- BGG rating
- 6.5
Warmaster Annual 2002
- 2 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2002
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,246
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Warmaster
2000
Rules assistance for Warmaster
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.9/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Warmaster
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Warmaster is a board game released in 2000 for 2–4 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Rick Priestley, Alessio Cavatore, and Stephan Hess and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Variable Set-up.
Expansions
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,339
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Bolt Action
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,732
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Warhammer 40,000 (Third Edition)
- 2–6 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 1998
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,204
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Mordheim: City of the Damned
- 2–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 1999
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,968
- BGG rating
- 7.3
De Bellis Antiquitatis: Quick Play Wargame Rules with Army Lists for Ancient and Medieval Battles
- 2–6 players
- 60–300 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 1990
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,037
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team – Octarius
- 2–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,746
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
- 2 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 1987
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,615
- BGG rating
- 7.3
The Lord of the Rings: Strategy Battle Game
- 2 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2005
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,078
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Flames of War: The World War II Miniatures Game
- 2 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2002
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,960
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Star Wars: Shatterpoint
- 2 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,170
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Warhammer: The Mass Combat Fantasy Roleplaying Game (1st Edition)
- 2–4 players
- 240 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 1983
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,152
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Warcry Starter Set
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,418
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Necromolds: Monster Battles
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2021
About the game
Warmaster is a set of fantasy miniatures wargame rules developed by the same company as produced Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000 and Lord of the Rings miniatures rules. This is not a complete game; players are required to independantly purchase miniatures and construct a playing surface (wargames terrain). The game is scaled for 10mm miniatures (1:144, N Scale), and is designed to represent combat at the regiment and brigade level set in a fantasy/renaissance techology world. In Warmaster, combat and casualty calculations occur at the stand level. That is, for every stand in a unit, a number of dice are rolled in combat. As whole stands are removed by sustaining casualties, the number of dice similalry decreases. The command mechanism in Warmaster is simple but evocative. Each leader model has a Command factor. To issue a command, such as 'move forward' to a unit, two dice must be rolled against that target command factor. For every subsequent order attempted the target number becomes more difficult to achieve. As a consequence, despite being on the surface a move-counter move system, the turns are variable length and each player may not have the full opportunity to achieve everything they may want to. This simple mechanism introduces enjoyable tension into what is otherwise a largely conventional set of wargame rules. Expanded by: Warmaster Annual 2002 Warmaster Annual 2003 Warmaster Armies Re-implemented by: Warmaster Ancients The Battle of Five Armies Supported by the Warmaster magazine.
Categories
Mechanics
Publishers
- Games Workshop Ltd.
Questions and answers
Warmaster supports 2–4 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 Warmaster is 120 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 Warmaster 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.
Warmaster has a complexity rating of 2.9 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.
Warmaster belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Wargame, and Miniatures. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Variable Set-up. 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 Warmaster are: Rick Priestley, Alessio Cavatore, and Stephan Hess. 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 Warmaster 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.