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- BGG #6,924
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- 7.9
Norman Conquests: Men of Iron Volume V
- 2 players
- 60–240 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,912
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Purgatorio: Men of Iron Volume VI
2026
Rules assistance for Purgatorio: Men of Iron Volume VI
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 60–240 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Purgatorio: Men of Iron Volume VI
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Purgatorio: Men of Iron Volume VI is a board game released in 2026 for 1–2 players, 60–240 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Ralph Shelton and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
The struggle between monarchs in Europe, particularly between the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope, would spawn well over a hundred years of conflict in Italy. The Investiture Controversy caused a split between the Italian city states and even the people within the city states. Guelph was the name given to those who supported the Papacy—while the Ghibellines were the supporters of the Holy Roman Empire. Guelph cities tended to be farther away from the Papal States and closer to the Holy Roman Empire, and Ghibelline cities tended to be farther away from the Holy Roman Empire and closer to the Pope’s temporal power. Battles raged across Italy from the mid-1100s to the mid-1300s with both sides ending up on top at one time or another. This sixth Men of Iron game covers some of those battles: beginning with Frederick Barbarossa trying to recapture rebelling provinces in Italy in the late 12th century, taking a spin through the 13th century with a few battles that spelled the end of direct Hohenstaufen rule of Italy, and ending with a war that myth says was fought over the theft of a bucket from one city by another! The battles include: Legnano 29 May 1176 – Frederick Barbarossa fights the Lombard League for control of northern Italy. Cortenuova 27 November 1237 – Frederick II, grandson of Barbarossa, tangles with the second Lombard League for control of northern Italy. Montaperti 4 September 1260 – Florence and Sienna fight one of the bloodiest battles in medieval Italy—as seen on TV, or in GMT’s Inferno! Benevento 26 February 1266 – Manfred, King of Sicily, dies in battle in southern Italy against Charles I, also King of Sicily, securing Charles I in the title King of Sicily. Tagliacozzo 23 August 1268 – Conradin III, King of Jerusalem, is captured and executed after a battle in southern Italy against Charles I, King of Sicily. Campaldino 11 June 1289 – Florence and Arezzo fight in northern Italy. Famous Italian poet Dante Alighieri fought in the battle. Later, his brand of Guelph would lose power in Florence, and he would be forced into exile. Zappolino 15 November 1325 – Modena and Bologna fight, not over an oaken bucket stolen from a well, but over a long standing feud replete with raids and reprisal that had occurred almost a century. This game will use 9/16" counters. —description from the publisher
Designers
Publishers
- GMT Games
Questions and answers
Purgatorio: Men of Iron Volume VI 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 Purgatorio: Men of Iron Volume VI is 60–240 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 Purgatorio: Men of Iron Volume VI 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.
Purgatorio: Men of Iron Volume VI has a complexity rating of 2.8 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.
Purgatorio: Men of Iron Volume VI belongs to these categories: Wargame and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid. 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 Purgatorio: Men of Iron Volume VI are: Ralph Shelton. 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 Purgatorio: Men of Iron Volume VI 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.