- BGG rank
- BGG #2,561
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Thunderstone Advance: Numenera
- 1–5 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,148
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Thunderstone: Starter Set
2013
Rules assistance for Thunderstone: Starter Set
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Thunderstone: Starter Set
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Thunderstone: Starter Set is a board game released in 2013 for 2–5 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Mike Elliott, Jeff Quick, and Curt Crane and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Open Drafting, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #983
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Thunderstone Advance: Towers of Ruin
- 1–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,103
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Thunderstone
- 1–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2009
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,494
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Thunderstone: Dragonspire
- 1–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,315
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Dragonfire
- 2–6 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,987
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Thunderstone Advance: Worlds Collide
- 1–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,463
- BGG rating
- 6.5
HeroClix
- 2 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2002
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,350
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Quarriors!
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #598
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Thunderstone Quest
- 2–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,527
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Shadowrun: Crossfire
- 1–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,587
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Shadowrun: Crossfire – Prime Runner Edition
- 1–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #30
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Lost Ruins of Arnak
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2020
About the game
In the Thunderstone line of deck-building games, you build a party of heroes to defeat the dreaded Thunderstone Bearers in their dungeons or in the wilderness. As the game progresses, you gain powerful weaponry and level into new and mighty hero classes. Your goal is to claim the best cards and survive to take the Thunderstone. Thunderstone: Starter Set includes just enough for new players to get started in the world of Thunderstone Advance, while also providing new hero, monster and village cards that experienced players can bring to their game. This introductory set includes an easy set-up designed to get people started on the game in minutes. Integrates with Thunderstone Thunderstone Advance: Towers of Ruin
Designers
Publishers
- Pegasus Spiele
- Alderac Entertainment Group
Questions and answers
Thunderstone: Starter Set supports 2–5 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 Thunderstone: Starter Set is 45 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 Thunderstone: Starter Set 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.
Thunderstone: Starter Set has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
Thunderstone: Starter Set belongs to these categories: Card Game and Fantasy. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Open Drafting, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building. 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 Thunderstone: Starter Set are: Mike Elliott, Jeff Quick, and Curt Crane. 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 Thunderstone: Starter Set 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.