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Pacific Origins
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- 120 min
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Origins of World War II
1971
Rules assistance for Origins of World War II
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Origins of World War II
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Origins of World War II is a board game released in 1971 for 2–5 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jim Dunnigan and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Auction / Bidding, and Area Movement.
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About the game
Origins of World War II is an Avalon Hill bookcase game. A game in which the players take the roles of the major powers of World War II in the 1930s. Each attempts to achieve its diplomatic objectives while preventing the other players from gaining theirs. If Germany or the USSR win World War II starts, if one of the allied powers wins the war would have been prevented. The game is played in a series of six turns (the final one being December 1939), actions are resolved via the diplomatic conflict table by comparing the diplomatic points of the attacker vs. those of the defender in each given area (Poland, Romania, etc). Several different "What if" policies are available such as Strong Franco-British alliance, Aggressive French policy and the Anti-Bolshevik Crusade. Includes a good chronology of the actual diplomatic moves made by each of the major powers leading up to the second world war. Avalon Hill Complexity rating - 1 The german Schmidt Spiele edition "Diplomatie" was published as a game of the Schmidt Spiele-Bar series in book case format.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Schmidt Spiele
- The Avalon Hill Game Co
Questions and answers
Origins of World War II supports 2–5 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 Origins of World War II 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 Origins of World War II 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.
Origins of World War II has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Origins of World War II belongs to these categories: Wargame, Political, and Negotiation. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Auction / Bidding, and Area 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 Origins of World War II are: Jim Dunnigan. 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 Origins of World War II 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.