- BGG rank
- BGG #5,831
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Runebound
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2004
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Rules assistance for Runebound: The Island of Dread
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.6/5
Rules assistant for Runebound: The Island of Dread
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Runebound: The Island of Dread is an expansion for Runebound: Second Edition released in 2005 for 2–6 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by John Goodenough, Martin Wallace, Darrell Hardy, and Alfredo Lorente and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers and Dice Rolling.
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About the game
Belongs to the Runebound Series. From the Fantasy Flight Games Website: "Explore the uncharted islands of the world of Runebound and piece together the lost map to the fabled Island of Dread! By sea or land adventure awaits all brave heroes, whether they swing swords or cast spells. This is the first full-size expansion for the Runebound fantasy adventure board game. Island of Dread features a gorgeous new board overlay that creates a completely new game environment. The expansion set also features 110 new cards, including new characters, encounters, challenges, events and equipment. The expansion also presents new rules for ships that characters can hire to transport them among the scattered islands of the dangerous seas in their quest to find the Island of Dread and win the game. Not all ships are created equal, however, and you get what you pay for: The Vulgar Princess and her crew might come cheap, but they might also seize all your loot and dump you overboard." Runebound: Island of Dread is the first Big Box Expansion for Runebound: Second Edition. It replaces some elements of the original game - including the map and playable characters - to provide a new and different gaming experience. You must own the Runebound basic game to play this expansion. Expands: Runebound: Second Edition
Categories
Mechanics
Publishers
- Edge Entertainment
- Ubik
- Arclight Games
- Fantasy Flight Games
- Heidelberger Spieleverlag
- Nexus Editrice
- Galakta
Questions and answers
Runebound: The Island of Dread 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 Runebound: The Island of Dread is 120 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 Runebound: The Island of Dread 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.
Runebound: The Island of Dread has a complexity rating of 2.6 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.
Runebound: The Island of Dread belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Adventure, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers and Dice Rolling. 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 Runebound: The Island of Dread are: John Goodenough, Martin Wallace, Darrell Hardy, and Alfredo Lorente. 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 Runebound: The Island of Dread as an expansion for Runebound: Second Edition. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Runebound: Second Edition to use it. Check that your edition of Runebound: Second Edition is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.