- BGG rank
- BGG #18,725
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Baseball Strategy
- 2 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 1960
- BGG rank
- BGG #29,820
- BGG rating
- 4.6
Word Power
1963
Rules assistance for Word Power
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–8 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.2/5
Rules assistant for Word Power
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Word Power is a board game released in 1963 for 2–8 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Thomas N. Shaw and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Betting and Bluffing.
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About the game
Players take turns rolling and moving around a circular board (a la Monopoly) in an attempt to "publish" 10 books or obtain $100,000. Each player starts with $20,000 and a hand of 4 cards, each with a word ("Lethargy") and four other numbered words ("1. potency, 2. mutability, 3. felicity, 4. vigor"). In the middle of the board are 4 numbered spaces, 1-4. At some spaces on the board you are allowed to play antonyms, others synonyms. You may play up to 4 cards with the proper type to an unfilled number space equal to the number of the appropriate word. For example on the above card, 4. vigor is an antonym for lethargy and could be played in the #4 spot on the board if empty and you are on a "play antonym" space. If on your turn you fill the 4th space you "publish a book" and clear all the spaces. If a player plays all 4 cards from his hand in a turn he also "publishes a book". A player may also "publish" a book by passing the start space ("Go"). If any player feels that a card has been played incorrectly he may challenge the play. He states what he thinks the correct play is and "bets" $1000. The playing player may then call or raise in increments of $1000, back and forth until called. The person who is correct gets the money, and if the challenger is correct the challenged card is returned to the player's hand. At the end of a player's turn he fills his hand back to 4 cards. Other spaces on the board require a player to pay money, allow him to collect money, or require all players to pass cards from their hands to other players.
Designers
Publishers
- The Avalon Hill Game Co
Questions and answers
Word Power supports 2–8 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 Word Power 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 Word Power for ages 10 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.
Word Power has a complexity rating of 1.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Word Power belongs to these categories: Card Game, Word Game, and Dice. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Betting and Bluffing. 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 Word Power are: Thomas N. Shaw. 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 Word Power 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.