Leo Zappa
United States
Aliquippa
Pennsylvania
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I am curious if the photos of the game showing basic cube shapes for the armies is only a playtest version, or it indeed there has been a reversion to simply shapes versus the cool minis we have become accustomed to with Risk since at least the early Ninties. While I'm sure there are some people (mainly Euro fans, I would guess) who might actually like the shapes, I for one hope that the final version has some awesome minis, like modern combat units for example (maybe a modern soldier for a "1", an Abrams tank for a "3", and a Raptor stealth fighter for a "5". Here's hoping!
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Steve Bullock
United States
Palm Coast
Florida
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Amen, bro! I will take plastic minis over wood bits any day! I had hoped Risk had given up on wood since the early 1970's.
I just bought the Risk 2210 game on Tanga, but I would have NEVER bought it if it had come with wooden chunks.
Risk dudes, rethink your strategy! Plastic minis will sell this game! Get China on the phone, pronto!!!
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Scott Everts
United States
Foothill Ranch
California
MITCHELL!!!
Push the button, Frank!
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Yeah, I want minis too! Funny, I bought Risk 2210 A.D. yesterday from Tanga too. That's my favorite Risk variant. Years ago I had the big box version. So sad I don't have it anymore since the components are much better.
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James King
United States
North Central Louisiana / No Longer A Resident of the Shreveport/Bossier City Area / Currently I sponsor gaming groups in Monroe & Alexandria, LA.
Louisiana
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desertfox2004 wrote: I am curious if the photos of the game showing basic cube shapes for the armies is only a playtest version, or it indeed there has been a reversion to simply shapes versus the cool minis we have become accustomed to with Risk since at least the early Ninties. While I'm sure there are some people (mainly Euro fans, I would guess) who might actually like the shapes, I for one hope that the final version has some awesome minis, like modern combat units for example (maybe a modern soldier for a "1", an Abrams tank for a "3", and a Raptor stealth fighter for a "5". Here's hoping!
By its very title, "Risk: Black Ops," I would infer that it portrays an abstract projection of forces secretly staged in the countries and nations in question and is thus is portraying an unseen war of sorts going on out of sight and mind of the media and most people.
As such, it would seem to be more of an abstract area-control game. Therefore, perhaps you shouldn't imagine armor but envision incognito agents secretly staging black ops operations. Who knows, there might be some sort of game mechanism to turn an enemy agent into an ally.
I did find something interesting when I was looking for more info about "Risk: Black Ops" on the Internet: I found an actual reference to a "risk black ops" operation in a discussion on Intelligence Operations at: http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/land-forces/13461-us-wants-...
Somewhere in that discussion is this passage: "And all this operations were on small scale, in war against terror you need large number of this risk black-ops and tehnology gap wouldnt help because in ...."
I was unable to immediately find that sentence in that thread of discussion, but that's the passage that Google pulled up using "Risk Black Ops." So, you may find a lot of information in that thread entitled "US Wants To Transform War From Massed Armies To Guerilla Warfare" on the World Affairs Board on International Conflict & Geopolitics.
Now, when and where may we expect the "Risk: Black Ops" game to appear on store shelves?
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Jennifer S.
United States
Davis
California
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The bits shown in the photos are reported to be what will be used in the final version. They are the same bits that come in the Bookself edition of Risk. I'm ok with either type, I actually tend to like wooden bits myself.
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Daryl Heffernan
United States
West Hills (Los Angeles)
California
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bunjee wrote: The bits shown in the photos are reported to be what will be used in the final version. They are the same bits that come in the Bookself edition of Risk. I'm ok with either type, I actually tend to like wooden bits myself.
Me too.
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Elstree
United States
Davis
California
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It's not so much that they're abandoning minis as they're returning to the original wooden pieces. I grew up playing with the wooden cubes. The various plastic pieces that were included in more recent releases have just seemed kind of cheap to me. I like the classic and classier feel of the wooden pieces.
