RoboRally
 Typical RoboRally race course | |
| Designers | Richard Garfield |
|---|---|
| Players | 2–8 |
| Setup time | 10 minutes |
| Playing time | 120 minutes |
| Chance | Medium |
| Age range | 10+ |
| Skills | Simple programming |
RoboRally, also stylized as Robo Rally, is a board game for 2–8 players designed by Richard Garfield and published by Wizards of the Coast (WotC) in 1994. Various expansions and revisions have been published by WotC, Avalon Hill, and Renegade Games.
Description
[edit]
In RoboRally, 2–8 players assume control of "Robot Control Computers" in a dangerous widget factory filled with moving, course-altering conveyor belts, metal-melting laser beams, bottomless pits, crushers, and a variety of other obstacles. Using randomly dealt "program cards", the controllers attempt to maneuver their robot to reach a pre-designated number of checkpoints in a particular order.
Components
[edit]The game box contains:
- 4 double-sided map boards
- 8 player mats
- 8 robot tokens and matching archive markers
- 8 Power Down tokens
- 84 Program cards that either move a robot ahead or back, or turn it either 90 degrees left or right, or reverse its direction
- 26 Option cards
- 40 Life markers
- 60 Damage tokens
- two-sided Docking Bay board
- 30-second hourglass timer
- rulebook
Set-up
[edit]Each player chooses a robot token and its matching archive token, and also receives three life tokens and a player mat. The players choose a race course by common consent, place numbered flags on it according to the race course chosen, and abut the Docking Panel board against the side of the map indicated by the race course chosen. In randomly determined order, each player places their robot on a starting square on the Docking Bay board with their matching archive marker under the robot.
Preparing to move
[edit]On each turn:
- The Program card deck is shuffled and nine cards are dealt to each player.
- For each point of robot damage, the number of cards is reduced by 1.
- Players plan how to get to the first numbered flag, choose five Program cards from their hand as the robot's next five moves, and place the cards in order facedown on the table.
- When all players but one have chosen their cards, the 30-second sand timer is started. If this runs out while the last player is still choosing cards, the player's cards are chosen at random from the player's hand.
- Unused cards are placed in a discard pile.
Movement
[edit]- Each player simultaneously reveals their first Program card. The player with the highest numbered Program card moves first, followed by each player in order of descending Program card values.
- If the robot hits a wall, it cannot proceed.
- If a robot hits another robot, it pushes the second robot in front of it.
End of phase
[edit]After everyone has moved (called a "phase")
- the express conveyor belts move any robots on it one space in the direction of its arrows, rotating as the space they move on to.
- the slow and express conveyor belts move any robots one space in the direction of its arrows, rotating as the space they move on to.
- pushers push if active for that register phase.
- gears rotate robots either 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise as indicated by their directional arrows
- every board laser and robot fires a high intensity laser down the row of squares in front of them. If the beam hits a robot before being stopped by a wall, the target robot takes a point of damage.
- crushers activate, destroying any robot on them.
- If a robot ends a phase on a wrench or numbered flag, the player moves the robot's archive marker to that flag. If the robot was seeking that flag, the player now attempts to reach the next numbered flag.
- If a robot ends a turn on any repair site (a space with a wrench), the robot's archive marker is moved to that spot.
- If a robot ends a turn on a space with one wrench, one point of damage is repaired.
- If a robot ends a turn on a space with two wrenches, two points of damage are repaired OR the robot receives a random upgrade card.
- If a robot ends a turn on a space with a wrench and a hammer, one point of damage is repaired, AND the robot receives a random upgrade card.
Play then returns to the beginning of the next turn.
A player can choose to totally repair their robot by announcing, a turn in advance while programming their robot, that their robot will "power down" at the end of the coming turn. The robot plays the programmed turn, then shuts down for the entire next turn to repir itself. The robot returns to 100A% status at the end of the turn. Any damage taken during the repair turn reduces the robot's current point total before repairs, and may destroy the robot before it completes its repairs.
Robot destruction
[edit]If a robot takes more than 9 points of damage, or falls down a pit or drives off the board or is pushed off the board, the robot is destroyed. The player loses a Life token, and a clone of the robot with two damage returns at the start of the next turn on the robot's archive marker. If a player runs out of Life tokens, (four robots destroyed), the player is out of the game.
Victory conditions
[edit]The first robot to touch the final numbered flag is the winner.
Publication history
[edit]Game designer Richard Garfield designed RoboRally in 1985,[1] but when he first showed it to WotC, they were uninterested. After WotC produced Garfield's collectible card game Magic: The Gathering in 1993, they expressed interest in publishing RoboRally,[2] which was released in 1994 with pewter playing tokens designed by Phil Foglio, who also did the artwork for the game.[2]
Several updates and expansions rapidly followed, including a second edition (1995); Armed and Dangerous (1995); Crash and Burn (1997); Grand Prix (1997); and Radioactive (1998).
