Bloc by Bloc: Uprising (2022) Board Game

Bloc by Bloc: Uprising’ is a unique board game that combines elements of strategy, cooperation, and political activism. Designed by T.L. Simons, this game allows players to experience the dynamics of urban uprisings and revolutions in a fictional city. The game was first released in 2016 and has gained a dedicated following among board game enthusiasts looking for a challenging and thought-provoking gaming experience.

Game Components of Bloc by Bloc: Uprising

Map tiles: Representing a city that changes with each game.

Faction cards: Workers, Students, Neighbors, or Prisoners.

Police cards: Smarter and more dangerous police mechanics.

Mutual aid centers: New components for building support networks.

Liberation deck: Narrative choice-driven cards.

Barricades and loot tokens: For clashing with police and occupying districts.

Meeting tokens: Facilitating strategy and cooperation.

How To Setup Bloc by Bloc: Uprising

Setting up the game involves creating a modular city map using randomized map tiles, distributing faction cards among players, and preparing the police and Liberation decks. Players choose their faction and start in designated areas of the city. The game requires a brief overview of the rules, particularly the streamlined action system and the police movement mechanics, which can be complex but are aided by cheat sheets.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative and Semi-Cooperative Play: Players work together or with competitive elements against the police.

Modular City Map: Changes with each game, offering high replayability.

Action System: Streamlined to allow deeper strategy.

Police AI: Card-driven, making the police smarter and more dangerous.

Mutual Aid Centers: Build support networks to aid the uprising.

Liberation Deck: Narrative choices that influence the game’s outcome.

Variable Win Conditions: Focus on building and defending liberated zones.

Objective: Liberate the city before the military arrives.

Player Experience

Players experience a deep and strategic game that requires tight planning and cooperation. The game is more complex than games like Pandemic but offers a unique and engaging experience. The theme is highly thematic and can be polarizing, but for those aligned with it, the game provides a rewarding and immersive experience. Initial setup and understanding of the rules can be challenging, but once grasped, the game becomes enjoyable and engaging.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Allows for complex planning and execution.

High Replayability: Randomized map and variable win conditions.

Thematic: Strongly aligned with 21st century protest movements.

Cooperative and Semi-Cooperative: Offers different play modes.

Streamlined Mechanics: Improved from previous editions.

Cons

Complex Rules: Initial learning curve can be steep.

Polarizing Theme: May not appeal to all players due to its political nature.

Police Movement: Can be confusing and requires frequent reference to rules.

Personal Thoughts on Bloc by Bloc: Uprising

Bloc by Bloc: Uprising is for players who enjoy cooperative and semi-cooperative games with a strong thematic focus. It is particularly suited for those interested in revolutionary politics and street-level tactics. The game requires a commitment to understanding its mechanics, but once mastered, it offers a rich and engaging experience. It’s a great choice for left-leaning players who have enjoyed cooperative games like Pandemic but are looking for something more unique and geopolitically relevant.

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