
- BGG rank
- BGG #575
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Commands & Colors: Napoleonics
- 2 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2010

1978
Rules assistance for Sticks & Stones
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Sticks & Stones is a board game released in 1978 for 1–2 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by David Ray and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
Microgame #11 in the Metagaming Microgames series From the back of the box: "Sticks & Stones" is a Tactical level board-wargame about warfare in the late Stone Age. Each player arms his warriors, as he sees fit, with stone axes, spears, bows, or just bare hands. Trained dogs, dependents, herds of domesticated animals, goods, and village raids, ritualized battles, migrations, and the beginnings of true warfare between more powerful villages. A special solitaire scenario allows a single player to command a group of hunters attempting to kill a mastodon. Optional rules provide for the use of fire and poisoned weapons.
Sticks & Stones supports 1–2 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 Sticks & Stones is 45 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 Sticks & Stones 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.
Sticks & Stones has a complexity rating of 1.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Sticks & Stones belongs to these categories: Wargame and Prehistoric. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid. 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 Sticks & Stones are: David Ray. 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 Sticks & Stones 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.