Keep in mind that what's pictured is a prototype. We were told there may be a few cosmetic changes to the final release, including a larger format box. I hope they keep as much of the look presented here as possible. This game is just about the slickest thing I've ever seen from Hasbro. Kudos to the graphic designer!
It plays great. I only got to play one game and lost miserably, but I had fun every losing second. Learn from my mistake: The classic Risk strategy of expanding slowly and fortifying your borders doesn't work here. Turtling in Australia definitely won't win the game. Since victory is based on securing objectives Black Ops favors very aggressive play. It can be worth spreading yourself thin and getting partly over-run on your next turn if it helps you score an objective before someone else.
We wrapped up our game in about 90 minutes. Two out of five players were eliminated in the course of the game, but only in the last 10 minutes so no one had to sit out, defeated, very long. That's a huge improvement on the old game. Note that Rob Daviau, the same designer that brought us Risk 2210, did this version. I think that speaks volumes about what to expect.
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Rob Daviau
United States
Unspecified
Massachusetts
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There are two versions of Risk coming out this year -- Black Ops, and Risk itself (a refresh of the main game). Both have the same rules. Both play the same.
Risk Black Ops has wooden pieces, unique graphics and will only be given away to a limited pool over the next few months.
Risk, the main game, has plastic pieces, new graphics (different from both Black Ops and the current game) and will be on sale starting this summer.
Hope that clarifies things.
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Colby Dauch
United States
Unspecified
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I'm sure there are a couple of prominent Board Game Geeks that will receive a Black Ops version. I gotta say they are going to appreciate the wooden bits. The design on this is so sexy and the original wooden bits, along with the colors chosen for them, fit the look and feel perfectly.
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Ken Bradford
United States
Fayetteville
Tennessee
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RobDaviau wrote: Risk Black Ops has wooden pieces, unique graphics and will only be given away to a limited pool over the next few months.
Oooh! Oooh! Pick me! Pick me!
I'm not allowed to say very much, but I think gamers are in for a real treat with the rules revamps. Say goodbye to all your complaints about Vanilla Risk...they've all been addressed.
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Leo Zappa
United States
Aliquippa
Pennsylvania
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RobDaviau wrote: There are two versions of Risk coming out this year -- Black Ops, and Risk itself (a refresh of the main game). Both have the same rules. Both play the same.
Risk Black Ops has wooden pieces, unique graphics and will only be given away to a limited pool over the next few months.
Risk, the main game, has plastic pieces, new graphics (different from both Black Ops and the current game) and will be on sale starting this summer.
Hope that clarifies things.
Cool!
Gee - I wonder what someone has to do to "swim" in the limited pool! 
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Scott Lewis
United States
Castle Rock
Colorado
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I think I'm apparently with the minority. The wooden bits works OK with the bookshelf version as a throwback. If a "new" game comes out with wooden bits, it will probably not interest me, regardless of the mechanics. I like "theme" in my games as much as the mechanics (as noted by many of my favorite games). I just can't get myself into a major wargame where the primary components are wooden squares. (Which is why I probably won't be buying the bookshelf version either; Risk 2210 AD can serve the same purpose if I want to play Global Domination).
Some games probably work OK with wooden bits. In this day an age, Risk just doesn't seem to be one that fits.
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James King
United States
North Central Louisiana / No Longer A Resident of the Shreveport/Bossier City Area / Currently I sponsor gaming groups in Monroe & Alexandria, LA.
Louisiana
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RobDaviau wrote: There are two versions of Risk coming out this year -- Black Ops, and Risk itself (a refresh of the main game). Both have the same rules. Both play the same.
Now I know that "Risk: Black Ops" might be playable using the basic-game Risk rules; however, surely you're not saying that the main "Risk: Black Ops" game is just basic Risk all over again. Surely, there are some unique innovations and game mechanisms not present in the basic Risk game.
RobDaviau wrote: Risk Black Ops has wooden pieces, unique graphics and will only be given away to a limited pool over the next few months.
I'm very confused. Is this "Risk: Black Ops" a work in progress that is merely hoping to see publication sometime in the future OR is it a for-sure forthcoming release? (And if it is the latter, when is its forthcoming release date as of this writing?)
