
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,032
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Warhammer 40,000: Codex
2 players120 min1994

Rules assistance for Fortress Illinois
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Fortress Illinois is an expansion for Fortress America released in 1993 for 2–5 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling.
This is a very amusing send up of Fortress America. Set in 2024, Fortress Illinois supposes a future in which Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, and Wisconsin invade Illinois. The game begins when Illinois destroys Gary, Indiana without warning. (Can you really blame them?) President Bobby Knight III leads the four states, which join forces and invade the Flatlanders in an effort to wipe out their leader, Governor Daley IV. The game consists of a map and cards. It can not be played without owning Fortress America. This game was packed with and offered free with purchase Magic & Tactics' Axis & Allies homage, Middle East Combat.
Fortress Illinois supports 2–5 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 Fortress Illinois is 180 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 Fortress Illinois for ages 12 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.
Fortress Illinois 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.
Fortress Illinois belongs to these categories: Wargame, Science Fiction, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Fortress Illinois as an expansion for Fortress America. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Fortress America to use it. Check that your edition of Fortress America is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.