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Orcwars
1988
Rules assistance for Orcwars
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 120–150 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Orcwars
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Orcwars is a board game released in 1988 for 2–4 players, 120–150 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Bruce Heard and its main mechanics are Area Movement, Dice Rolling, and Area Majority / Influence.
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About the game
From the rules: This game is a humorous simulation of the Great Orc Wars, when the 10 Tribal Chiefs of the Known World attempted (in vain) to unite their humanoid hordes for control of the caravan routes and supremacy over the neighboring human and elven realms. From two to four people are required, each representing a Tribal Coalition. Whenever one of the following victory conditions is achieved, the game ends and a winner is declared: 1) A Tribal Coalition with five or more chiefs on the board at the end of any Game Turn wins a political victory. 2) A Tribal Coalition wins a military victory by controlling 12 or more fortresses and/or territories at the end of any Game Turn. 3) A Tribal Coalition with 35 or more gold points in Hand at the end of any Game Turn wins an economic victory. Published in Dragon Magazine #132, with clarifications in Dragon Magazine #134 and the final version was published in the D&D Module The Orcs of Thar.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Tactical Studies Rules (TSR)
Questions and answers
Orcwars 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 Orcwars is 120–150 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 Orcwars 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.
Orcwars has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
Orcwars belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Economic, and Wargame. Its main mechanics are Area Movement, Dice Rolling, and Area Majority / Influence. 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 Orcwars are: Bruce Heard. 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 Orcwars 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.