Bloc by Bloc: The Insurrection Game (2016) Board Game

Bloc by Bloc: The Insurrection Game is a board game released in 2016, designed by T.L. Simons. The game is set in a dystopian city where players take on the roles of different factions fighting against a repressive regime. With elements of political strategy and territory building, Bloc by Bloc offers a unique gameplay experience that challenges players to collaborate and compete in order to achieve their goals.

Game Components of Bloc by Bloc: The Insurrection Game

Map Tiles: Represent the city, which changes with each game.

Faction Cards: Each player controls a faction (Workers, Students, Neighbors, or Prisoners).

Police Cards: Drive the police AI, introducing challenges and variability.

Barricade Tokens: Used to build barricades.

Liberation Deck: Narrative choice-driven deck.

Mutual Aid Centers: New components in the 3rd edition.

Action Tokens: Streamlined action system.

Meeting Tokens: Introduce new mechanics for player coordination.

How To Setup Bloc by Bloc: The Insurrection Game

Setting up the game involves creating the city map by randomly placing map tiles, distributing faction cards to players, and preparing the police deck and other components. Players choose their factions and start in designated areas on the map. The game includes a detailed rulebook and cheat sheets to aid in the setup and gameplay.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative/Semi-Cooperative Play: Players work together or with some competitive elements.

Variable City Map: Map tiles are randomized, providing different gameplay each time.

Police AI: Driven by police cards, introducing dynamic challenges.

Action System: Streamlined for deeper strategy.

Liberation Deck: Narrative choices affect the game outcome.

Mutual Aid Networks: Build and defend liberated zones.

Objective: Liberate the city before the military arrives.

Player Experience

Playing **Bloc by Bloc: The Insurrection Game** involves strategic teamwork and tactical decisions. Players must coordinate to build barricades, clash with police, occupy districts, loot shopping centers, and build mutual aid networks. The game is engaging and thematic, with a high replay value due to the randomized map and variable win conditions.

Pros

Deep Strategy: More strategic and engaging compared to other cooperative games like Pandemic.

High Replayability: Randomized map tiles and variable win conditions ensure different gameplay each time.

Thematic Integrity: The game’s mechanics align closely with its theme of modern-day insurrections.

Free Print & Play Version: Available under a Creative Commons license.

Improved Mechanics: The 3rd edition fine-tunes and expands upon previous mechanics.

Cons

Complex Rules: Initial setup and understanding of police movement can be confusing.

Polarizing Theme: The game’s theme may not appeal to everyone, making it less enjoyable for those who do not align with its political message.

Steep Learning Curve: Requires a mock run-through to comprehend the turn structure fully.

Personal Thoughts on Bloc by Bloc: The Insurrection Game

**Bloc by Bloc: The Insurrection Game** is ideal for players who enjoy cooperative games with deep strategic elements and are interested in themes of social uprising and revolution. It is particularly appealing to those with leftist political views, as the game’s message is uncompromising and aligned with these ideologies. However, the game may not be enjoyable for everyone due to its polarizing theme. For those looking for a challenging and highly thematic cooperative experience, **Bloc by Bloc** is a standout choice.

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