
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,911
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Rum & Bones: Second Tide
- 2–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2017

Rules assistance for Rum & Bones: Mercenaries – Zee: The Poet Tyrant
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.
Rum & Bones: Mercenaries – Zee: The Poet Tyrant is an expansion for Rum & Bones released in 2016 for 2–6 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Michael Shinall and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Area Majority / Influence.
From the 2016 Dice Tower Kickstarter Promo Pack B. A transition from stage to the high seas might seem like an unusual career choice, but there's more piracy in acting than one might realize. Both jobs require a certain presence, both require a flair for the dramatic, and both require an encyclopedic knowledge of ropes and rigging (sets don't build themselves, after all). That said, acting doesn't pay the bills (like, ever). For Zee, the chance to perform his greatest works across the Seven Seas appeared when their troupe was embarked on a voyage to the New World. Their ship came under chase by pirates, who would certainly have taken the hapless merchantman, had not Zee stood upon the taffrail and delivered a glorious ad-hoc discourse on the nobility of all free-thinking peoples in the character of Brutus from Caesar. The pirates, so moved by the amazing performance, threw money, LOTS of money, and offered Zee a job. Zee made his choice, and has never looked back!
Rum & Bones: Mercenaries – Zee: The Poet Tyrant 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 Rum & Bones: Mercenaries – Zee: The Poet Tyrant 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 Rum & Bones: Mercenaries – Zee: The Poet Tyrant for ages 14 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.
Rum & Bones: Mercenaries – Zee: The Poet Tyrant 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.
Rum & Bones: Mercenaries – Zee: The Poet Tyrant belongs to these categories: Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Area Majority / Influence. 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 Rum & Bones: Mercenaries – Zee: The Poet Tyrant are: Michael Shinall. 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 Rum & Bones: Mercenaries – Zee: The Poet Tyrant as an expansion for Rum & Bones. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Rum & Bones to use it. Check that your edition of Rum & Bones is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.