
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Schäferstündchen: Das tapfere Schneiderlein
- 4–8 players
- 20–30 min
- 2015

2015
Rules assistance for Schäferstündchen
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.
Schäferstündchen is a board game released in 2015 for 2–6 players, 20–30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Felix Mertikat and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Take That.
In Schäferstündchen — which is playable by four, six or eight players — you are either a bandit or a citizen in the battle for sheep. Race into the valley and fight with the other players over a herd of sheep. Play cards to stop the others from advancing or weaken them while you make yourself as strong as a shepherd can be. Each player plays a card for himself and for another player face-down. Then the cards are turned face-up and the effects are resolved. The cards can either make a player stronger/faster or they can have several weakening effects. After that you move your figure towards the valley where the players fight over the sheep by comparing their modified fighting skills. The strongest ones take a sheep home, just to start another race towards the valley next turn until no sheep are left. The one who collected the most sheep wins.
Schäferstündchen 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 Schäferstündchen is 20–30 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 Schäferstündchen 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.
Schäferstündchen 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.
Schäferstündchen belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fighting, and Humor. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Take That. 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 Schäferstündchen are: Felix Mertikat. 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 Schäferstündchen 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.