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Garden Geckos
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Tanks, but no thanks!
2018
Rules assistance for Tanks, but no thanks!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30–40 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Tanks, but no thanks!
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Tanks, but no thanks! is a board game released in 2018 for 2–4 players, 30–40 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by James Staley and its main mechanics are Player Elimination, Roll / Spin and Move, and Dice Rolling.
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About the game
Tanks, But No Thanks! is set on the gridded battlefield where each player controls a tank battalion, targeting the tanks and bases of other players. The last battalion standing wins. Moving tanks or firing at enemies utilize dice. Each player is given a secret early-victory mission card and a secret one-time-use bonus power card at the start of each game. Each turn, players choose between aiming and firing at enemies or strategically positioning their tanks to infiltrate enemy territory while defending their home bases. The winner is either the player who has the last battalion standing or the first player to complete their early victory mission, whichever happens first. What is your approach? Do you aggressively charge into enemy territory? Watch out! Another opponent may take out your bases while you are away. Think you don’t have a chance with only one tank remaining? If you’re cunning and have luck on your side, you may still turn the tables! Tanks, But No Thanks! will bring you hours of fun, whether you are a fan of tank battles or love out-smarting your opponents. All you need is the right strategy and maybe a little bit of luck.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Tin Robot Games
Questions and answers
Tanks, but no thanks! 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 Tanks, but no thanks! is 30–40 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 Tanks, but no thanks! for ages 8 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.
Tanks, but no thanks! 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.
Tanks, but no thanks! belongs to these categories: Wargame, World War II, and World War I. Its main mechanics are Player Elimination, Roll / Spin and Move, and 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 credited designers of Tanks, but no thanks! are: James Staley. 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 Tanks, but no thanks! 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.