- BGG rank
- BGG #8,349
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Bowl Bound
- 1–4 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 1978
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,879
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Paydirt
1970
Rules assistance for Paydirt
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 60–90 min
- 11+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Paydirt
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Paydirt is a board game released in 1970 for 1–2 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 11 and up. It was designed by David S. Neft and Dr. Thomas Nicely and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Simulation.
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About the game
Paydirt uses Team Charts patterned after every NFL team. These charts are statistically designed to reflect the strengths and weaknesses that characterized that team. Though the teams from the era it was published come in the box there is the ability to purchase teams from any era, and even more recent teams. With Avalon Hill's demise this is not the case for the most recent years.* Originally called Sports Illustrated Pro Football published by Time, Inc. Then became Paydirt by Avalon Hill. Chart designer Dr. Thomas R. Nicely, a mathematician with published articles on the subject of random and statistical probabilities. Rights to create charts reverted to Dr. Nicely when Avalon Hill folded and was absorbed by Hasbro. He then granted the privilege and rights of producing charts to one Matt Floray, who released updated (and previous) charts for a few years before his death in 2011. New and updated charts are now made by several different fans. In addition to its boardgame version, Data-Driven Football offers a computer game. Since 2007, DDF's methodology includes the result and description of every play from every NFL game, and information from each play's video.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- (Self-Published)
- The Avalon Hill Game Co
- Sports Illustrated
Questions and answers
Paydirt supports 1–2 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 Paydirt 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 Paydirt for ages 11 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.
Paydirt has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
Paydirt belongs to these categories: Dice and Sports. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling 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 Paydirt are: David S. Neft and Dr. Thomas Nicely. 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 Paydirt 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.