Is Elder Races for The Gods War in Stock?
The English edition of Elder Races, the allied-forces expansion for Glorantha: The Gods War, is sold out on the Petersen Games store as of this writing. The French edition, Elder Races VF, is currently in stock at $99.99, the same price as the English box, and contains the same 32 miniatures and components.
That's the short version. If you've been refreshing the English product page waiting for a restock, there's no published date for that, and this guide won't invent one. What it will do is walk through what "VF" actually means, what you get if you order it, and whether it's a reasonable buy for an English-speaking table.
What Does Elder Races Actually Add to The Gods War?
Elder Races adds twelve new mercenary allies, each with their own unique abilities, for 32 miniatures total, according to the Petersen Games product listing. It's an expansion for the base game, not a standalone product. You need Glorantha: The Gods War itself to use it.
The allies work as recruitable forces any empire can bring into a match, which is different from single-figure add-ons like Special Orlanth or Arachne Solara that tie to one specific deity. BoardGameGeek's entry for Glorantha: The Gods War, Elder Races lists the expansion at 31 figures plus control cards, gift tiles, and evolution markers for the Dragonewt and Elven (Aldraya) allies, a slightly more granular breakdown than the store page gives on its own. Worth a look if you want the component list before you buy.
What Does "VF" Mean on the Elder Races Listing?
VF stands for "Version Française," the French edition. On the Petersen Games store, Elder Races VF is a separate SKU from the English Elder Races box. Same expansion, same miniatures, same $99.99 price. The difference is the printed language on the box, insert, and any included cards or reference sheets.
Here's the part that matters for a buyer who doesn't read French: miniatures don't have a language. A sculpt of a Dragonewt ally looks and plays the same whether the box it shipped in says "Extension" or "Expansion." Tokens, dice, and figures are visual and physical components, not text. What could matter is any card text, rulebook pages, or reference sheets packed inside the VF box, since those would print in French.
The Petersen Games product listing for Elder Races VF doesn't spell out whether an English rules insert or a digital English rulebook is included. This guide won't promise one is there just because the base game's English rules already exist elsewhere. If having English-language reference cards in hand matters to you, ask Petersen Games support before you order, or plan to use the game's other published English materials alongside the French components.
Should You Buy the VF Edition If You Don't Speak French?
If you already own an English copy of The Gods War, yes, in most cases. The core rules governing how allies recruit and fight live in the base game you already own, not in whatever language the expansion's box art comes in. The miniatures play identically. You're buying sculpts and mechanics, not a translated novel.
Where it gets more situational: if Elder Races is your entry point and you don't already own an English-language core box, or if you specifically want every card and reference sheet at the table to read in English without cross-checking, the VF edition asks a little more legwork. Reasonable buyers make different calls here. A completionist who wants the allied-forces roster now, while the English print run is gone, will find the VF box a straightforward yes. A newer player who wants zero friction at setup might reasonably wait or check with the store first.
Why Is the English Edition Sold Out?
Petersen Games doesn't publish a public reason on the product page, so this guide isn't going to guess at print-run numbers or demand curves it can't confirm. What's confirmed: the English Elder Races box shows sold out on the store right now, and so does the English core game, The Gods War itself. Both have French VF equivalents currently in stock, The Gods War VF at $129.99 and Elder Races VF at $99.99.
This pattern shows up across more of The Gods War's expansion line than just Elder Races. It's a real gap for U.S. and English-speaking buyers who check the English listing, see "sold out," and never notice the VF edition sitting one click away with identical components.
Who Made Glorantha, the World Behind The Gods War?
Sandy Petersen designed The Gods War, but Glorantha itself belongs to Greg Stafford. Stafford introduced the setting through the 1975 board game White Bear and Red Moon, then built it out across decades of RuneQuest and HeroQuest material published by Chaosium, according to Wikipedia's entry on Glorantha. Stafford's own Wikipedia biography covers the wider RuneQuest and King Arthur Pendragon design work that grew out of the same world.
Petersen Games licenses Glorantha for The Gods War. It doesn't own the setting outright, and the Elder Races allies, Dragonewts and Elves among them, carry decades of published lore behind their sculpts that predates this board game by close to fifty years.
How Do You Order Elder Races VF and What Does Shipping Look Like?
You can check current availability and order Elder Races VF directly at petersengames.com/products/elder-races-vf for $99.99. It shows in stock as of this writing, with a straightforward add-to-cart, no waitlist.
In-stock orders process within 48 hours (2 business days, Monday through Friday), then ship USPS Ground Advantage to the US in 2 to 5 business days, or DHL Ground to Canada in 3 to 7 business days. Shipping rates are calculated at checkout based on destination and package weight. There's no standing free-shipping offer, so don't expect one at checkout unless a promo happens to be live.
Frequently Asked Questions About Elder Races and Elder Races VF
Is Elder Races for The Gods War sold out?
The English edition is sold out on the Petersen Games store as of this writing. The French edition, Elder Races VF, is in stock at $99.99 with the same 32 miniatures.
What's the difference between Elder Races and Elder Races VF?
Both are the same expansion at the same price, twelve mercenary allies and 32 miniatures total. VF stands for "Version Française." The difference is the printed language on the box and insert; the miniatures, dice, and tokens themselves don't carry language.
Can I use Elder Races VF if I don't speak French?
In most cases, yes, if you already own an English copy of The Gods War, since the core rules for how allies work live in the base game. The store's listing doesn't confirm whether English rules or reference cards are included in the VF box, so check with Petersen Games support if that matters to you before ordering.
Do I need to already own The Gods War to use Elder Races VF?
Yes. Elder Races is an expansion, not a standalone game. You need the base game, Glorantha: The Gods War, to use the allied miniatures and rules it adds.
Where can I buy Elder Races VF and how fast does it ship?
Directly from Petersen Games at petersengames.com/products/elder-races-vf for $99.99. In-stock orders process within 48 hours, then ship USPS Ground Advantage to the US in 2 to 5 business days or DHL Ground to Canada in 3 to 7 business days. Rates are calculated at checkout.
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