- BGG rating
- 7.4
Ranger: AO Sierra Expansion Kit
- 1 player
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1993
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,763
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Ranger
1984
Rules assistance for Ranger
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1 player
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.5/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Ranger
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ranger is a board game released in 1984 for 1 player, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Bill Gibbs and its main mechanics are Simulation.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Ranger: AO Victor Expansion Kit
- 1 player
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1993
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Ranger: Actions at the Objective Expansion Kit
- 2014
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About the game
Ranger is a tactical, role-playing simulation of a Ranger patrol on a combat mission. The game places the player in the role of the patrol’s leader. It allows the player to experience some of the decisions that face a Ranger patrol leader. From the Designer's Notes: "In designing Ranger, I have attempted to do two things. First, I wanted to give the wargamer a realistic simulation of Ranger operations. Second, I felt the need to keep the game playable. Most tactical games have hundreds of complicated rules to memorize, but bear no relation to actual field maneuvers . . . Patrolling suits solitaire gaming fairly well. While conventional operations are the result of the efforts of numerous commanders and staff officers, patrols generally depend entirely on the patrol leader's actions . . . I made every attempt to present the tactical situations as the patrol leader would experience them. I wanted the game system to avoid excessive administrative bookkeeping and rules memorization . . . I tried to simulate patrolling from my own experiences and not be tied to more standard wargame conventions . . . The element of chance throughout Ranger is by design. No patrol leader can control his environment. He can only plan for as many possibilities as he has time and be alert and prepared to implement these contingency plans if necessary. Even the most experienced player making all the correct decisions will occasionally be destroyed. Combat is always dangerous, but even more so when forward of friendly lines." Components: Rules of Play booklet, Patrolling Tactics booklet, Tactical Events booklet, laminated game map, laminated Patrol Record Log, plastic Tactical Template, Glossary folder, Combat Results Card, Tactical Reference Card, Extended Patrolling Card, 18 Mission Cards, 2 six-sided dice, China marker pencil.
Questions and answers
Ranger 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 Ranger is 60 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 Ranger 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.
Ranger has a complexity rating of 2.5 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.
Ranger belongs to these categories: Wargame and Modern Warfare. Its main mechanics are 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 Ranger are: Bill Gibbs. 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 Ranger 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.