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Battlestations
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Robotanks
1992
Rules assistance for Robotanks
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Robotanks
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Robotanks is a board game released in 1992 for 2–4 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jeff Siadek and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid, Simulation, and Action Queue.
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About the game
Robotanks is a strategy boardgame of cyber-arena combat. Players operate a team of four tanks, each controlled by a stack of command cards that form the tank's repeating program. Cards order tanks to move, turn, fire weapons, or use special equipment, creating a variety of strategies. Will you use a simple frontal assault with cannons and mortar? A careful advance, using targeting programs to give more autonomy? A confusing diversion with viruses and scanners? Your tanks will keep doing the same thing until you reprogram them, so choose wisely.... The original game included mounted maps and plastic tanks. When FMG issued a limited revised edition, they went to cut-out standup card tanks and paper maps in a "no frills" white box. Cards and gameplay are the same between the two versions.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Fat Messiah Games
- Gamesmiths
Questions and answers
Robotanks 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 Robotanks is 120 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 Robotanks 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.
Robotanks has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Robotanks belongs to these categories: Fighting and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid, Simulation, and Action Queue. 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 credited designers of Robotanks are: Jeff Siadek. 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 Robotanks 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.