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Information
Designed By
Art By
Published By
Year Published
1978
# of Players:
1 − 16
User Suggested # of Players
Best with 3 players
Recommended with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 players
(20 voters) [poll]
Playing Time
240 minutes
Mfg Suggested Ages
12 and up
User Suggested Ages
12 and up
(8 voters) [poll]
Language Dependence
Moderate in-game text - needs crib sheet or paste ups
(7 voters) [poll]
Category
Mechanic
Primary Name
Magic Realm
Alternate Names
Expanded By
Families
Description Edit | History

From the 2nd edition rulebook intro for MAGIC REALM:

MAGIC REALM is a game of fantasy adventuring, set in a land filled with monsters, fabulous treasures, great warriors and magicians. The scene is set in the ruins of a mighty kingdom, now inhabited by sparse groups of natives and swarms of monsters. Beneath it all are the rich remnants of a magical civilization , scattered and lost across the map.
To this scene come the adventurers, seekers of riches and fame, to make a name for themselves in this promising field. Swordsman and Dwarf, Magician and Sorceror, the humans and the half-humans come seeking to loot the legendary riches of a lost civilization. Now you can play the part of one of these adventurers, stepping into an unknown Realm of magic and monsters, battles and treasures.

As a player, you will take on the role of one of the sixteen major characters who are represented in detail in the game. You will control where he goes, what he tries to do, how he handles himself in combat and much more. In the course of the game you will run into deadly monsters, tribes of humans ranging from old friends to sworn enemies, and treasures that will enhance your abilities in many ways.

MAGIC REALM is a complex game designed to recapture the suspense and desperate struggles of fantasy literature. The game creates a small but complete fantasy world, where each game is a new adventure with a new map where everything lies hidden at new locations. The game includes many more playing pieces than are actually used in a single playing. The additional pieces are set up and can appear, depending on the directions in which the characters explore, but many of the treasure troves, treasures and spells will still be set up, unfound, when the game ends, and many of the monsters and natives might never be met. The result is an extremely unpredictable game full of surprises, a game that plays very differently each time it is played.
The complete game system includes hiking, hiding and searching, fatigue, wounds, rest, trade, hiring natives and combat between characters, monsters and natives using a variety of weapons on horseback and afoot, as well as many magical effects.

Between exploring a new land where the mountains, caves, valleys and woods change every game, and not knowing what you will find in each place, you will find each game a new and unpredictable adventure, filled with surprises. You will find this like no other board game you have ever played.

Avalon Hill Complexity rating - 9

See also the list of articles about Magic Realm in The General.

More Information Edit | History


from "The Avalon Hill General Index and Company History, 1952-1980"

Magic Realm (1979)
Designed by Richard Hamblen

AH’s first venture into fantasy role playing, albeit in a board game format. MR drew raves for its design innovations, but failed badly in the execution of the rules presentation. A revised rulebook is in the offing. In the meantime, Vol. 16, No. 4 of THE GENERAL (see The GENERAL Vol.16,No.4) is recommended as a source of errata.

The fan made 3rd edition has been published in several places and cleans up many of the previous rules problems, and though longer, is easier to learn and understand.

Magazine References:

The GENERAL Index Article List:

[Microbadges]

Amazon http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_amazon.gif

Berserker http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_beserker.gif

Black Knight http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_black_knight.gif

Captain http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_captain.gif

Druid http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_druid.gif

Dwarf http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_dwarf.gif

Elf http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_elf.gif

Magician http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_magician.gif

Pilgrim http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_pilgrim.gif

Sorcerer http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_sorcerer.gif

Swordsman http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_swordsman.gif

White Knight http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_white_knight.gif

Witch http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_witch.gif

Witch King http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_witch_king.gif

Wizard http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_wizard.gif

Woods Girl http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mr_woods_girl.gif



A complete redesign of all the components for this game was published online in 2008. See this thread for pictures and a link to the archive.

[Microbadges for the redesign]

Druid http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mb_MagicRealmre.gif

Dwarf http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mb_MagicRealmre3.gif

Pilgrim http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mb_MagicRealmre2.gif

White Knight http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mb_MagicRealm.gif

BGG Marketplace
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8 Acitvity cards
This is a set of cards that replace the recording of activities each turn. Also included are the modified Record of Fate and QuickRef files.
2009-07-05
2 Index
Index for the Rules in Plain English
2009-05-21
6 Magic Realm Charatcer Stats
This file contains a colorful, graphic representation of each character's chits, grouped by weight, type, and count. With it, you can easily compare say, the Amazon or the Captain to the Black Knight. Plus, it shows some interesting 'gaps' in several of the characters' abilities, such as the Wizard's "missing" M4 Fight chit. I've also included some of the extra characters. (please post to the comments, if I've used an old or obsolete copy of anyone's character, and I'll make the necessary updates.)
2009-01-19
2 phseetexp1r1
Personal history sheet for the expansion 1 game, with the new tiles, paths, passages and treasure locations in xls format
2008-12-06
3 Appearance Chart sorted by regions
Reorganized Appearance Chart which lists the monsters/natives that can appear depending on the region (cave/mountain etc.) you are in. Uses the graphics from Dan Evans redesigned counters. Din A4 pdf/vector graphics version, counter size is 22.5mm (Background graphics are self-taken photographs or non-copyrighted/public domain shots)
2008-11-03
0 Magic Items (revised) - Alphabetical
An alphabetically arranged list of types and descriptions. Revised: Missing artifacts and sources of color change. Checked against Table of Magic Items in 3rd Edition.
2008-06-12
20 Magic Realm Combat Flowcharts
Evenings got you down? These comprehensive (and extensive) flowcharts will step you though just about every aspect of combat. Also included are references to the 3rd edition MR rules. They are VERY helpful, and I still refer to them often. I made these flowcharts a long time ago, when I had my own aspirations for computer-izing MR. However, it only went so far, and in the meantime the excellent RealmSpeak started development. I'm happy to say that I passed these flowcharts off to Robin and he found them very helpful in his efforts.
2008-06-10
2 New Magic Cards
All the Spells from the first expansion. In ppt format, but they match up with the old cards in pdf format. Also contains the card-backs
2008-05-08
3 Spell Cards in pdf
The original Spells on a larger card containing more info. Very useful
2008-05-08
2 Spellsheet
A listing of all available spell, includes first expansion, with checkboxes for in game tracking. In xls format.
2008-04-18
Statistics
Board Game Rank: 385
Num Ratings: 954
Average Rating: 7.00
Standard Deviation: 2.05
Num Views: 179016
GeekBuddy Analysis: Analyze
Similarly Rated: View
Avg. Game Weight: 4.5 moreinfo
Fans: 53
Personal Comments: 568
Users Owning: 1556
Users Wanting: 197
Users Trading: 64
Has Parts For Trade: 9
Want Parts In Trade: 8
Price History: View
Total Plays: 891
Plays This Month: 1
Linked Items Relationship: Expansions for this Game
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