The Cardboard Republic’s Risk Variants and Solo Game Play

Judging from where this bookmark is located in my list of bookmarks I found this site some time ago. What I was originally searching for is any ones guess, however having found what looked like an interesting resource, and I saved the bookmark.

Although I just started to explore this site in earnest, I came upon two topics that are near-and-dear to me. They are the board game “Risk” and Solo board games.

Variant Risk

This page list three different variants of Risk; Vendetta or otherwise known as Assassin, or Paranoia. Vendetta takes two of revised versions missions and applies them to everyone. This variant is said to shorten a five player game down to two hours.

The second variant allows one to accumulate territory cards past the usual five card maximum. That is to say you can cash them in at a more appropriate time when the number of armies issued is at an all-time high.

The third and last Risk variant mentioned is One World Dominion, which includes a PDF for a print and play version of Risk. One World Dominion includes its own set of Territory cards, and its own set of rules and situations. This variant looks like a very interesting and might prove to be quite challenging to play.

One World Dominion, Territory Card

Solo Edition: The Appeal of Single Player Board Games

This page lists three board games that include either rules for or components for playing solo. The three listed board games that include solo versions are: Race for the Galaxy: The Gathering Storm, Arkham Horror, and Ascension: Storm of Souls. Race for the Galaxy: The Gathering Storm includes a miniature game board for solo play.

Risk Godstorm Edition Deity Divine Powers

The divine powers have the following powers that can be used when a player chooses to play one of their gods.

God	Divine Powers
God of Dealth	"When the god of death attack, opposing armies do not go back to the Underworld, but are placed with the defenders players reserve armies instead."
Goddess of Magic	"When the goddess of magic attacks or defends reroll all 1's"
God of the Sky	"When the God of the sky is in godwar, roll an additional die."
God of War	"When the god of war attacks, he wins all ties."

Risk Godstorm Edition Game Miniature Deities

One of the first decisions you must make, that is after you choose the four plague lands, in the Risk Godstorm Edition board game is to choose the pantheon you want to use during the game. Each faction, (Babylonians, Celts, Egyptians, Greeks, Norse) has its own set of gods. There are gods of war, death, the sky and a goddess of magic.

Peoples	God of Death	Goddess of Magic	God of the Sky	God of War
Babylonians	Druaga	Ishtar	Marduk	Gilgamesh
Celts	Arawn	Brigid	Lugh	Nuaoa
Egyptians	Osiris	Isis	Ra	Set
Greeks	Hades	Hekate	Zeus	Ares
Norse	Loki	Freya	Ooin	Thor

Players roll one die and the highest rolls picks the pantheon of their choice. You keep rolling until every player has had a chance to pick a pantheon.

Other Risk Editions

I have been playing Risk for thirty-five years. Once you have played Risk as many times as I have you tire of it and look for other alternatives. You look for something with a different twist and some sophistication.

Other than the French and Brazilian editions, there are fifteen or so licensed editions of Risk. Well there are separate lists of Risk versions and editions. One list the fifteen while the other lists 26 different versions and editions.

Lately I have been researching three other editions of Risk for possible purchases. They are: Risk Lord of the Rings Trilogy Edition, Risk Godstorm Edition, and the Risk 2210 A.D. Edition. In addition to these three licensed editions there are a few expansions that look rather interesting.

A Set of Four, Set Six

German Infantry
Source: Axis and Allies, 1942 Edition
Size: approximately 1/72

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Valkyie
Source: Age of Mythology, Norse
Size: 30mm

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Blight Force, Baron Gaston Tankken
Source: Rivet Wars
Size: 35mm

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03, Infantry, Black
Source: Risk, 2003 Edition
Size: approximate. 20mm

Risk Orc Infantrymen

You might remember seeing this 19mm black Orc infantrymen back in my first “Set of Four” post. This miniature comes from The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Edition of Risk, which is now out of print.

The miniature was purchased from the Game Crafter, which, besides the Orc infantrymen in black, currently sells five other plastic miniatures from this board game.

A Set of Four, Set #5

This is set number five of four random plastic game miniatures. These miniatures must be cast out of plastic, and must be from some game type of game. RPG's and boardgames have been my main source of miniatures for these posts.

