
- BGG rank
- BGG #206
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game
- 2 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2012

Rules assistance for Saga: Varjazi & Basileus
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Saga: Varjazi & Basileus is an expansion for Saga released in 2013 for 2 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Alexandre Buchel and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Die Icon Resolution.
“Varjazi & Basileus” is a supplement for Saga that features a 12 page full color rule booklet containing rules and lists for the Pagan Rus, the Era Of The Princes Rus and the Byzantines (as originally featured in a long sold-out issue of Wargames Illustrated.) There is also a new Hero Of The Viking Age for the Byzantines and a new Swords For Hire unit. The booklet also comes with 3 battleboards (Rus, Pagan Rus & Byzantines,) all contained in a fantastic SAGA folder. Made of sturdy cardboard, this folder is full color (inside and out) and provides an excellent way to transport rulebooks, supplements and battleboards. This is not a stand-alone game and the Saga core rules are required to play
Saga: Varjazi & Basileus supports 2 players 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 Saga: Varjazi & Basileus 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 Saga: Varjazi & Basileus 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.
Saga: Varjazi & Basileus has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Saga: Varjazi & Basileus belongs to these categories: Wargame, Miniatures, and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Die Icon Resolution. 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 Saga: Varjazi & Basileus are: Alexandre Buchel. 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 Saga: Varjazi & Basileus as an expansion for Saga. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Saga to use it. Check that your edition of Saga is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.