
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,167
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Gladiator
- 2–6 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 1981

1985
Rules assistance for Man to Man
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Man to Man is a board game released in 1985 for 2–12 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Steve Jackson (I) and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Variable Set-up.
"Steve Jackson's Man to Man: Fantasy Combat from GURPS." "Man to Man is the combat system for GURPS - the Generic Universal Role Playing System . . . Man to Man makes an excellent stand-alone boardgame! Man to Man is intended to be a highly realistic, yet fast-moving, simulation of pre-gunpowder combat. It is presented in two levels - Basic and Advanced. It can be used in a variety of ways . . . non-role players will enjoy Man to Man as a combat boardgame. The advanced game provides a wealth of tactical detail - but it moves quickly enough to be fun. The tactics that work in real life will work here."
Man to Man 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 Man to Man 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 Man to Man 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.
Man to Man 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.
Man to Man belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Wargame. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Variable Set-up. 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 Man to Man are: Steve Jackson (I). 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 Man to Man 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.