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The Battle of the Alma
- 1–2 players
- 120 min
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Sword & Shield
1994
Rules assistance for Sword & Shield
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 90–180 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Sword & Shield
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Sword & Shield is a board game released in 1994 for 1–2 players, 90–180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Robert G. Markham and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Chit-Pull System.
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About the game
From the back of the box: "During the Middle Ages feudalism determined much that happened in military terms, as landed aristocrats brought bands of armed men to the battlefield in the service of their liege lords. Despite this unifying theme, the period saw an incredible variety of weaponry and tactics. The battles portrayed in Sword and Shield have been chosen to illustrate this diversity." The four battles included are: Stamford Bridge, 1066 Kalaura, 1078 Lake Peipus, 1262 Bannockburn, 1314 This is a low complexity war game. The battles are set pieces where there is little room for maneuver before the action begins. Each battle has a "campaign" option for it where you get a chance to move the pieces into position before starting hostilities.
Designers
Publishers
- 3W (World Wide Wargames)
Questions and answers
Sword & Shield 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 Sword & Shield is 90–180 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 Sword & Shield 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.
Sword & Shield has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
Sword & Shield belongs to these categories: Wargame and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Chit-Pull System. 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 Sword & Shield are: Robert G. Markham. 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 Sword & Shield 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.