- BGG rank
- BGG #4,552
- BGG rating
- 7.1
The Cousins' War
- 2 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,711
- BGG rating
- 7.1
The Cousins' War (Second Edition)
2018
Rules assistance for The Cousins' War (Second Edition)
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 30 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for The Cousins' War (Second Edition)
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Cousins' War (Second Edition) is a board game released in 2018 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by David J. Mortimer and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Area Majority / Influence, and Simulation.
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About the game
The Wars of the Roses were fought between the Houses of York and Lancaster for over three decades during the 15th century in England. The houses were both branches of the royal family, therefore the Wars were originally known as "The Cousins' War". Each player represents one of the houses as they fight battles and gain influence to control England. The Cousins' War is played over a maximum of five rounds, with each round representing between five and ten years of the conflict. Each round involves gaining influence across England and preparing for a climactic battle. In each round, the players decide where the current battlefield will be, playing action cards to deploy troops to the battlefield, while also increasing or decreasing their influence in the regions, after which they fight. Players resolve the battle by engaging in bluff and counter-bluff, using three dice, until only one side has troops remaining on the field. Winning the battle helps to consolidate your house's influence on the board. You win The Cousins' War either by dominating all the regions of England or by controlling the most regions at the end of the fifth round. 2nd Edition is a new version of The Cousins' War with larger components. There are English (Surprised Stare Games, Flying Lemur Game Studio), German (Frosted Games) and Spanish (2Tomatoes) versions separately published. 2nd Edition contains an optional variant, Times of Change. This variant adds in the cards originally published as the Events expansion to the 1st edition. There is 1 extra card, Jura Belli, in the Times of Change variant over and above the Events expansion. —description from the publisher
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- 2Tomatoes Games
- Frosted Games
- Surprised Stare Games Ltd
- Flying Lemur Game Studio
Questions and answers
The Cousins' War (Second Edition) 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 Cousins' War (Second Edition) is 30 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 Cousins' War (Second Edition) 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 Cousins' War (Second Edition) has a complexity rating of 2.1 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 Cousins' War (Second Edition) belongs to these categories: Card Game, Wargame, and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Area Majority / Influence, 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 Cousins' War (Second Edition) are: David J. Mortimer. 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 Cousins' War (Second Edition) 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.