
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,407
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Imperium: Empires in Conflict – Worlds in the Balance
- 2 players
- 180–300 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 1977

1982
Rules assistance for Necromancer
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.
Necromancer is a board game released in 1982 for 2 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Allen Varney and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement.
Necromancer is a fantasy game for two players. Each player becomes a Necromancer - a powerful wizard controlling the forces of the undead. As their skeletons and zombies battle, the Necromancers use their powers to take control of enemy units! The goal: to find the mystic Jewels of Power - and destroy the enemy Necromancer. A unique combat system varies the power of a player's troops according to the number of units he controls; the more undead you control, the weaker each unit is. All counters are back-printed, since any unit may change sides. (from the back of the box) Originally published in The Space Gamer #55, September 1982.
Necromancer supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Necromancer 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 Necromancer 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.
Necromancer 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.
Necromancer belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Wargame, and Horror. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement. 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 Necromancer are: Allen Varney. 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 Necromancer 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.