- BGG rating
- 7.7
The Sword and the Flame: Supplement 1
- 2 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1979
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,454
- BGG rating
- 7.5
The Sword and the Flame
1979
Rules assistance for The Sword and the Flame
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for The Sword and the Flame
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Sword and the Flame is a board game released in 1979 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Larry V. Brom and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Simulation, and Measurement Movement.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.0
The Sword and the Flame: The Sun Never Sets
- 5–10 players
- 1982
- BGG rating
- 3.0
Gunboat Diplomacy
- 2 players
- 90 min
- 1999
- BGG rating
- 8.3
The TSATF Scenario Portfolio 2000
- 2–6 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2000
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Colonial Campaigns: Ethiopia 1887-1896
- 2–6 players
- 180 min
- 2002
- BGG rating
- 8.0
The Sword in North Africa
- 2–6 players
- 180 min
- 2002
- BGG rating
- 5.7
The Sword in the Forest
- 2 players
- 120 min
- 2002
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Colonial Campaigns: Boxer Rebellion – Admiral Seymour's Relief Attempt
- 2–6 players
- 180 min
- 2003
The Kris And The Flame
- 2 players
- 2003
- BGG rating
- 9.3
Colonial Campaigns: Maximilian in Mexico
- 2 players
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2004
- BGG rating
- 9.5
The Sword In Gaul
- 2 players
- 2004
- BGG rating
- 9.5
The Sword in the Caribbean: Pirate Forays Along The Spanish Main
- 2–6 players
- 2004
The Sword and the Flame: Action Deck
- 2005
- BGG rating
- 8.0
The Sword and the Flame: Eight Hundred Fighting Englishmen
- 2–6 players
- 2005
- BGG rating
- 8.0
The Sword and the Flame: Event Deck
- 2–6 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2005
- BGG rating
- 5.0
Waken The Storm
- 2 players
- 2005
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Colonial Campaigns: The Zulu War, 1879
- 2–6 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2006
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Colonial Campaigns: Sikh Wars – The Rise & Fall of the Sikh Kingdom 1823-1849
- 2–4 players
- 2011
The North West Frontier Event Deck
- 2015
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Colonial Campaigns: Boxer Rebellion
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
The Sword and the Flame: Boxer Rebellion Action Deck
The Sword and the Flame: Egyptian War Action Deck
The Sword and the Flame: First Boer War Action Deck
The Sword and the Flame: Mahdist Wars Action Deck
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About the game
"Being a set of introductory rules for the conduct of miniature battles of the British Empire" This one set of rules enables the miniature wargamer to play in six different Colonial periods - Pathans 1878, Zulus 1879, Boers 1880, Egyptians 1882, Dervishes 1884 and African Exploration (only in the 20th Anniversary Edition). There is no need for additional supplements or game cards. By utilizing half-a-dozen or so six-sided dice (d6), about a dozen 10-sided dice (d10), a tape-measure and a standard set of playing cards, this was the first published set of rules to incorporate: - Variable move distance - Specific casualty determination - Random movement and firing sequence Figures are individually mounted, but movement, morale and combat is by the unit, with the basic unit being the 20 figures infantry platoon (or Pathan clan, Zulu Iviyo, Dervish warband), 12 figures for a cavalry troop and 4 figures for an artillery battery. Units are then added to make larger forces (company, battalion, Pathan/Dervish tribe, Zulu Ibutho, Boer Commando, and cavalry squadron). Each unit has an identifiable command figure. TSATF has been described as a semi-skirmish game. Unit movement is determined by die roll, different types of units under different circumstances rolling differing numbers of six-sided dice. Random card draws decide which units move first, and also determine the effects of fire and combat. "The Sword and the Flame 20th Anniversary Edition" Included in the updated 20th Anniversary Edition are many new features such as Pinning defenders, Two ranks firing, Overhead fire, Pass-through fire, Limited ammunition, Volley and independent fire, and a Rules synopsis page. The 20th Anniversary Edition is an improvement over the original edition. The Sword and the Flame is designed for use with 25mm figures, but it can be easily suited for 15mm and 20mm miniatures.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Yaquinto
- Greenfield Hobby Distributors
- And That's The Way It Was...
Questions and answers
The Sword and the Flame 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 Sword and the Flame 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 Sword and the Flame 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 Sword and the Flame has a complexity rating of 2.4 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 Sword and the Flame belongs to these categories: Wargame, Miniatures, and Post-Napoleonic. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Simulation, and Measurement Movement. 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 Sword and the Flame are: Larry V. Brom. 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 Sword and the Flame 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.