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Shanghai Trader
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- 180–300 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 1986
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,113
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Warlords: China in Disarray, 1916-1950
1986
Rules assistance for Warlords: China in Disarray, 1916-1950
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–7 players
- 360 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.0/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Warlords: China in Disarray, 1916-1950
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Warlords: China in Disarray, 1916-1950 is a board game released in 1986 for 3–7 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Dave O'Connor and Steve Barnes (I) and its main mechanics are Area Movement.
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About the game
Warlords is a game of political diplomacy and military expansionism. Set in China during the first half of the 20th century, players take control of the warlord factions which vied for supremacy. With the ultimate aim of re-unifying or controlling China, players must wheel and deal, bribe, coerce, plot and fight their way to political, military and economic victory. Components: 1 full color map (490mm x 590mm), 2 full color counter sheets, 1 sixteen page rules book, 1 display track card, 3 ready reference cards, 1 die. Playing time is 4 - 6 hours for a scenario and 12 - 16 hours for a campaign game. Complexity is Basic to Intermediate.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Panther Games
Questions and answers
Warlords: China in Disarray, 1916-1950 supports 3–7 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 Warlords: China in Disarray, 1916-1950 is 360 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 Warlords: China in Disarray, 1916-1950 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.
Warlords: China in Disarray, 1916-1950 has a complexity rating of 3.0 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.
Warlords: China in Disarray, 1916-1950 belongs to these categories: Wargame, Territory Building, and Political. Its main mechanics are Area 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 Warlords: China in Disarray, 1916-1950 are: Dave O'Connor and Steve Barnes (I). 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 Warlords: China in Disarray, 1916-1950 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.