
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,851
- BGG rating
- 6.5
The Creature That Ate Sheboygan
- 2 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 1979

1985
Rules assistance for Pax Britannica: The Colonial Era 1880 to the Great War
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 4 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pax Britannica: The Colonial Era 1880 to the Great War is a board game released in 1985 for 4–7 players, 480–600 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Greg Costikyan and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Simulation.
Pax Britannica is a Victorian Era multi player wargame of empire, diplomacy, and global confrontation. The Great Powers of United Kingdom, France, the US, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Russia, and Japan vie throughout the world for the wealth and esteem conferred by vast colonial holdings in the far-flung corners of the Earth. Each player maneuvers his administrative and military assets to establish control over the choicest and most strategic areas, keeping a wary eye toward encroaching opponents whose colonial ambitions are every bit as great. Conflict between national wills is more often resolved through peaceful negotiation than through war; but when national honor is too severely tried, war can occur- on a scale that threatens to evolve into the War to End All Wars! Time scale = 4 years per turn; Map scale = abstract; Unit scale = Corps/Fleet, Division/Task Force, Regiment/Squadron; Playing time = approx 4 to 7 hours.
Pax Britannica: The Colonial Era 1880 to the Great War supports 4–7 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 Pax Britannica: The Colonial Era 1880 to the Great War is 480–600 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 Pax Britannica: The Colonial Era 1880 to the Great War 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.
Pax Britannica: The Colonial Era 1880 to the Great War has a complexity rating of 3.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
Pax Britannica: The Colonial Era 1880 to the Great War belongs to these categories: Wargame, Political, and Negotiation. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Simulation. 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 Pax Britannica: The Colonial Era 1880 to the Great War are: Greg Costikyan. 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 Pax Britannica: The Colonial Era 1880 to the Great War 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.