Egyptian War Elephant
Source: Age of Mythology, Egyptian
Size: 30mm

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Hippokon
Source: Age of Mythology, Greek
Size: 30mm

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Game Piece, Green
Source: GearWorld
Size: approx.18mm

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War Elephant, Yellow
Source: Risk, GodStorm Edition
Size: approx. 25mm

Another Set of Four

This is my forth set of four random plastic game miniatures.

Pharaoh
Source: Age of Mythology, Egyptian
Size: 30mm

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Heroic Greek Hero
Source: Age of Mythology, Greek
Size: 30mm

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Classical Norse Hero
Source: Age of Mythology, Norse
Size: approx. 30mm

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Warrior, Red
Source: Risk, GodStorm Edition
Size: approx. 30mm

A Set of Four-set #3

This is my third set of plastic game miniatures. I hope to make at least one other post like this one this month and I do have a few others planned.

Horseman, Green
Source: Risk, 1999 Edition
Size: 20mm

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Elven Archer, Green
Source: Risk, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy edition
Size: 21mm

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Japanese Infantry
Source: Axis and Allies 1941, edition
Size: approx. 20mm (1.72)

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Warrior, Purple
Source: Risk, GodStorm Edition
Size: 29mm

A Set of Four

Infantry of Great Britain
Source: Axis and Allies 1941
Size: approximately 20mm (1/72)

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Game Piece, Red
Source: GearWorld
Size: approx.18mm

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Rider of Rohan, Green
Source: Risk, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Edition
Size: 24mm

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Orc Infantry, Black
Source: Risk, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Edition
Size: 19mm

A Set of Four Miniatures a New Sub-Collection

Four random miniatures will be featured. The four featured miniatures will be made exclusively of plastic, unpainted, and be from some sort of game.

Zombie Babe, Olive Green
Source: Resident Evil
Size: 28mm

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Zombie Dog, White
Source: Resident Evil
Size: 19mm

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American Infantry
Source: Axis and Allies 1941
Size: Approximately 20mm (1/72)

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Dark Rider, Red
Source: Risk, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Edition
Size: 24mm

Risk Dice Roll Examples and Probabilities

When teaching someone how to play Risk for the first time, often learning how the die work causes considerable confusion.

This chart taken from the official Risk rules sums up the process.

And then there are the probability of die rolls and the chance of your success (or demise).

Risk Game #004

I participated in a game of Risk last weekend. There were three of us playing. We used the following colored pieces: yellow, blue, and green. The person playing blue was new to the game.

I was dealt four of territories in Africa and held the continent for some of the game. Yellow was dealt most of Australia and easily conquered the rest of this continent. She held on to this continent for the entire game. The Yellow player also was dealt quite a few territories in Asia and she took full advantage of this.

Most of the blue player’s territories were in close proximity to mine, so she considered me her greatest threat and pursued her attacks on my continents and territories. The blue player did conquer the hold South America for several turns, but chose to focus on my territories rather than on the Yellow player (she could have, if she chose to, put some pressure on Yellow), who took all of Asia.

With my constantly having to defend myself from the Blue player, and to recapture my territories I could not keep the pressure on the Yellow player effectively. Yellow had Australia, the whole of Asia, and Europe. With her other territories, continents and her card turn-in’s, she over whelmed us easily with her numerous armies and took the world.

Risk Game #003

This game of Hasbro’s Risk was played between my wife and I. My wife is playing red. As you can see I am still in control of North America, but for how long? My wife could have punched through my very inadequate defenses a few plays ago, but has decided to perform mop up operations and take control of the last few countries in Asia. I did control Asia for a few turns and was able to reap a large set of additional armies at the beginning of my turn.

The tide turned when I had mercy on my wife when she had started her conquest of Europe. My wife uses her feminine charms (psychological warfare) whenever I am about ready to retake a country that she had just taken from me. In addition, the dice would not corporate when it came time for me to counter attack.

I have realized that I cannot play a competitive game with my wife; I just cannot bring myself to show any form of aggression towards her very delicate disposition. My wife had the game won before we even started. Atlas, my playing Risk will have to be confined to playing with the guys.