Risk is a classic turn-based strategy board game for two to six players.
The game is played on a map of the earth that is divided into countries, and each player starts the game with a number of armies which can be used to attack and defend the countries.
The object of the game is to capture all the countries of the map.
On each turn, the player is awarded additional armies based in part on the number of countries occupied. Bonus armies are awarded for controlling an entire continent.
Risk is a classic turn-based strategy board game for two to six players.
The game is played on a map of the earth that is divided into countries, and each player starts the game with a number of armies which can be used to attack and defend the countries.
The object of the game is to capture all the countries of the map.
On each turn, the player is awarded additional armies based in part on the number of countries occupied. Bonus armies are awarded for controlling an entire continent. Additional armies are awarded for collecting matched sets of "Risk cards". The amount of armies awarded for sets of Risk cards increases as the game progresses, so that these cards quickly become a very important factor in gameplay. Combat between
armies of opposing players are resolved by rolling dice.
Each country must remain occupied by at least one army. This rule often limits how far a player's armies may advance in a given turn. The "risk" that gives the game its name refers to the often difficult choice the player must make - to invest one's armies in a blitz attack across many countries in one turn, or to try to concentrate the armies into defensive positions, waiting until another turn to attack. Waiting can often give the opponent time to regain his strength, but blitzing too soon can deplete the armies of one's own countries to the point that they are easily blitzed themselves on the next player's turn. The idea is to make this headlong attack only when one is fairly sure that by doing so, one or more opponents can be completely eliminated from the game, before they have a chance to place their new armies on the board.
The geographical arrangement of the map presents interesting dynamics. Many players try to capture Australia first, since it can only be accessed by one direction. This makes it easy to concentrate armies along that direction, to defend the continent. The number of approaches to other countries creates similar opportunities to select key routes for attack and defence.
The Commodore 64 version of this game mimics the board game, with a few variations on the rules available. The player can choose whether countries and armies are assigned by the player or randomly, for example.
