Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
From the rules: This game is a humorous simulation of the Great Orc Wars, when the 10 Tribal Chiefs of the Known World attempted (in vain) to unite their humanoid hordes for control of the caravan routes and supremacy over the neighboring human and elven realms.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Area Majority
Compete to have the strongest presence in areas that award control or points.
Area Movement
Move pieces between connected regions rather than along individual spaces.
Dice Rolling
Roll dice to introduce uncertainty into actions, production, movement, or resolution.
Simulation
Model a real or imagined system through detailed cause-and-effect rules.
Three Dimensional Movement
Move pieces through height or depth as well as across the surface.
Variable Set-up
Starting conditions, resources, or layouts change between plays.
Read the full game description
From the rules: This game is a humorous simulation of the Great Orc Wars, when the 10 Tribal Chiefs of the Known World attempted (in vain) to unite their humanoid hordes for control of the caravan routes and supremacy over the neighboring human and elven realms. From two to four people are required, each representing a Tribal Coalition. Whenever one of the following victory conditions is achieved, the game ends and a winner is declared: 1) A Tribal Coalition with five or more chiefs on the board at the end of any Game Turn wins a political victory. 2) A Tribal Coalition wins a military victory by controlling 12 or more fortresses and/or territories at the end of any Game Turn. 3) A Tribal Coalition with 35 or more gold points in Hand at the end of any Game Turn wins an economic victory. Published in Dragon Magazine #132, with clarifications in Dragon Magazine #134 and the final version was published in the D&D Module The Orcs of Thar.