- BGG rating
- 8.6
VOR: The Maelstrom – Growlers
- 2–10 players
- 90 min
- 1999
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,501
- BGG rating
- 6.8
VOR: The Maelstrom
1999
Rules assistance for VOR: The Maelstrom
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–10 players
- 90 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for VOR: The Maelstrom
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
VOR: The Maelstrom is a board game released in 1999 for 2–10 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Mike Nielsen and its main mechanics are Secret Unit Deployment and Action Points.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 8.5
VOR: The Maelstrom – Union
- 2–10 players
- 90 min
- 1999
- BGG rating
- 7.8
VOR: The Maelstrom – Neo-Soviet
- 2–10 players
- 90 min
- 2000
- BGG rating
- 6.6
VOR: The Maelstrom – Pharon
- 2–10 players
- 90 min
- 2000
- BGG rating
- 8.3
VOR: The Maelstrom – Razorfang's Exodus
- 2–10 players
- 90 min
- 2000
- BGG rating
- 8.1
VOR: The Maelstrom – Shard
- 2–10 players
- 90 min
- 2000
- BGG rating
- 8.3
VOR: The Maelstrom – Zykhee
- 2–10 players
- 90 min
- 2000
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About the game
VOR is a science-fiction miniatures game that takes place inside a mysterious galaxy-sized anomaly (VOR) of unknown origin. The anomaly randomly sucks worlds (and their inhabitants) through time-space and once in the VOR, all worlds drift toward the center (the Maelstrom) and their doom. The inhabitants of the worlds pulled into the Vor are locked in a struggle with each other for survival. Players fight as one of many races trapped in the VOR. VOR is a squad-based wargame from FASA (beloved publisher of material for the well-known Battletech, Traveller, Fading Suns, and EarthDawn games). It has an extraordinarily innovative ruleset from which other games have since borrowed and with perhaps one of the best movement systems of any of the squad miniature games. The system supports a unit popping around a corner (out of cover), shooting, and moving back efficiently. This game uses a hit and wound determination model much like GW's Warhammer 40K. The rules allow you to put together your own units and characters to represent new civilizations drawn into the Vor. Yes, you can use all those miniatures from all those other games you own!! There are some interesting miniatures (such as the Growler race) included with the base game and you can purchase additional units (even some unreleased) from Iron Wind Metals and Ral Partha, but the game is now fan-supported as the original publisher is no longer actively releasing new supplements.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Fanpro
- FASA
Questions and answers
VOR: The Maelstrom supports 2–10 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 VOR: The Maelstrom is 90 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 VOR: The Maelstrom 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.
VOR: The Maelstrom has a complexity rating of 2.8 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.
VOR: The Maelstrom belongs to these categories: Wargame, Adventure, and Miniatures. Its main mechanics are Secret Unit Deployment and Action Points. 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 VOR: The Maelstrom are: Mike Nielsen. 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 VOR: The Maelstrom 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.