- BGG rank
- BGG #11,740
- BGG rating
- 6.7
John Carter: Warlord of Mars
- 2–6 players
- 60–360 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 1979
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,457
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Thud
2002
Rules assistance for Thud
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 60 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.6/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Thud
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Thud is a board game released in 2002 for 2 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Trevor Truran and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers and Square Grid.
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About the game
Thud! is an abstract game based on Terry Pratchett's DISCWORLD saga, more specifically on the epic Battle of Koom Valley between the Dwarfs and the Trolls. The players play on a 165 octagonal shaped board as either the Dwarfs or the Trolls. The 8 Trolls start the game in the middle of the board as they have been ambushed by 32 Dwarves (surrounding them at the outer edge of the board). Trolls and Dwarves have different ways of moving and capturing. Each battle is ended by mutual agreement and then scored. When the first battle is over, the players switch sides. The combined scores from both battles determines the winner. Thud! is similar to Hnefatafl but is not actually a member of the tafl family (See http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamefamily/4049/tafl) because the manner of capture has been modernized and the game involves no king piece.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- PS-Games
- Mongoose Publishing
- The Cunning Artificer
Questions and answers
Thud 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 Thud 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 Thud for ages 8 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.
Thud has a complexity rating of 2.6 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.
Thud belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Abstract Strategy, and Novel-based. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers and Square 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 Thud are: Trevor Truran. 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 Thud 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.