- BGG rank
- BGG #15,251
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Tri-Ba-Lance
- 2–3 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 1995
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,175
- BGG rating
- 5.1
Ballast
1998
Rules assistance for Ballast
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 15 min
- 6+
- Complexity 1.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Ballast
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ballast is a board game released in 1998 for 2–4 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Michael Sohre.
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About the game
A variation of the game "Pick Up Sticks". Wooden cylinders are loaded into a circular Plexiglas frame and then removed one at a time by the players. If no cylinders move other than the one the player is trying to remove, the player keeps the piece (which is worth points). If another piece moves, however, the player must return the piece to the top of the pile and play proceeds to the next person. First player to reach a predetermined score wins.
Questions and answers
Ballast supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Ballast is 15 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Ballast for ages 6 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Ballast has a complexity rating of 1.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Ballast belongs to these categories: Action / Dexterity. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Ballast and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Ballast are: Michael Sohre. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Ballast as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.