Contents: 2 board sections representing Blocks, 2 sheets of card counters representing Blockers an other markers, a pack of 55 cards printed on both sides, two six-sided dice, rulebook and blocker's manual.

Overview

Settled in Judge Dredd's universe, Block Mania simulates a Block war where players control the inhabitants of these mega-buildings, trying to cause the most damage each other. In fact, the peculiar goal in this game is not to collect Victory Points, but make opponents collecting Defeat Points killing their Blockers and devastating their buildings.

At the beginning of play, players place their boards aside each other, creating a circular map where the first and last buildings are considered to be adjacent. Then, each player places his first Blockers in play and receives three cards as his starting hand.

Each game turn includes four phases: Command Phase, Defensive Fire Phase, Combat Phase and End Phase. Duriing the Command Phase each player rolls both dice to get Command Points used to put new Blockers in play, to activate and move them and to make them move extra spaces, if needed; in this phase players can move their Blockers using several ways beyond normal movement: sky-rail, vehicles, pedways, elevators, grav-chutes and even flying; after moving, Blockers in specific areas can draw equipment counters representing weapons and useful tools. In the Defensive Fire Phase, opponents can shoot at the phasing player's Blockers, but in this case they will not be able to perform actions during their next turn. During the Combat Phase attacks are resolved, including shooting and close combat as well as arson, scrawling, looting and fire fighting; in this phase, attacks can be made against enemy Blockers, attempting to kill them, or against the same Blocks in order to damage buildings and cause devastating collapses. Finally, in the End Phase of each turn, the player draws one card, spreads fires inside his Block checking for related damages, and checks damaged Blocks in order to determine if Catastrofic Damage occurs (i.e. the whole Block crashes to the ground).

As soon as the deck is depleted, the forces of Justice come to stop the war and the Endgame begins. The deck is shuffled again but this time it will be used on the other side, representing law and order events. When the Endgame begins, players are no more allowed to put new Blockers in play and must play one Justice card each turn, usually removing one or more Blockers from play. When the last Blocker is removed from play, or all Blocks have collapsed to the ground, the game ends and Defeat Points are scored in order to declare a winner.

Good points

This game really rocks! It's just a milestone in boardgames history, especially for its original concept and for the great fun it guarantees through several different actions a player can perform against opponents, using equipment like rocket launchers, vibro-drills, demolition charges, spray cans to scrawl walls, etc... It's also possible to switch off the power inside one Block, in order to stop elevators and other devices, or you may even damage the water tanks in order to make fire control ineffective. The same Blockers have different functions and special rules, including one Superhero able to fly and the crazy Futsie that everyone can temporarily control even to casue damage to his own Block! Furthermore, Mania cards just add unpredictable events like aliens fighting for one or the other faction in play...

Another great thing in this game is the way damage is dealt to Blocks using Structural Damage counters: each such damage can cause collapses and any collapse causes other Structural Damages and so on; a small crack inside a building can quickly become a large collapse, especially if fire is also present. And when the whole Block crashes to the ground, that's worth 200 Defeat Points for the unfortunate player that hardly will be able to win the game!

Game components quality is excellent, as for the classic Games Workshop style. Mega-Mania expansion enabling three and four player games (released almost together with the base game), is sure a needed add-on if you want to experience a complete Block war in every aspect. Furthermore, if you get more than a single Mega-Mania box, you may also try playing with more than four players, even though, in that case, time will be considerably longer. Finally, if you like unusual and humoristic combat boardgames, you can't miss this one.

Bad points

As for most Games Workshop games of the '80s, the rulebook is quite confusing, so that learning to play Block Mania is not so easy; however, game mechanics aren't too difficult, but you need a good quick reference to play, and the one included is not an exceptional one form this point of view. Besides of this, there is some misprint, like the Crocks counter reporting the Special Rules symbol, while these Blockers have nothing special at all.

You could not like this game if you're expecting a true wargame, since combat is way too far from those standards. Anyway, the worst thing about Block Mania is that it went out of print too early.

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