
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,748
- BGG rating
- 8.4
Threads of Fate
- 1–4 players
- 300–800 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2023

2018
Rules assistance for The Tale of Ord
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Tale of Ord is a board game released in 2018 for 1–4 players, 600–1200 minutes per game, and ages 16 and up. It was designed by Rita Orlov and its main mechanics are Paper-and-Pencil, Storytelling, and Role Playing.
The Tale of Ord is a tabletop narrative puzzle game told through four physical mailings and some online components. You are a private investigator tasked with finding two missing professors from the Emerens Institute, but when information is uncovered about a mysterious relic found by an archaeological team, you have the opportunity to change the course of destiny. Through four monthly packages with an assortment of notes, articles, drawings, and unique physical artifacts, you set out on a journey to explore the supernatural forces of Norse mythology, attempting to learn the meaning of mysterious symbols as you progress through various puzzles and begin to unravel the secrets of fate and time. Each package contains approximately 3-4 hours of gameplay and has its own conclusion, but the overall story develops throughout the entire experience.
The Tale of Ord supports 1–4 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 Tale of Ord is 600–1200 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 Tale of Ord for ages 16 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 Tale of Ord has a complexity rating of 3.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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 Tale of Ord belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Deduction, and Murder / Mystery. Its main mechanics are Paper-and-Pencil, Storytelling, and Role Playing. 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 Tale of Ord are: Rita Orlov. 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 Tale of Ord 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.