In 2005, Avalon Hill re-published the game with minor rule revisions and cosmetic changes that included replacing the pewter robots tokens with plastic robots. Eleven years later, Avalon Hill re-released the game in 2016 with revised boards and substantial rules changes making the game incompatible with the previous editions.
In 2023, Renegade Game Studios obtained the rights to a number of games published under the Avalon Hill brand from Wizards of the Coast, among these was Robo Rally. The board size went back to the 12x12 inch grids but the rules remain close to the 2016 revision. Two expansions, Wet & Wild and Chaos & Carnage, were available close to release. A Transformers tie-in game was announced in summer 2023,[3] changing to six distinct Transformers characters and their personalized upgrades and abilities. One day later a further expansion, Master Builder, was announced, which was meant to give players the opportunity to customize boards with 6x6" tiles as well as tokens of the most common board elements.[4]
Reception
[edit]In Issue 18 of Shadis, David Williams liked this "manic racing game", and thought that the components were of "high quality" but questioned the use of expensive pewter playing pieces instead of plastic tokens, saying, "Wizards did not cut corners, but it would be nice to have a cheaper option."[2]
In Issue 2 of Arcane, Andy Butcher found that this was a good game for casual playing. He concluded by giving it an average rating of 7 out of 10, saying, "anyone who's looking for great way to while away a couple of hours and have fun is strongly advised to check this out – it's simple to learn, extremely replayable, and most importantly, a great game – although you do need at least four players to get the most out of it."[5]
John ONeill of Black Gate commented that "all the challenge comes in the nature of your idiotic robots, and the numerous ways they can stumble stoically – nay, joyously – towards their own destruction on the factory floor."[6]
RoboRally was chosen for inclusion in the 2007 book Hobby Games: The 100 Best. James Ernest commented: "Why is RoboRally one of the best hobby games ever? Besides being a completely solid game at heart, RoboRally succeeds at one of the hardest tricks in game design: it is genuinely funny. I don't just mean that it has funny jokes in the rules or funny robot characters. It has those things, but putting jokes in a rulebook is relatively easy. The richest humor in this game comes from the play of the game itself."[7]
Other reviews and commentary
[edit]- Rollespilsmagasinet Fønix (Danish) (Issue 10 - October/November 1995)[8]
- Pyramid[9]
- Casus Belli #86[10]
- Australian Realms #21[11]
Awards
[edit]- At the 1995 Origins Awards, RoboRally won awards in two categories:
- "Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Boardgame of 1994"
- "Best Graphic Presentation of a Boardgame of 1994"[12]
- At the 1996 Origins Awards, the Armed and Dangerous expansion won "Best Graphic Presentation of a Boardgame of 1995"[13]
- At the 1997 Origins Awards, RoboRally Grand Prix won "Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Boardgame of 1996"[14]
Editions and expansions (with board names)
[edit]Between 1994 and 1999 Wizards of the Coast (WotC) released the original game, four expansion sets, and a limited edition board.
- RoboRally (first edition, WotC, 1994): Basic boards (6), unpainted metal miniatures with detached plastic bases (8), movement cards, option cards, and counters.
- RoboRally (second edition, WotC, 1995): Basic boards (same 6, with lighter coloring), unpainted metal miniatures with integrated metal bases (8), movement cards, option cards, and counters.
- Armed and Dangerous (WotC, 1995): Additional boards (6), additional option cards, and counters.
- Crash and Burn (WotC, 1997): Additional boards (2)
- Grand Prix (WotC, 1997): Additional boards (3), with randomly selected reprinted basic boards on the backs.
- Radioactive (WotC, 1998): Additional boards (3)
- "Origins ’99" (WotC, 1999): A single new board (King of the Hill), only given to finalists in the championship tournament.
In Europe (German by Amigo, and Dutch by 999 Games), a different series was released. It incorporated a few rules changes and fewer components to make the game simpler. The damage and life tokens are larger and thicker than those of the original American release. The movement cards are color-coded. Forward (Move) cards have blue arrows, Backward (Back Up) cards have red ones and Turn cards yellow ones.
- RoboRally (Amigo, 1999; and 999 Games, 2000): Basic boards (4, lettered instead of named), prepainted plastic bots (4), color-coded movement cards, counters.
- Crash & Burn (Amigo, 2000): Additional boards (4, lettered instead of named), prepainted plastic bots (4), option cards.
The Avalon Hill edition also changed the cards. The new Move cards have only an arrow in the corner instead of the number with the arrow, which means you have to look at the full face of the card to distinguish them. It also has larger counters. Character sheets were introduced to track damage, life counters, power-down status, and program cards. Each sheet also contains a copy of the turn sequence for reference. The graphics have been redesigned to make the functionality of board elements clearer. The rules were also simplified to remove the concept of virtual robots.
