- BGG rating
- 6.6
Samhain: Useful Items
- 2–4 players
- 45–60 min
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,572
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Samhain
2017
Rules assistance for Samhain
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45–60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.8/5
Rules assistant for Samhain
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Samhain is a board game released in 2017 for 2–4 players, 45–60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Mauro Chiabotto and Alessandro Chiabotto and its main mechanics are Point to Point Movement, Secret Unit Deployment, and Modular Board.
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About the game
First Century B.C., Julius Caesar advances - unrelenting - with his legions. The Romans are now close to the heart of the Celtic lands, where the ancient traditions are still alive and instill courage and determination for the last stand against such a mighty enemy... It is the night of Samhain, the most sacred night of the year. Celtic tribes gather to ask the ancient Gods for help. This time they will ask not only for the strength to sustain themselves, but also for the courage to fight the invaders and - most importantly - for the name of the one that shall lead them to war. Samhain is a game for 2-4 players that lasts about 60 minutes. In Samhain, you will need to manage your clan the best you can, placing your clan members on the village locations each turn and performing the most suitable actions for your strategy. You must obtain resources and manage them properly in order to expand your clan and mess with your opponents! Each player will be the chief of a clan who will try to become the most powerful one in order to be placed in charge of the resistance against the Romans. Your clan members must be divided between locations in the village, performing actions, and those who are praying in the temples dedicated to their Gods. The locations will grant you instant advantages, but the temples will grant the power necessary to expand your clan and to lead it toward the glory. The Romans must not be underestimated. Before invading the lands of the Celts, they will try to poison the hearts of the tribes, in order to corrupt the clans and to use them for their own purpose.
Designers
Publishers
- Giochix.it
Questions and answers
Samhain supports 2–4 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 Samhain is 45–60 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 Samhain 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.
Samhain has a complexity rating of 2.8 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.
Samhain belongs to these categories: Ancient and Mythology. Its main mechanics are Point to Point Movement, Secret Unit Deployment, and Modular Board. 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 Samhain are: Mauro Chiabotto and Alessandro Chiabotto. 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 Samhain 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.