RobDaviau wrote: Risk, the main game, has plastic pieces, new graphics (different from both Black Ops and the current game) and will be on sale starting this summer.
Please clarify what you mean exactly by a "refreshening of the main [Risk] game." After all, I thought the 2004(?) version with the more Avalon Hill-like artwork and the light forest-green cover represented a refreshening of the Risk concept.
Will the newly refreshened basic Risk game have newly-designed plastic sculpts and additional new game pieces?
RobDaviau wrote: Hope that clarifies things.
I'm still missing out on the original "Risk 2210 A.D." expansions. Since Avalon Hill seems to still be supporting the game, do you forsee any likelihood that those prior "Risk 2210 A.D." tournament expansions might eventually be released as expansion/extension kits in the not-too-distant future?
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Nello Cozzolino
United Kingdom
London
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RobDaviau wrote: There are two versions of Risk coming out this year -- Black Ops, and Risk itself (a refresh of the main game). Both have the same rules. Both play the same.
Risk Black Ops has wooden pieces, unique graphics and will only be given away to a limited pool over the next few months.
Risk, the main game, has plastic pieces, new graphics (different from both Black Ops and the current game) and will be on sale starting this summer.
Hope that clarifies things.
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Thanks a lot Rob..i could not image wooden hybrid cubes to replace small tanks (italian version) ..keep the minis by any means necessary
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James King
United States
North Central Louisiana / No Longer A Resident of the Shreveport/Bossier City Area / Currently I sponsor gaming groups in Monroe & Alexandria, LA.
Louisiana
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Nello Cozzolino (nello) wrote: .i could not image wooden hybrid cubes to replace small tanks (italian version) ..keep the minis by any means necessary
Now *that's* interesting. Exactly what plastic minis are used in the Italian version of the main "Risk" game? And what weight of force does each represent?
And speaking of all things Risk and Italian, I propose a writing campaign to encourage Avalon Hill and/or Milton Bradley to release S.P.Q.RisiKo! here in the U.S.A. I simply will not settle for any half gestures such as a "S. P. Q. Risk Express!"
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Nello Cozzolino
United Kingdom
London
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ShreveportLAGamer wrote: Nello Cozzolino (nello) wrote: .i could not image wooden hybrid cubes to replace small tanks (italian version) ..keep the minis by any means necessary Now *that's* interesting. Exactly what plastic minis are used in the Italian version of the main "Risk" game? And what weight of force does each represent? And speaking of all things Risk and Italian, I propose a writing campaign to encourage Avalon Hill and/or Milton Bradley to release S.P.Q.RisiKo! here in the U.S.A. I simply will not settle for any half gestures such as a "S. P. Q. Risk Express!"
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http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1232/859527764_d8834377bd.jpg
also have a look at s.p.q.risiko geek page ..you 'll be able to find some answers......
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Rob Daviau
United States
Unspecified
Massachusetts
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Sorry if I confused some of you up there.
Risk, as a game, has been rebooted. This is at the mechanics/rules level. Much is the same. Much is different.
We are releasing two versions of this game:
Risk: Black Ops is a promotional give-away version. It will probably start being distrubuted in about a month.
Risk, the game itself, will start appearing on shelves in the summer/fall. This will be for sale.
Both have the same, new rules. The pieces and graphics are different between the two games, though.
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Michael Brockelhurst
United States
California
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RobDaviau wrote:
Both have the same, new rules. The pieces and graphics are different between the two games, though.
How different? Because from where I'm sitting I want Black Ops on the shelf for the graphics and pieces *alone*.
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James King
United States
North Central Louisiana / No Longer A Resident of the Shreveport/Bossier City Area / Currently I sponsor gaming groups in Monroe & Alexandria, LA.
Louisiana
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lucifant wrote: RobDaviau wrote: Both have the same, new rules. The pieces and graphics are different between the two games, though. How different? Because from where I'm sitting I want Black Ops on the shelf for the graphics and pieces *alone*.