- RoboRally (Avalon Hill, 2005): Double-sided boards (4), Docking Bay (a double-sided starting grid, one-third the size of a regular board), plastic bots (8), movement cards, option cards, plastic flags (8), sand timer, and counters. The board combinations are Chop Shop & Island, Spin Zone & Maelstrom, Chess & Cross, and Vault & Exchange.
The 2016 edition significantly changed the damage system and gave every player an individual deck rather than a shared deck. Priority is determined by proximity to an antenna token and archive markers have been replaced with respawn point tokens. The boards in this edition are 10x10 rather than 12x12, and are named 1A, 1B - 6A and 6B. The docking bay is 10x3.
- Robo Rally (Avalon Hill, 2016): Double-sided boards (6), double-sided start board, prepainted plastic bots (6), individual movement decks, damage decks, option cards, plastic flags (6), sand timer, plastic antenna token, plastic energy cubes and counters
The 2023 edition sees the return of the 12x12 boards. Some of the classic expansion boards are reprinted, while newer ones are introduced as well. The material quality is upgraded from the previous edition with thicker boards and tokens and larger cards.
- Robo Rally (Renegade Game Studios, 2023): Double-sided boards (4), double-sided start board, pre-painted plastic bots (6), plastic checkpoint marker flags (6), individual movement decks (6x20 cards), damage deck (40 cards), upgrade cards (40), energy tracking cubes (8), reboot tokens (6), archive tokens (6), checkpoint tracking tokens (6), player aid,
- Robo Rally: Wet & Wild (Renegade Game Studios, 2023): Double-sided boards (3), upgrade cards (5)
- Robo Rally: Chaos & Carnage (Renegade Game Studios, 2023): Double-sided boards (3), upgrade cards (5)
- Transformers: Robo Rally (Renegade Game Studios, 2024)
- Robo Rally: Master Builder (Renegade Game Studios, 2024): 6x6" game boards (8), tokens (17), upgrade cards (5)
- Robo Rally: Thrills & Spills (Renegade Game Studios, 2024): Double-sided boards (3), upgrade cards (5)
- Robo Rally: 30th Anniversary Edition (Renegade Game Studios, 2024): Double-sided boards (4), upgrade cards (40)
- Robo Rally: Contamination (Renegade Game Studios, 2024): Double-sided boards (3), upgrade cards (5)
- Robo Rally: Turn & Burn (Renegade Game Studios, 2024): Double-sided boards (3), upgrade cards (5)
| Board | Wizards of the Coast | European | Avalon Hill 2005 | Avalon Hill 2016 | Renegade Game Studios 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannery Row | 1994 – RoboRally | 1999 – RoboRally (D) | — | — | |
| Cross | 1994 – RoboRally | 1999 – RoboRally (C) | 2005 – RoboRally | — | |
| Exchange | 1994 – RoboRally | 1999 – RoboRally (B) | 2005 – RoboRally | — | |
| Island | 1994 – RoboRally | 2000 – Crash & Burn (E) | 2005 – RoboRally | — | |
| Maelstrom | 1994 – RoboRally | 2000 – Crash & Burn (F) | 2005 – RoboRally | — | |
| Pit Maze | 1994 – RoboRally | 1999 – RoboRally (A) | — | — | |
| Chasm | 1995 – Armed & Dangerous | — | — | — | 2023 - Chaos & Carnage |
| Circuit Trap | 1995 – Armed & Dangerous | — | — | — | 2023 - Wet & Wild |
| Coliseum | 1995 – Armed & Dangerous | — | — | — | 2023 - Wet & Wild |
| Flood Zone | 1995 – Armed & Dangerous | — | — | — | 2023 - Wet & Wild |
| Gear Box | 1995 – Armed & Dangerous | — | — | — | 2023 - Chaos & Carnage |
| Laser Maze | 1995 – Armed & Dangerous | — | — | — | 2023 - Chaos & Carnage |
| Blast Furnace | 1997 – Crash & Burn | 2000 – Crash & Burn (H) | — | — | |
| Machine Shop | 1997 – Crash & Burn | 2000 – Crash & Burn (G) | — | — | |
| Back Stretch | 1997 – Grand Prix | — | — | — | 2024 - Turn & Burn |
| Canyon | 1997 – Grand Prix | — | — | — | 2024 - Turn & Burn |
| Pit Row | 1997 – Grand Prix | — | — | — | 2024 - Turn & Burn |
| Pinwheel | 1998 – Radioactive | — | — | — | 2024 - Contamination |
| Reactor Core | 1998 – Radioactive | — | — | — | 2024 - Contamination |
| Shake ’N’ Bake | 1998 – Radioactive | — | — | — | 2024 - Contamination |
| King of the Hill | 1999 – Origins '99 | — | — | — | |
| Docking Bay | – | – | 2005 – RoboRally | — | |
| Chop Shop | – | – | 2005 – RoboRally | — | |
| Spin Zone | – | – | 2005 – RoboRally | — | |
| Chess | – | – | 2005 – RoboRally | — | |
| Vault | – | – | 2005 – RoboRally | — | |
| Start Board | – | – | – | 2016 – Robo Rally | |
| 1A | – | – | – | 2016 – Robo Rally | |
| 1B | – | – | – | 2016 – Robo Rally | |
| 2A | – | – | – | 2016 – Robo Rally | |
| 2B | – | – | – | 2016 – Robo Rally | |
| 3A | – | – | – | 2016 – Robo Rally | |
| 3B | – | – | – | 2016 – Robo Rally | |
| 4A | – | – | – | 2016 – Robo Rally | |
| 4B | – | – | – | 2016 – Robo Rally | |
| 5A | – | – | – | 2016 – Robo Rally | |
| 5B | – | – | – | 2016 – Robo Rally | |
| 6A | – | – | – | 2016 – Robo Rally | |
| 6B | – | – | – | 2016 – Robo Rally | |
| In & Out | 2023 - Robo Rally | ||||
| The Keep | 2023 - Robo Rally | ||||
| Steps | 2023 - Robo Rally | ||||
| Tempest | 2023 - Robo Rally | ||||
