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The Blocks of War: A definitive list
Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
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I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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An ode to block games of war and conflict that present the fog of war through the hiding of strength and type of units on upright blocks or stand-up counters of some sort. This started as a wooden block game list but there are many other games that use the concept of hidden forces and reducing strength step-wise that apply to this genre of game.
Most wooden block games tend to have a step reduction through block rotation, whereas some trade out the block for one of lesser capabilities. Some of the stand-up cardboard counter games use markers to signify damage. Most of the Stratego style fog of war games use a single elimination mechanism where a higher unit value or special ability simply eliminates a lesser one.
Here's a few more block games I'll add when they're finally released:
- War of the Roses (Columbia Games, on hold and currently being reworked for now)
- 1805: Sea of Glory (GMT, made the cut)
- Texas Glory (CG, made the cut)
- Shiloh (CG, hopefully this one will be released)
- Shenandoah (CG, still a ways off)
- Send in the Marines (CG, on the P500 list)
- Austerlitz (CG, also on their list)
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
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I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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Battle blocks at sea. I think this one also models the tediousness of actually finding the enemy. A bit too detailed for me and uses a double-blind system (which isn't of itself a bad thing).
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
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I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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If you liked Europe Engulfed and have been longing for a Pacific version, this is the block game for you.
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
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I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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This started out as Hellenes and then broke away into a separate CG block game. I ordered this one but am still looking forward to the GMT release of the former. This one plays very much along the lines of HotS and CRex.
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Mark Christopher
United States
Salem
Massachusetts
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If Stratego makes it on this list, so does this one. Wooden blocks, hidden units, and a rock-paper-scissors "combat" mechanic. Pretty much just a step up from Stratego.
One of these days I'll remember to set it up and take a photo of a game in progress.
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Peter Loop
United States
Issaquah
Washington
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László Á. Koller's take on Bull Run, based on Simmons Bonaparte at Marengo.
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A S
United States
Unspecified
California
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Hidden unit information and strength step reductions in this one, using stand-up cardstock counters on plastic bases with moving parts to mark the step reductions.
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
Be Happy in your Game!
I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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This reminds me of Victoria Cross and appears to use the same game mechanics. Soon to be released.
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
Be Happy in your Game!
I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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ACW blocks in the East.
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
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I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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Revolutionary in design and well received. I hope to see more of this game mechanic applied to other battles of the period.
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mario p.
Italy
Venice - Treviso
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the new worthington's
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
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I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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Though not sold as a block game the counters were designed for it. I mounted mine on blocks purchased through Columbia Games for a perfect WWI:1914 block game.
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John Dent
United States
Newport News
Virginia
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Command and Colors series are some of the best block games on the market. Easy to learn and play but with enough challenges to keep the more hungry hardcore gamers happy too.
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
Be Happy in your Game!
I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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New version coming from Stronghold games. An interesting take on Stratego where you can't see what your pieces can do but your opponent can.
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Andy
United Kingdom
Norwich
Norfolk
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Crown of Roses is a 3-hour block game set during the turbulent years of the Wars of the Roses in 15th Century England. This 35-year long conflict saw the extinction of a large number of noble houses, and would eventually set the house of Tudor upon the throne.
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
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I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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A very good block game on the Crusades.
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
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I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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This one is really Stratego at sea (with a few twists) and dates back to 1919. It was released as recently as the 70's and there's lots of different box covers for it. It's basically a capture-the-flag type of game but you can't win if your opponent has your flag too.
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mario p.
Italy
Venice - Treviso
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on a fascinating though non famous theme
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
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I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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The start of the monster if you put them all together.
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19.
Board Game: EuroFront
[Average Rating:6.94 Unranked]
[Average Rating:6.94 Unranked]
Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
Be Happy in your Game!
I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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Though not a stand alone, lots of good blocks for more Front Variants. Be sure to get the Masterfront Rules and soon the whole Front series map in (hopefully) one piece!
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
Be Happy in your Game!
I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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TSR's attempt at fog of war in WWII.
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
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I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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GMT's forray into block games is very good.
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Andy
United Kingdom
Norwich
Norfolk
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The Fast Action Battle (FAB) games, designed by Rick Young (Europe Engulfed, Asia Engulfed, and FAB: The Bulge), takes you to the Allied invasion of Sicily for volume II of the series.
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
Be Happy in your Game!
I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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This one looks like a nice block game covering the Bulge.
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Jon
United States
Vancouver
WA
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The dice used in this game aren't blocks but they serve the same "fog of war" purpose. The only information the dice reveal is the method of transportation (which is shown by the number facing up). Also, the rumor dice are an extremely cool way to show fog of war and I wonder if any of the block games have such a mechanism.
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Ubergeek
United States
Camas
Washington
Be Happy in your Game!
I spent 100 Geek Gold and all I got was this lousy overtext message!
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Upcoming from Worthington Games, this one by Richard Berg looks to be in line with his games like Chainmail. From the looks of it, the blocks are stood up and hidden. The rules are available online and it looks to be approachable as a simple war game on this battle.
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(Currently far from) Herald
California
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist.php3?action=view&listi...
Golden Valley
Minnesota
I hope I get opportunities to try the ones I haven't played yet. Thanks for the list.
Cebu
Then I tried Victory (I think mainly because of the bits), and I ran into the exact problem as I thought I would... by the time I figure out what anything is... they get swaped or die or it doesn't matter.
I'd like to break into this genre & I have this nagging feeling like I'm missing something.
Calgary
Alberta
Then I tried Victory (I think mainly because of the bits), and I ran into the exact problem as I thought I would... by the time I figure out what anything is... they get swaped or die or it doesn't matter.
I'd like to break into this genre & I have this nagging feeling like I'm missing something.
Robert,
That is one of the challenges with blocks, they setup an effective fog of war that recreates the suspense of not always knowing what forces you're up against.
I have played my first ever block wargame this past week and it was brilliant. It was HotS and the game is so well developed and plays very interesting that the fog of war element really takes it over the top. If I could see exactly what I'm up against I doubt the game would have the same appeal it currently enjoys on BGG. You have to arrange your forces in the best manner you can and try to work on previous information from other battles and even what the setup was for the game initially. If it's a tight battle (say 7 blocks to 7 blocks)... then I want to make sure that I have some nice firepower in my stack encase my opponent fights or if I want to try and invade that land. It heightens the danger of battle and it prevents any Rambo-type of battles as both sides try to feel each other out. Some games when you are down and out the opponent can steam-roll you... in block games however you can always "appear" to still be in the game even though most of your forces are weak.
I have picked up Europe Engulfed but I'm definitely looking into getting HotS and 1812 as some lighter fare in what promises to be an exciting genre for me.
Excellent list btw...
Austin
Texas
The stand up counters achieve the same fog of war effect, and you slip little damage markers into them when you take hits, and/or add 'asset' markers to represent reinforcing a unit with detachments of artillery, engineers, chemical weapons etc. In this way the TSR games also allowed you to track damage to the units, again quite similar to the block games.
Camas
Washington
What has been lost in this "block game" is the fog of war found on other Columbia games. The stickers are placed on both sides of the counters and they are then reduced by flipping them. Even if you stand them up, you will know which counters represent certain units. Without the criteria I set out for this list I don't think it belongs on it.
It still seems to be a light and fun game highly based on the Battle Cry system, only using dice to determine action points rather than cards. I'll probably pick it up eventually as I like the BC system for combat.