- BGG rank
- BGG #2,116
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Patchistory
- 2–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,474
- BGG rating
- 4.0
The Cattlemen
1977
Rules assistance for The Cattlemen
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for The Cattlemen
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Cattlemen is a board game released in 1977 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding and Action Points.
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About the game
"An exciting land-grabbing, claim-jumping game of the Old West, pitting one land baron against another" The object of the game is to take over all the land and industries in the Old West. The map is divided into "claims", which are states (or parts of states) grouped into various industries (timber, gold, oil, farming, cattle...) or railroad spurs. There are 32 claims in all. In the first phase of play, each player stakes one claim (including claims already staked by that player or another one), until all claims have at least one stake on them. After that, each player collects money based on any one claim he owns, and uses that money to reinforce his existing claim(s) or to jump another player's claim. This process continues until one player has forced all other off the board.
Editions
- The CattlemenenSelchow & Righter1977
Categories
Mechanics
Publishers
- Selchow & Righter
Questions and answers
The Cattlemen supports 2–4 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 The Cattlemen is 60 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 Cattlemen 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.
The Cattlemen 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.
The Cattlemen belongs to these categories: Economic, American West, and Negotiation. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding and Action Points. 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 catalogue lists The Cattlemen 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.