
- BGG rank
- BGG #999
- BGG rating
- 7.0
FUSE
- 1–5 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2015

2019
Rules assistance for Proving Grounds
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Proving Grounds is a board game released in 2019 for 1 player, 30–45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Kane Klenko and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Solo / Solitaire Game, and Real-Time.
Maia Strongheart stands alone against the world. A cabal of conspirators has framed her for the death of her own mother, the Sun Queen, and they intend to usurp the throne from her family. To prove her own innocence and reclaim her birthright, Maia must step into the proving grounds to complete a trial that will stretch her combat skills to the limit. Will the Wizened's chosen daughter vanquish her foes in the arena? Or will she be overwhelmed by the conspirators and their evil aspirations? Proving Grounds is a real-time solitaire dice game that merges narrative and gameplay in a brand-new way. In this box, you will find a novella, "Only the Strongest Has the Heart of a Wizened Queen", written by Monica Valentinelli. This sweeping story sets the stage for the events of the game. Read the story of Maia Strongheart as she fights to ascend to the Sun Throne, then recreate her extraordinary battle! Proving Grounds has a training game and six different gameplay modules. Once you've learned the basics, add a single module or mix and match to your tastes. If you're feeling truly adventurous, put them all together for a true test of your gladiatorial combat skills! —description from the publisher
Proving Grounds supports 1 player according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Proving Grounds is 30–45 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 Proving Grounds for ages 10 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.
Proving Grounds 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.
Proving Grounds belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Dice. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Solo / Solitaire Game, and Real-Time. 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 Proving Grounds are: Kane Klenko. 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 Proving Grounds 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.