- BGG rating
- 8.4
Rules assistance for Paupers' Ladder: The Bodachs of Brighthelm
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60–90 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Paupers' Ladder: The Bodachs of Brighthelm
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Paupers' Ladder: The Bodachs of Brighthelm is an expansion for Paupers' Ladder released in 2020 for 2–4 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Paul Stapleton and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Area Movement, and Pick-up and Deliver.
About the game
As the moon rises they crawl from their dark, mouldering lairs. These night horrors that scare Brighthelm’s children from sleep. These mysterious, mischievous and downright malevolent bogeymen are using Garolium’s tournament as the perfect foil for a power grab. The question is, which of these quarreling bodachs will climb to the top of their festering pile? The Bodachs of Brighthelm is a little Halloween-themed expansion for Paupers' Ladder. It adds 4 characters to play in the place of Paupers. The Bodachs, who can enslave creatures to become their familiars and trick or treat opposing players in their quest for power. Also available as a print and play PDF, this physical version is limited to 100 copies.
Designers
Publishers
- Bedsit Games
Questions and answers
Paupers' Ladder: The Bodachs of Brighthelm 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 Paupers' Ladder: The Bodachs of Brighthelm 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 Paupers' Ladder: The Bodachs of Brighthelm 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.
Paupers' Ladder: The Bodachs of Brighthelm 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.
Paupers' Ladder: The Bodachs of Brighthelm belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Print & Play. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Area Movement, and Pick-up and Deliver. 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 Paupers' Ladder: The Bodachs of Brighthelm are: Paul Stapleton. 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 Paupers' Ladder: The Bodachs of Brighthelm as an expansion for Paupers' Ladder. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Paupers' Ladder to use it. Check that your edition of Paupers' Ladder is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.