| Cactus | 2023 - Robo Rally | ||||
| Misdirection | 2023 - Robo Rally | ||||
| Sidewinder | 2023 - Robo Rally | ||||
| Energize | 2023 - Robo Rally | ||||
| Water Park | 2023 - Wet & Wild | ||||
| Transition | 2023 - Wet & Wild | ||||
| Trench Run | 2023 - Wet & Wild | ||||
| Pushy | 2023 - Chaos & Carnage | ||||
| Labyrinth | 2023 - Chaos & Carnage | ||||
| Stop & Go | 2023 - Chaos & Carnage | ||||
| Fireball Factory | 2024 - Thrills & Spills | ||||
| Black Gold | 2024 - Thrills & Spills | ||||
| Portal Palace | 2024 - Thrills & Spills | ||||
| Gauntlet of Fire | 2024 - Thrills & Spills | ||||
| Black Gold | 2024 - Thrills & Spills | ||||
| The "O" Ring | 2024 - Thrills & Spills | ||||
| Locked | 2024 - Thrills & Spills | ||||
| The Wave | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| Coming & Going | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| Doubles | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| The H | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| Circles | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| The Zone | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| All Roads | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| Winding | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| Assembly | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| The X | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| The Oval | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| Convergence | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| Blueprint | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| Whirlpool | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| Mergers | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| Tabula Rasa | 2024 - Master Builder | ||||
| Double Helix | 2024 - 30th Year | ||||
| Falling | 2024 - 30th Year | ||||
| Vacancy | 2024 - 30th Year | ||||
| Sampler | 2024 - 30th Year | ||||
| Links | 2024 - 30th Year | ||||
| Concentric | 2024 - 30th Year | ||||
| Meeple | 2024 - 30th Year | ||||
| Straight-A-Ways | 2024 - 30th Year | ||||
| Discovery | 2024 - Contamination | ||||
| Reactor Leak | 2024 - Contamination | ||||
| Spill | 2024 - Contamination | ||||
| Bounce House | 2024 - Turn & Burn | ||||
| Open Circuit | 2024 - Turn & Burn | ||||
| Check In | 2024 - Turn & Burn |
| Board Name | Reverse Side | Year | Source Product Name | Size | Edition | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannery Row | – | 1994/1995 | RoboRally | 12x12 | 1st/2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Cross | – | 1994/1995 | RoboRally | 12x12 | 1st/2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Exchange | – | 1994/1995 | RoboRally | 12x12 | 1st/2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Island | – | 1994/1995 | RoboRally | 12x12 | 1st/2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Maelstrom | – | 1994/1995 | RoboRally | 12x12 | 1st/2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Pit Maze | – | 1994/1995 | RoboRally | 12x12 | 1st/2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Chasm | – | 1995 | Armed & Dangerous | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Circuit Trap | – | 1995 | Armed & Dangerous | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Coliseum | – | 1995 | Armed & Dangerous | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Flood Zone | – | 1995 | Armed & Dangerous | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Gear Box | – | 1995 | Armed & Dangerous | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Laser Maze | – | 1995 | Armed & Dangerous | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Blast Furnace | – | 1997 | Crash & Burn | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Machine Shop | – | 1997 | Crash & Burn | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Back Stretch | <random reprint> | 1997 | Grand Prix / 1995 Random - [RR|AD] | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Canyon | <random reprint> | 1997 | Grand Prix / 1995 Random - [RR|AD] | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Pit Row | <random reprint> | 1997 | Grand Prix / 1995 Random - [RR|AD] | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Pinwheel | – | 1998 | Radioactive | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Reactor Core | – | 1998 | Radioactive | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| Shake ’N’ Bake | – | 1998 | Radioactive | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| King of the Hill | – | 1999 | Origins '99 | 12x12 | 2nd | Wizards of the Coast |
| A (Pit Maze) | – | 1999/2000 | RoboRally | 12x12 | 2nd | European (various) |
| B (Exchange) | – | 1999/2000 | RoboRally | 12x12 | 2nd | European (various) |
| C (Cross) | – | 1999/2000 | RoboRally | 12x12 | 2nd | European (various) |
| D (Cannery Row) | – | 1999/2000 | RoboRally | 12x12 | 2nd | European (various) |
| E (Island) | – | 2000 | Crash & Burn | 12x12 | 2nd | European (various) |
