Player interaction around the corner... Check!
Robots battling through machinery... Check!
Cunning planes devised from behind... Check!
Multi-player fun with multiplied players... Check!

Why did I sit at this game...
I was introduced to it on a Con of sorts organized by my fellow RPG comrades. I was instantly consumed in this furious fun game when we raced through the factory floor, planned ahead to get through the victory points first and were dismantled by lasers, outskirt regions or holes in the ground. I played at least 3 times (as far as I remember) and each game was a hit!


How does a Yeti play this...
Do you know some old programming languages? I remember one that was named "Karel" (Carl), was Czech I guess and in it you were writing a program with simple commands (so that kids could understand) for a Robot to get around a room, build bricks and step on them.

This feels that way, of course with more options around and a multi-player interaction at its best.

First of all you choose the factory layout. There are multiple double-sided floors, which can even be connected to each other, so the possibilities are many. You can start with a small and quite simple one and progress to a huge monster to be played the whole evening (ok, ok, maybe not the WHOLE evening ). You then place the Waypoints either on the pre-designated spots (which are prepared for you in the manual) or choose your own ones. Finally the Robots are put on the starting points (a separate smaller layout, to be connected to the factory one) and the Show Can Go On!

You as a player are provided with a register of your own cutie-machine (the Robot you choose is just a matter of taste as they have no special abilities or such). There are spaces into which you program your 5 moves ahead for the next Round. You are therefore dealt 9 action cards from which to choose, so there is a little freedom of choice. The game also has a sand-clock option to use for the last "planner" to speed things up (but do not use it when teaching new players, they might throw it to your face... ). Once all players have secretly planned their moves and laid the cards on their registers face down, the actual Round begins.

All players simultaneously flip their first action card and move their cutie-machine according to the depicted move. 1 ahead, Turn right 90°, Double-back, 2 ahead etc. Simple commands, but with a twist. That twist comes in when two robots would collide as a result of their commands. Then the Priorities step in. They are depicted on the cards as numbers in the upper-right corner. Whichever card has the highest Priority of the ones that would collide, goes first, then the next lower one, then the next etc. This can result in some nasty situations where you are moved to a spot you never dreamt of at the planning stage. And exactly this is SO MUCH FUN!!! Because of this even the best strategy can go haywire and you can end up in a loop between two lasers, tearing you apart...

Frustrating? No, not for me. Fun? Definitely!!!

Once the first action cards are resolved and robots moved, the next set (the second ones) are flipped and executed. This repeats until all 5 of the player's cards turned over and were used. After that the Action cards are discarded and new ones are dealt from the deck for a new Round to be planned and executed.

This all would not be so much fun if there were no obstacles and hindrances waiting for you. They indeed are there and expand the Fun element of the game considerably.

You have to watch and account for the moving conveyor belts that move the cutie-machines on them additionaly to their action card movements. There are also pushers that push the cutie-machines out of their field every other turn, there are lasers that chew slowly on your armour and there are pits and factory-layout-borders, that mean the destruction of your cutie-machine once you cross over them. There also are walls and turnwheels that send you the other way.

Interesting thing arises when you get a hit or two, either from the laser on the board or from another player. Yes, other cutie-machines can fire too! And so can you! On the end of each movement (after each action card phase) every cutie-machine fires its built-in laser directly in front of it, all the way until it either hits something or is stopped by a wall of sorts. So then, if you are hit, one damage counter is added to your register. The situation becomes tight once you have at least 5 hits, as you need to have an action card locked as a result (for the 5th and each additional hit). This means that once you use that card, it stays on your register and you are dealt one less card to choose from and only can place 4 face-down. The last stays face up to be used normally. The same goes for subsequent hits - 6th hit? 2 locked cards. 8th hit? 4 locked cards. 10th hit? Cutie-machine hits factory floor and you have to start from the last checkpoint.

Recovering from the damage consts you in the form of missing the next Round of movement (5 actions) and after that you recover your full health. Therefore you must decide - shall I go on with 2 not-so-good cards locked, or should I heal myself?

Another form of healing your cutie-machine is to finish your move on a "Repair" spot (which also stands for your last checkpoint when your cutie-machine dies) at the end of the whole round. You are healed 1 damage point and if you stand on the Repair spot with a Hammer and a Wrench (instead of only the Wrench), you also get to take an Additional Equipment card.

Equipment cards add bonuses to robots either in their movement, or in their options with the action cards. Or they have a bigger laser. Or something else and funny. So look up for them and if possible, get them.

The goal of every player is to pass through the waypoints in order (1 through 2, 3, 4 and etc.). Once a cutie-machine lands on a waypoint, its marker is moved there to show where it starts in the case it is destroyed. The fastest, but also the cunniest cutie-machine wins, so plan and tacticize! Get together and hunt the leader! Destroy each other in a mayhem! Whatever you like


Wrapping the cover-paper up...
RoboRally is an insane party-game and its success with larger groups of people is without question (on my part). I was hooked instantly and you will be too, if you like these sorts of games.

A Con is the best place to wreak some havoc, so grab up the laser, cutie-machine, and hit the factory floor! Run, Florest, Run!!!!!