svět deskových her
Questions and answers
Lords of War: Orcs versus Dwarves supports 2–8 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 Lords of War: Orcs versus Dwarves is 30 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 War: Orcs versus Dwarves 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 War: Orcs versus Dwarves has a complexity rating of 1.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Lords of War: Orcs versus Dwarves belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Wargame. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Player Elimination. 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 War: Orcs versus Dwarves are: Nick Street and Martin Vaux. 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 War: Orcs versus Dwarves 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.