- BGG rating
- 7.7
Swords and Bagpipes: Know Your Enemy
- 2–6 players
- 20–45 min
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,783
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Swords and Bagpipes
2014
Rules assistance for Swords and Bagpipes
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 20–45 min
- 11+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Swords and Bagpipes
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Swords and Bagpipes is a board game released in 2014 for 2–6 players, 20–45 minutes per game, and ages 11 and up. It was designed by Yan Yegorov and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Simultaneous Action Selection, and Secret Unit Deployment.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Swords and Bagpipes: Special Dagger deck
- 3–6 players
- 20–45 min
- 2015
Swords and Bagpipes: Village Deck
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About the game
Swords and Bagpipes tells a story about the confrontation between England and Scotland. It is the First War of Scottish Independence. The victory is possible only if all clans unite! But Scottish aristocrats often prefer personal enrichment to fighting for freedom. At the same time, King Edward I of England, nicknamed Hammer of the Scotts, pays generously to those who join his side! Each round, English army invades the lands of Scotland. Players take on the roles of Scottish clan leaders. They hire troops and send them to battle. Then each rival secretly decides which side he will support: England or Scotland. The Choice tokens are flipped simultaneously. Each side sums up their strengths (the traitors join the English army). Then the winning side of the battle is proclaimed. Swords and Bagpipes is based on the famous Prisoner’s Dilemma. As a rule, treachery brings more gold. At the end, the richest player wins the game! However, if England conquers Scotland, the winner is not the richest player, but the player who had betrayed fewer times. Since Scotland can be defeated but not broken, its clans will need to rally around the most loyal clan! Remember the movie Braveheart with Mel Gibson? Freedom-loving patriots, corrupt aristocrats, and the cruelty of the English king. It's all there in the game, and it’s what its participants will experience!
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Rightgames RBG SIA
- Moroz Dev Studio
- Mamute Jogos
Questions and answers
Swords and Bagpipes 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 Swords and Bagpipes is 20–45 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 Swords and Bagpipes for ages 11 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.
Swords and Bagpipes has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Swords and Bagpipes belongs to these categories: Bluffing and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Simultaneous Action Selection, and Secret Unit Deployment. 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 Swords and Bagpipes are: Yan Yegorov. 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 Swords and Bagpipes 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.