
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,659
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Hearts and Minds: Vietnam 1965-1975 (Third Edition)
- 1–2 players
- 45–360 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2019

1979
Rules assistance for The Legend of Robin Hood
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 Legend of Robin Hood is a board game released in 1979 for 2 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Joe Bisio and its main mechanics are Area Movement, Dice Rolling, and Simulation.
One of the most well-known tales in the history of literature comes alive in Avalon Hill's strategy game for two players, The Legend of Robin Hood. The setting is 12th century England, before the signing of the Magna Carta, as the daring outlaws of Sherwood Forest oppose the Sheriff of Nottingham, Sir Guy of Guisbourne, and the evil Prince John. In the absence of King Richard, it is a land beset by the oppresions of nobles and clergy whose only concerns are their own well-being. As Robin Hood, you must enlist the support of the local populace (including Little John, Will Scarlet, and Friar Tuck) and rob the rich to give to the poor. As the Sheriff of Nottingham, you must ensure the safe passage of the wealthy through the area, tax local villages to raise money, capture and hang the outlaw leaders, and help to prevent the return of good King Richard from the Crusades. In a typical game-turn, Robin Hood will move his forces from area to area, trying to best position them for recruiting new people and ambushing travelers passing through Sherwood Forest. The Sheriff player will position his forces in an attempt to protect the travelers and possibly trap and capture the outlaws. Battles occur when both players have forces in the same area, and are resolved by die rolls representing archery and melee combat. The archery contest, disguises, and the marriage of Maid Marion are all features of the game.
The Legend of Robin Hood 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 Legend of Robin Hood 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 Legend of Robin Hood 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 Legend of Robin Hood 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 Legend of Robin Hood belongs to these categories: Economic, Wargame, and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Area Movement, Dice Rolling, 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 Legend of Robin Hood are: Joe Bisio. 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 Legend of Robin Hood 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.