Rivet Wars is a miniatures boardgame that springs forth from the warped imagination of Ted Terranova - set on a Dieselpunk world that never quite left World War I but with crazy technology like walking tanks, diesel powered armor, unicycled vehicles and armor plated cavalry!
Don't let the cute visuals fool you, it's a world full of angst, war-torn camaraderie and dark humor.
Rivet Wars is at its heart a strategy game, with both players deploying units each round to counter the threats set forth by their opponent and stay one tactical step ahead.
Heavily influenced by Ted's experience working on RTS games like Rise of Nations, players gather resources (bunkers and capture points) and use these to deploy streams of new units!
There's an ebb and flow on the tactical landscape and you can stock up surprises for your opponent to be unleashed even as he thinks he's winning!
- gorgeous miniatures and high production quality
- excellent gateway for newcomers to miniature wargaming
- intuitive, sturdy components and quick-reference dashboards
- immersive world-building paired with approachable rules
- clear setup and scenario flow that aids learning
- faction balance can be uneven, leading to frustration
- dice-driven randomness can sway outcomes
- limited in-game buffs or manipulation compared to some rivals
- mass combat skirmish with objective control and factional conflict
- Eastern Front battlefield with a stylized, steampunk-inspired miniature war
- fluff-rich world-building presented through a colorful, accessible aesthetic
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action cards and secret mission cards — players draw and manage action and secret mission cards; some cards allow discarding to make room in hand
- deployment points and rivet points — scenarios grant deployment points; rivet points track progression and unit deployment costs
- dice-based combat and armor checks — attacks use six-sided dice; hits compare to unit armor and health; wounds or removals occur based on results
- dual-sided dashboards and quick reference — stat dashboards and double-sided tiles provide fast reference during play
- grid-based activation and combat order — players activate all units on a chosen grid and resolve attacks on a target grid within range, following a defined corner-based hit order
- objective markers and control — players capture objective markers by occupying them; control yields victory points at end of turns
- Terrain and obstacles — markers like gas, barbed wire, mine fields and traps affect movement and combat
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Rivet Wars is a great Gateway game for anyone wanting to try their hands at miniature wargaming.
- The rule book is a quick read, well explained and gets players straight into the game.
- Gorgeous Miniatures and high production quality.
- Rivet Wars was fun to play with a great team and style.