| F (Maelstrom) | – | 2000 | Crash & Burn | 12x12 | 2nd | European (various) |
| G (Machine Shop) | – | 2000 | Crash & Burn | 12x12 | 2nd | European (various) |
| H (Blast Furnace) | – | 2000 | Crash & Burn | 12x12 | 2nd | European (various) |
| Chop Shop | Island | 2005/2010 | 2005 RoboRally / 1995 - RoboRally | 12x12 | 3rd | Avalon Hill |
| Spin Zone | Maelstrom | 2005/2010 | 2005 RoboRally / 1995 - RoboRally | 12x12 | 3rd | Avalon Hill |
| Chess | Cross | 2005/2010 | 2005 RoboRally / 1995 - RoboRally | 12x12 | 3rd | Avalon Hill |
| Vault | Exchange | 2005/2010 | 2005 RoboRally / 1995 - RoboRally | 12x12 | 3rd | Avalon Hill |
| Docking Bay A | Docking Bay B | 2005/2010 | 2005 RoboRally | 12x4 | 3rd | Avalon Hill |
| 1A | 1B | 2016 | Robo Rally | 10x10 | 4th | Avalon Hill |
| 2A | 2B | 2016 | Robo Rally | 10x10 | 4th | Avalon Hill |
| 3A | 3B | 2016 | Robo Rally | 10x10 | 4th | Avalon Hill |
| 4A | 4B | 2016 | Robo Rally | 10x10 | 4th | Avalon Hill |
| 5A | 5B | 2016 | Robo Rally | 10x10 | 4th | Avalon Hill |
| 6A | 6B | 2016 | Robo Rally | 10x10 | 4th | Avalon Hill |
| A (Docking Bay) | B (Docking Bay) | 2016 | Robo Rally | 10x3 | 4th | Avalon Hill |
| Cactus | Sidewinder | 2023 | Robo Rally | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Energize | Misdirection | 2023 | Robo Rally | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Steps | In & Out | 2023 | Robo Rally | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Tempest | The Keep | 2023 | Robo Rally | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Docking Bay A | Docking Bay B | 2023 | Robo Rally | 12x3 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Transition | Coliseum | 2023 | Wet & Wild / 1995 - Armed & Dangerous | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Trench Run | Flood Zone | 2023 | Wet & Wild / 1995 - Armed & Dangerous | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Water Park | Circuit Trap | 2023 | Wet & Wild / 1995 - Armed & Dangerous | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Labyrinth | Gear Box | 2023 | Chaos & Carnage / 1995 - Armed & Dangerous | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Pushy | Laser Maze | 2023 | Chaos & Carnage / 1995 - Armed & Dangerous | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Stop & Go | Chasm | 2023 | Chaos & Carnage / 1995 - Armed & Dangerous | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Black Gold | Fireball Factory | 2024 | Thrills & Spills | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Gauntlet of Fire | Portal Palace | 2024 | Thrills & Spills | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Locked | The "O" Ring | 2024 | Thrills & Spills | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| All Roads | Winding | 2024 | Master Builder | 6x6 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Assembly | The X | 2024 | Master Builder | 6x6 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Blueprint | Whirlpool | 2024 | Master Builder | 6x6 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Circles | The Zone | 2024 | Master Builder | 6x6 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Coming & Going | The Wave | 2024 | Master Builder | 6x6 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Convergence | The Oval | 2024 | Master Builder | 6x6 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Doubles | The H | 2024 | Master Builder | 6x6 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Mergers | Tabula Rasa | 2024 | Master Builder | 6x6 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Docking Bay A | Docking Bay B | 2023 | Master Builder | 6x2 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Concentric | Links | 2024 | Robo Rally: 30th Anniversary Edition | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Double Helix | Falling | 2024 | Robo Rally: 30th Anniversary Edition | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Meeple | Straight-A-Ways | 2024 | Robo Rally: 30th Anniversary Edition | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Sampler | Vacancy | 2024 | Robo Rally: 30th Anniversary Edition | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Docking Bay A | Docking Bay B | 2024 | Robo Rally: 30th Anniversary Edition | 12x3 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Discovery | Reactor Core | 2025 | Contamination / 1998 - Radioactive | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Reactor Leak | Pinwheel | 2025 | Contamination / 1998 - Radioactive | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Spill | Shake N' Bake | 2025 | Contamination / 1998 - Radioactive | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Bounce House | Back Stretch | 2025 | Turn & Burn / 1997 - Grand Prix | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Check In | Canyon | 2025 | Turn & Burn / 1997 - Grand Prix | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
| Open Circuit | Pit Row | 2025 | Turn & Burn / 1997 - Grand Prix | 12x12 | 5th | Renegade Game Studios |
