Risk – Classic and Modern Versions

Risk is one of those fun board games that has been around seemingly forever. It’s actually only as old as I am, both of us coming into existence in 1959. And though I haven’t played it for a long time, I have fond memories of extended battles from quite an early age.

Risk
Risk

Risk is a board game of world dominance. Up to 6 players compete for influence in every country or territory of the globe (excluding Antarctica).

In the original board game (my aged copy is shown here), your armies were wooden cube – much like in a modern Euro game. Newer versions substitute cheaper plastic.

Battles are fought and won using dice rolls. You roll higher numbers, you win. You can roll up to 3 dice per turn, if you have enough armies in the area where you declared war.

If you can control an entire continent, you receive bonus armies at the start of your turn. You can also get extra armies for having the correct set of 3 cards, which are awarded when you win battles. As each set of cards is cashed in, the number of armies given increases.

There is a version of Risk that was designed in 2008 called Risk: Black Ops. Quoting the description on Board Game Geek…

Risk: Black Ops is a promotional version of the forthcoming re-vamp of the Risk ruleset and game components. Introducing Capitals, Cities, Objectives, and Rewards the game has become about completing Objectives instead of Global Domination. Global Domination may still be played with the updated components. In the updated Risk, the Goal is to be the first player to complete 3 Objectives and be in control of your capital.

Capitals are player specific and deployed during intial troop setup. Cities add to territories when calculating for Troop draft and are placed during game setup in random or pre-determined location. Troop deployment and activation is virtually identical to classic Risk. The new cards alter the method for bonus troops utilizing star icons on the cards and a chart to determine the number of bonus troops earned. Territories printed on cards are only utilized for the random placement of Cities during initial setup.

Objectives and Rewards are broken down into minor and major categories. Minor Objectives include items such as Control Europe and Control 1 Enemy Capital. Major Objectives include items such as Take over 10 Territories in one Turn and Control 18 Territories. Minor Rewards include items such as Additional Maneuver and Guaranteed Card. Major Rewards include items such as Airfield and Attack Die.

Risk isn’t really a card game as such, but it does involve collecting sets of cards. If you like word games that use cards, check out Quiddler.

Check the price of Risk on Amazon.

Are You Willing to Take the Risk?