- BGG rating
- 7.1
Maelstrom Expansion Pack
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2005
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,092
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Maelstrom
2001
Rules assistance for Maelstrom
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.6/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Maelstrom
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Maelstrom is a board game released in 2001 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Tom Jolly, Christian T. Petersen, and Darrell Hardy and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Tile Placement, and Modular Board.
Expansions
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About the game
This game was originally published in the summer of 2001 as collectible game "Vortex", and was promoted with free demo-kits distributed to the hobby industry in the spring of 2001. "Vortex" used a clever connected-hexagons-as-board game system that would later inspire other games in the "hexagon mass as a board" category. From the FFG Website: Maelstrom is a fixed, stand-alone 2-4 player board game that contains every common and starter flat from the Vortex fantasy battle game - 54 flats in all, over 150 tiles. Maelstrom is the perfect way for strategy board gamers who don't like collectibility to experience the game, and is an ideal way for Vortex fans to fill out their collections. The Masters of the Void are at war. Using the powers of the Vortex, they tear holes in the fabric of existence, recruiting powerful allies and enslaving lands, cities, and beasts of the wild. Magic, creatures of unimaginable power, and engines of destruction are bound to the Vortex and equally engulfed in the bitter struggle between the Masters. Designed by Diskwars creators Tom Jolly and Christian T. Petersen, Maelstrom is a game of fantasy battles, magic, and resource management using a unique hexagonal tile game field that grows as players add allies, land, and relics to fill the void that surrounds the Vortex. Game play is fast and furious, as players seek to gain mastery over the battlefield, shaping the very foundation of the Vortex with each strategically placed tile. Only one can rule the void. Will you?" This is the game Vortex, packaged in a non-collectible format. The box contains a ton of tiles. Vortex includes 92 "flats" of tiles total (16 "fixed", 38 "standard", and 38 "rare); this box contains all of the fixed and standard flats (for a total of 54 flats). Note that events and relics are not included in this game, as they are in Vortex (all events and relics are rare). Otherwise, it's the same game as Vortex, and you can even add Vortex booster packs to this game to increase your collection. That having been said, you really don't need to. Events DO add to the game experience, but they're not necessary -- this is a complete game without any further purchases. Expanded by: Maelstrom Expansion Pack
Categories
Publishers
- Fantasy Flight Games
Questions and answers
Maelstrom 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 Maelstrom is 60 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 Maelstrom 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.
Maelstrom has a complexity rating of 2.6 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.
Maelstrom belongs to these categories: Fantasy and Collectible Components. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Tile Placement, and Modular Board. 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 Maelstrom are: Tom Jolly, Christian T. Petersen, and Darrell Hardy. 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 Maelstrom 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.