Upgrades
[edit]| UPGRADE | SOURCE | TYPE | POINTS | EDITION | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abort Switch | Base | Temporary | 1 | 5th/30th | Replace a register card you just revealed with the top card from your programming deck. |
| All Aboard | Base | Temporary | 1 | 5th/30th | Movement upgrade. Activate all conveyor belts, but only for your robot. Blue conveyors first, then green conveyors. |
| Boink | Base | Temporary | 1 | 5th/30th | Movement upgrade. Move to an unoccupied adjacent space, without changing facing. |
| Brakes | Base | Permanent | 2 | 5th/30th | Move 1 cards in your registers may be treated as Move 0 cards. |
| Calibration Protocol | Base | Temporary | 2 | 5th/30th | Return all damage cards in your hand to the damage discard pile, then draw that many cards from your programming deck. |
| Chaos Theory | Base | Permanent | 2 | 5th/30th | When you reveal SPAM in Register 1, 2, or 3, gain 1 Energy. |
| Crab Legs | Base | Permanent | 5 | 5th/30th | You may place a Move 1 card in the same register as a Rotate Left or Rotate Right card, and during that register your robot will move 1 space to the left or right respectively, without rotating. |
| Deflector Shield | Base | Permanent | 2 | 5th/30th | When your robot would take damage from lasers and/or other weapons, you may pay 1 energy to take no laser/weapon damage during this register. |
| Displacing Bast | Base | Temporary | 2 | 5th/30th | Instead of firing your robot's main laser, you may fire Displacing Blast. If you do, relocate the target robot to the Reboot token on the board they occupy, without changing facing. |
| Double Barrel Laser | Base | Permanent | 2 | 5th/30th | Your robot's main laser deals 1 additional damage to robots. |
| Drifting (Left) | Base | Permanent | 4 | 5th/30th | After resolving a Rotate Left card, you may move 1 space forward. |
| Energy Conversion | Base | Permanent | 3 | 5th/30th | After your robot takes damage from a board laser, you may move 1 space forward or backward. |
| Firewall | Base | Permanent | 1 | 5th/30th | You do not draw any damage cards when Rebooting after falling into a pit. |
| Flash Drive | Base | Permanent | 4 | 5th/30th | Draw 1 additional programming card at the start of each Programming Phase. |
| Hover Unit | Base | Permanent | 1 | 5th/30th | Your robot can pass over pits during your Programming Card Activation, but falls in if it ends its move on one. |
| Laser Kata | Base | Permanent | 1 | 5th/30th | After performing a U-turn, your robot fires its main laser in all 4 directions for this register's Robot Weapon Activation. |
| Lucky Booster | Base | Temporary | 1 | 5th/30th | Reveal and discard cards from the damage deck until you reveal Haywire. You may replace a register card you just-revealed register with that card or discard it to the damage discard pile |
| Magnetic | Base | Temporary | 1 | 5th/30th | When an adjacent robot moves via a register card, you may move with them. |
| Memory Cards | Base | Permanent | 3 | 5th/30th | At the end of the programming phase, you may place any number of non-damage cards from your hand onto this card. At the start of the Upgrade Phase, add all cards on this card to your hand. |
| Memory Swap | Base | Temporary | 2 | 5th/30th | Draw 3 cards from your programming deck. Then choose 3 cards from your hand to put on top of your deck in any order you choose. |
| Mini Howitzer | Base | Permanent | 3 | 5th/30th | Instead of firing your robot's main laser, you may pay 1 Energy to fire Mini Howitzer. If you do, deal 2 damage to the target robot, then push it 1 space in the direction of fire. |
| Modular Chassis | Base | Permanent | 1 | 5th/30th | After your robot pushes another robot during your Programming Card Activation, you may give that player this card, and take one of their installed upgrades. Both are immediately installed and active. |
| Overclocked | Base | Temporary | 2 | 5th/30th | Movement upgrade. Move 2. |
| Piercing Drill | Base | Temporary | 1 | 5th/30th | When your robot pushes another robot during your Programming Card Activation, they take 1 damage and you may rotate them to any facing. |
| Power Slide (Right) | Base | Permanent | 4 | 5th/30th | After resolving a Rotate Right card, you may move 1 space forward. |
| Pressure Beam | Base | Permanent | 3 | 5th/30th | Instead of firing your robot's main laser, you may fir Pressor Beam. If you do, push the target robot 1 space away from your robot. |
| Pressure Release | Base | Temporary | 2 | 5th/30th | Movement upgrade. Move back 5 spaces, but stop if your robot would push another robot. |
| Rail Gun | Base | Permanent | 2 | 5th/30th | Your robot's main laser may shoot through any number of walls and/or robots. Each robot hit this way takes 1 damag. |
| Ramming Gear | Base | Permanent | 2 | 5th/30th | During your Programming Card Activation, if your robot pushes (or attempts to push) an adajcent robot, that robot takes 1 damage. |
