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Gettysburg: High Tide of the Confederacy
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The Defense of Rorke's Drift
1991
Rules assistance for The Defense of Rorke's Drift
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 60–600 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.5/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for The Defense of Rorke's Drift
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Defense of Rorke's Drift is a board game released in 1991 for 1–2 players, 60–600 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Peter Bertram, Eric Faust, and Lew Fisher and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
This is basically two games in one The Defense of Rorke's Drift (as per the film Zulu) and it can also be used to play The Boer War. The basic premise is a skirmish type game where one counter represent one British soldier or a group of Zulus, using a turn-based structure. 1. British move 2. Zulu move and place reinforcements 3. British rifle fire 4. Zulu rifle fire and spear throw attacks 5. Zulu melee followed by British melee There are a number of different scenarios included, one of which is suitable for Solo gaming
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- 3W (World Wide Wargames)
- Excalibre Games, Inc.
Questions and answers
The Defense of Rorke's Drift 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 The Defense of Rorke's Drift is 60–600 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 Defense of Rorke's Drift 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 Defense of Rorke's Drift has a complexity rating of 2.5 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 Defense of Rorke's Drift belongs to these categories: Wargame and Post-Napoleonic. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid. 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 Defense of Rorke's Drift are: Peter Bertram, Eric Faust, and Lew Fisher. 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 Defense of Rorke's Drift 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.