- BGG rank
- BGG #10,085
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Stellar Drift: Pull & Write
- 1–5 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,588
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Manaforge
2017
Rules assistance for Manaforge
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 60–90 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.8/5
Rules assistant for Manaforge
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Manaforge is a board game released in 2017 for 2–4 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Bryan Kline and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Open Drafting.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,045
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Wizards of the Wild
- 1–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,302
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Heroes
- 2–4 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,438
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Dork Tower
- 2–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2003
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,535
- BGG rating
- 6.7
The Smog Riders: Dimensions of Madness
- 2–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,137
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Anime Saga
- 2–5 players
- 75–120 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,385
- BGG rating
- 6.1
The Card Game of Oz
- 1–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #29,791
- BGG rating
- 5.3
Eragra: The Game of Eras and the First Step
- 2–4 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #308
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Roll Player
- 1–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,368
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Dice Miner
- 1–4 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,470
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Brew
- 2–4 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,697
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Monster Expedition
- 1–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2020
About the game
Manaforge is a dice-rolling resource management game of crafting magical equipment for 2 to 4 players. Each player plays a wizard that specializes in creating magic items. These wizards cater to rich adventurers looking to trade their hard-won spoils for magical gear to make themselves more powerful. Each wizard owns a magic shop in which they display the fruits of their labor for gold-laden adventurers to come in and purchase. However, the adventurers' funds are finite. The wizards are competing to make their shops the most famous so that the adventurers will stop there first. And the best way to make a shop famous is to have the most impressive selection of useful and powerful magical gear. Whichever player's store obtains the most Prestige (victory points) will attract the customers and make the sales. May the craftiest wizard win! Manaforge is played over nine rounds. At the beginning of each round, six cards representing the items that can be created that round are placed on the center board. Each player rolls their own handful of dice, the symbols on which represent the types of mana that they have to spend this round. Then in player order, each player spends that mana to construct one of the items in the center, taking its card and adding it to their collection. Some cards have an instantaneous effect and are then discarded, while other cards stay in play and grant the player benefits such as additional mana each turn or the ability to turn mana into Prestige. Beware, though: time is short! Each player may create only one item each round, so a player can only ever get nine cards in total. A game of Manaforge takes an hour on average, depending on the number of players and their level of skill. Manaforge is intended for players ages 13 and up.
Editions
- ManaforgeenMystic Tiger Games, LLC2017
Designers
Publishers
- Mystic Tiger Games, LLC
Questions and answers
Manaforge 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 Manaforge is 60–90 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 Manaforge for ages 14 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.
Manaforge has a complexity rating of 2.8 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.
Manaforge belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Dice. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Open Drafting. 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 Manaforge are: Bryan Kline. 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 Manaforge 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.