If you're under the impression (as I was) that "Risk: Black Ops" was going to be receiving a straightforward hobby-store or mass-market retail release, then I regret to inform you that such is apparently not the case and is less likely to be on anybody's game shelves. As of this writing, I am still waiting for a reply from RobDavlau to my questions about the criteria that are to be utilized to determine whom is going to receive a copy of the game, as it's apparently not ever going to purchasable (other than as a future eBay for-sale item).
Which raises a very pertinent question: Why is this BGG game entry still in existence since the "Risk: Black Ops" game is apparently not ever going to be available for purchase by game buyers?
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James King
United States
North Central Louisiana / No Longer A Resident of the Shreveport/Bossier City Area / Currently I sponsor gaming groups in Monroe & Alexandria, LA.
Louisiana
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lucifant wrote: RobDaviau wrote: Both have the same, new rules. The pieces and graphics are different between the two games, though. How different? Because from where I'm sitting I want Black Ops on the shelf for the graphics and pieces *alone*.
If you're under the impression (as I was) that "Risk: Black Ops" was going to be receiving a straightforward hobby-store or mass-market retail release, then I regret to inform you that such is apparently not the case and is less likely to be on anybody's game shelves. As of this writing, I am still waiting for a reply from RobDavlau to my questions about the criteria that are to be utilized to determine whom is going to receive a copy of the game, as it's apparently not ever going to purchasable (other than as a future eBay for-sale item).
Which raises a very pertinent question: Why is this BGG game entry still in existence since the "Risk: Black Ops" game is apparently not ever going to be available for purchase by game buyers?
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Rob Larkins
United States
Pennsylvania
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Whether or not Risk Black Ops is going to be sold (I know people are saying it won't, but company PR policies often make people say dumb things) it would be really nice if they threw a few copies to Double Exposure to give away as prizes to whoever wins their Risk games at their cons.
Double Exposure runs 3 cons a year in NJ; they just finished their January con last week and they have another two coming up in Spring and Fall.
Plus it goes without saying, Gencon. But I'm all but certain that if they offer prizes to Dexposure they'll be giving out prizes at Gencon for sure.
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Allan Clements
Norway
Oslo
Turns out Esseb did touch the flag. Don't tell him I said so though.
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tis a shame this version wont be available, I have always found the original risk look to be too bright and cheerful for a game about war.
New rules make it sound interesting, but I would have been more likely to purchase black ops than the standard looking risk =(
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Rob Daviau
United States
Unspecified
Massachusetts
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The new version of Risk, while looking different from Black Ops, has a more grown up look than past editions. I think it is likely to be previewed at Toy Fair in a few weeks.
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I guess I'd be fine with Risk abandoning all minis anyway. It's always been an abstract wargame, might as well keep the minis abstract. Besides, the different types of minis have only been an indication of the number of armies they represent, and to that end I find them more confusing that the little caltrops pieces of the 70s (or the Roman numerals of the 80s). Letsee . . . the guy on the horsie is worth 5, right? No, 10? How about the cannon? Is he 5?
Maybe it's because when I place a tank on the board, I expect it to be a TANK, not 5 infantrymen.
So bring on the abstract components for this abstract game. Keep the minis for a game where minis actually matter.
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Gary Schmidt
United States
Maryland Heights
Missouri
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Drew1365 wrote: I guess I'd be fine with Risk abandoning all minis anyway. It's always been an abstract wargame, might as well keep the minis abstract. Besides, the different types of minis have only been an indication of the number of armies they represent, and to that end I find them more confusing that the little caltrops pieces of the 70s (or the Roman numerals of the 80s). Letsee . . . the guy on the horsie is worth 5, right? No, 10? How about the cannon? Is he 5?
Maybe it's because when I place a tank on the board, I expect it to be a TANK, not 5 infantrymen.
So bring on the abstract components for this abstract game. Keep the minis for a game where minis actually matter.
It doesn't sound as if Risk is abandoning minis. Only the promo not-sold-in-stores Black Ops is using the retro wood.
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