| Rear Laser | Base | Permanent | 2 | 5th/30th | Your robot has a rear-firing laser in addition to its main laser. Both fire simultaneously. |
| Recharge | Base | Temporary | 0 | 5th/30th | Gain 3 energy. |
| Re-Initialize | Base | Temporary | 1 | 5th/30th | Give the Priority Token token to any player at the table (including yourself). |
| Rewire | Base | Permanent | 1 | 5th/30th | Play only during the Upgrade Phase. Add all face-down Haywire cards in your registers to your hand. You must program all these Haywires this round, but you may place them where you wish. |
| Scrambler | Base | Permanent | 4 | 5th/30th | Instead of firing your robot's main laser, you may fire Scrambler. If you do, replace the target's next register card with the top card from their programming deck. Cannot be used during Register 5. |
| Self-Diagnostics | Base | Permanent | 2 | 5th/30th | When your robot reaches a new Checkpoint, you may remove a card in your hand or discard pile from the game. |
| Spam Filter | Base | Permanent | 3 | 5th/30th | After refilling your hand at the start of the Programming Phase, flip the top card of your programming deck face up. |
| Spiky | Base | Temporary | 2 | 5th/30th | When an adjacent robot moves into your robots space or is pushed into your robot's space, that robot takes 1 damage. |
| Switch | Base | Permanent | 2 | 5th/30th | Movement upgrade. Swap places with an adjacent robot, without changing facing. |
| Tractor Beam | Base | Temporary | 3 | 5th/30th | Instead of firing your robot's main laser, you may fire Tractor Bream. If you do, pull the target robot 1 space towards your robot. Cannot be used on adjacent robots. |
| Zoop | Base | Temporary | 1 | 5th/30th | Movement upgrade. Rotate to face any direction. |
| Bunny Hop | Wet & Wild | Permanent | 2 | 5th | When your robot would push another robot during your Programming Card Activation, you may hop over it to the next adjacent empty space if possible instead. |
| Calculated Odds | Wet & Wild | Permanent | 5 | 5th | Each time you draw damage, draw 2 damage cards at the same time. Keep 1 and discrd the other to the damage discard pile. |
| Diffuser | Wet & Wild | Permanent | 3 | 5th | After you have drawn damage during a register, for each additional damage you would draw for the rest of that register, you gain 1 Energy instead. |
| Edge Guard | Wet & Wild | Permanent | 3 | 5th | Your robot cannot move or be pushed off the edge of the board. If this would occur, your movement stops on the space at the edge. |
| Turbo | Wet & Wild | Permanent | 4 | 5th | When you resolve a Move Card, you may pay 1 Energy to move 1 additional space in the same direction. |
| Controlled Chaos | Chaos & Carnage | Permanent | 3 | 5th | When you draw Haywire damage, you may place it face down under any card in your registers where there is not already a face-down Haywire card |
| Indirect Fire | Chaos & Carnage | Permanent | 3 | 5th | Instead of firing your robot's main laser, you may pay 1 Energy to fire Indirect Fire. If you do, hit any robot within 3 spaces of your robot in any direction (orthagonally, ignoring board elements). |
| Leaching | Chaos & Carnage | Permanent | 3 | 5th | When you fire your robot's main laser, steal 1 Energy from the target if they have 3 or more Energy. If they have 0 Energy, deal one additional damage to the target. |
| Mirror | Chaos & Carnage | Permanent | 3 | 5th | The first time your robot takes damage from another robot each round, that robot also takes the same amount of damage. |
| Stun | Chaos & Carnage | Temporary | 1 | 5th | Instead of firing your robot's main laser, the target discards all face-down cards in their next register. Cannot be used during Register 5. |
| Memory Transfer | Thrills & Spills | Permanent | 3 | 5th | At the end of each round, you may transfer 1 damage card in your hand to an adjacent robot's discard pile. |
| Phasing | Thrills & Spills | Temporary | 2 | 5th | Play after revealing a programming card. During yourm ovement this register, you may pass through exactly 1 wall. |
| Repulsion Field | Thrills & Spills | Permanent | 4 | 5th | Pay X Energy when a robot would push your robot: Push them X spaces away from your robot instead. (Your robot is not pushed. X cannot be 0.) |
| SPAM-powered Rocket | Thrills & Spills | Temporary | 2 | 5th | Movement Upgrade. Put any number of SPAM cards from your discard pile into the damage discard pile. For each you discarded, move forward 1 space. |
| Splash Damage | Thrills & Spills | Permanent | X | 5th | (X = number of foes in the game; max 4) When your robot's main laser damages the target robot, you also deal 1 damage to each robot adjacent to the target. |
| Anchor | Master Builder | Permanent | 2 | 5th | Spend 1 energy when your robot would be pushed: Your robot is not pushed. |
| Moon Walk | Master Builder | Temporary | 1 | 5th | Conveyor belts and currents move your robot in the opposite direction this round. Use only if this would not stop/push another robot. |
