Tabletop Tuesday - Risk Legacy

Welcome to another edition of Tabletop Tuesday - Your weekly exploration into games of dice, cards, luck and more of the Tabletop world.

This week's game...the game that demands physical destruction of the board and cards that is Risk Legacy.

Players: 3-5
Time: 1-2 hours per game
Genre: Strategy / Legacy



Risk Legacy is a creative new look at the classic board game Risk.  For those unfamiliar with the original Risk, it is a game where one builds armies and expands into territories around the world, ultimately trying to conquer the world and/or being the last army standing.  The strategy comes in how to spread your armies around the world, which territories to conquer for bonuses, and when to take the risk (pun intended) in attacking versus defending.  Alliances are often made and broken, luck is pushed, and battles take large and dramatic swings.  This is the core notion of Risk.

Taking this core notion, Risk Legacy then poses the following thought: "What's done can never be undone."  With the notion that every battle and every decision made carries permanence, the game is changed into a much more interesting affair.  Stickers will be placed on the board.  Cards will be ripped apart and destroyed.  Cities and capitals will be given names by players.  The effects of the world and characters will carry over from game to game, and thus a more personal and unique narrative will be formed among the players.

Each game, players may choose a faction, each of which contain unique abilities and or faults depending on the results of each game.  Your first game will play very much like a standard Risk game, but will then quickly evolve as more rules and components are added.  Inside Risk Legacy are many sealed boxes with instructions to be opened only when certain conditions have been met.  These tantalizing surprises are a large and compelling joy of this game of which I'll refrain from spoiling.  The way in which these components are gradually revealed during the course of these games though brilliantly solves two issues: 1) Rules are introduced and added at a steady pace so as not to become overwhelming all at once.  And 2) The game is kept fresh and interesting with repeated play.  There is motivation to play more, unlock new surprises, and try out the new mechanics with every passing game.

Risk Legacy is intended to be played over the course of 15 games, which depending on your group of friends could last the course of several months, or maybe just a few long weekends.  By the end of this experience, you'll have crafted a unique world full of fond stories and a rich history.  I recommend this game for those who can form a dedicated group of players and can mentally withstand the physical destruction of board game pieces.  Keep in mind that with this game, due to the permanence of physical manipulation on game parts and mysteries revealed, you are investing in an experience rather than a board game to be stored forever in a closet.  But rest assured that this is an experience well worth the investment of having a finite amount of plays.

If you have any questions about Risk Legacy, let me know in the comments, though try to keep them spoiler free.  Otherwise, you can email me at hughes3d@gmail.com if you want to discuss the more surprising elements of the game.  Stay tuned for more board games and other Legacy games in future installments of Tabletop Tuesday.  Until then, happy dice rolling!