
- BGG rank
- BGG #920
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Empire of the Sun: The Pacific War 1941-1945
- 1–2 players
- 360 min
- Complexity 4.4/5
- 2005

1981
Rules assistance for Raider!: A Tactical Game of Commerce Raiding in WWII
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Raider!: A Tactical Game of Commerce Raiding in WWII is a board game released in 1981 for 2–6 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Michael C. McDaniel and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
An operational level simulation representing commerce raiding in the Indian Ocean during WWII. Each ship counter is one ship, airplane counters 1 to 3 planes, minefields 100 mines, a hex is 150 miles and a turn is "several" days. The Axis player attempts to find and sink shipping while the Allied player attempts to find and sink the raider. Rules are included for air search and air-ship combat, submarines, capturing ships, weather, mines, etc.
Raider!: A Tactical Game of Commerce Raiding in WWII supports 2–6 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 Raider!: A Tactical Game of Commerce Raiding in WWII is 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 Raider!: A Tactical Game of Commerce Raiding in WWII 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.
Raider!: A Tactical Game of Commerce Raiding in WWII has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Raider!: A Tactical Game of Commerce Raiding in WWII belongs to these categories: Wargame, Nautical, and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, 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 Raider!: A Tactical Game of Commerce Raiding in WWII are: Michael C. McDaniel. 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 Raider!: A Tactical Game of Commerce Raiding in WWII 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.