| Overclocked | Master Builder | Temporary | 1 | 5th | Gain 1 SPAM and put it into your discard pile. Ignore your programming cards this register. Instead, resolve one of your previous registers' programming cards. |
| The Oppositron | Master Builder | Temporary | 2 | 5th | Play after revealing a non-Haywire programming card. Do the opposite of what your programming card says. Do the opposite of what your programming card says. (U-Turn - no Turn, Move Back = Move 1, etc.) |
| Top Heavy | Master Builder | Permanent | 4 | 5th | If your robot is about to be moved by a conveyor belt, it may ignore all conveyor belts this register and move one space to the left or right without changing facing. |
| Bad Scanner | Turn & Burn | Temporary | 2 | 5th | Install onto any robot. Does not use an upgrade slot. The next time this robot would reach a checkpoint, it does not reach it that register. Instead, uninstall this upgrade. |
| Field Stabilizer | Turn & Burn | Permanent | 2 | 5th | You may add or subtract 1 from the distance a repulsor field moves your robot. |
| Fireworks | Turn & Burn | Permanent | 4 | 5th | The first time each round that your robot ends a register on a Checkpoint or Chop Shop, you may pay 1 Energy. If you do, choose any robot to draw one damage card. |
| Pit Trap Dance | Turn & Burn | Temporary | 1 | 5th | Discard this upgrade at any time during a register. Your robot does not fall into pits or trap door pits during this register. |
| Slow Processor | Turn & Burn | Permanent | 3 | 5th | Install onto any robot. Does not use an upgrade slot. This robot moves 1 fewer spaces when executing a Move 2 or Move 3 card. Uninstall on Reboot, Checkpoint, or Shutdown. |
| Glitch | Contamination | Temporary | 2 | 5th | Install onto any robot. Does not use an upgrade slot. The next time this robot resovles a U-Turn or Move Back card, it also resolves the top card from its deck, then uninstall this upgrade. |
| Radiation Shielding | Contamination | Permanent | 2 | 5th | You do not draw damage from radiation spaces at the end of each register |
| Tech Forecasting | Contamination | Permanent | 1 | 5th | You may peek at the top card of the upgrade deck at any time. |
| Wall Breaker | Contamination | Temporary | 1 | 5th | Discard this card at any time during a register. For the rest of this register, your robot moves through one-way walls in both directions. |
| Wire Poisoning | Contamination | Permanent | 2 | 5th | Attach to any robot. Does not use an upgrade slot. At the end of each register, this robot draws 1 damage. Uninstall on Reboot, Checkpoint, or Shutdown. |
Online
[edit]A large number of additional game boards and elements are available via Internet communities, created by fans of the game.
In August 2008, GameTableOnline.com (defunct and redirected to a porn site, as of October 2020) licensed the rights for an online version of RoboRally from Wizards of the Coast.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ Vasel, Tom (2005-06-19). "Interviews by an Optimist # 49 - Richard Garfield". Archived from the original on 2007-08-14.
- ^ a b c Williams, Dave (January 1990). "Closer Look". Shadis. No. 18. p. 65.
- ^ "Renegade Game Studios Unveils Transformers Robo Rally and a G.I. JOE Game Powered by the Axis & Allies Game Engine!". Renegade Game Studios. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
- ^ "Renegade Game Studios Introduces Robo Rally Master Builder: An Expansion Unlocking Infinite Possibilities for Dream Racecourses". Renegade Game Studios. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
- ^ Butcher, Andy (January 1996). "Games Reviews". Arcane. No. 2. p. 80.
- ^ "Eat Flaming Laser Death: An Evening of RoboRally – Black Gate". 2 October 2011.
- ^ James Ernest (2007). "RoboRally". In James Lowder (ed.). Hobby Games: The 100 Best. Green Ronin Publishing. pp. 258–260. ISBN 978-1-932442-96-0.
- ^ "Anmeldelser | Article | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com.
- ^ "Pyramid: Pyramid Review: RoboRally".
- ^ "Casus Belli #086". 1995.
- ^ "Australian Realms Magazine - Complete Collection". June 1988.
- ^ "Origins Award Winners (1994)". Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design. Archived from the original on 2008-03-17. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
- ^ "Origins Award Winners (1995)". Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design. Archived from the original on 2008-01-02. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
- ^ "Origins Award Winners (1997)". Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design. Archived from the original on 2008-01-30. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
- ^ Shayed, Marc (August 18, 2008). "GameTable Online Adopts Wizard's Online Boardgames". GamingReport.com.
External links
[edit]- Wizards of the Coast's RoboRally home page
- Renegade Game Studio's Robo Rally product page
- RoboRally at BoardGameGeek
- roboracer
