
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,024
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Fading Glory
- 2 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2012

1993
Rules assistance for The Balkan Wars: Prelude to Disaster, 1912-1913
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Balkan Wars: Prelude to Disaster, 1912-1913 is a board game released in 1993 for 2 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Joseph Miranda and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
Strategy & Tactics magazine #164. Description from the rule book: Balkan Wars is an operational simulation of the two wars which were fought in the Balkans immediately prior to the First World War. ... There are two scenarios, one each for the First Balkan War and the Second Balkan War. In the first war, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro and Greece fight the decaying Ottoman Empire for control of the Balkans. In the second, Bulgaria fights its former allies for possession of the spoils from the just-concluded contest. In both, the possibility of Great Power intervention and even a genuine World War casts its shadow over the situation.
The Balkan Wars: Prelude to Disaster, 1912-1913 supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for The Balkan Wars: Prelude to Disaster, 1912-1913 is 120 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 The Balkan Wars: Prelude to Disaster, 1912-1913 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.
The Balkan Wars: Prelude to Disaster, 1912-1913 has a complexity rating of 2.9 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.
The Balkan Wars: Prelude to Disaster, 1912-1913 belongs to these categories: Wargame and Post-Napoleonic. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation. 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 The Balkan Wars: Prelude to Disaster, 1912-1913 are: Joseph Miranda. 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 The Balkan Wars: Prelude to Disaster, 1912-1913 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.