Overview

Robots! is a science fiction microgame published by Metagaming in 1980, designed by Steve Jackson. Two players take on the roles of space colonists who have sent robots to Earth to mine resources. Players start with no robots on the ground, deploying factory ships and Q-ships to the planet’s surface where they assemble robots from random parts to capture resource areas and mine for points. The game combines resource management with tactical combat.

Components

• Small hex map of a planetary surface
• Robot assembly cards/tokens with modular parts
• Factory ship counters (2 per player)
• Q-ship counter (1 per player)
• Resource area markers
• Combat resolution chart
• Dice
• Rules sheet (microgame format)

Setup

1. Place the hex map between the two players.
2. Each player takes 2 factory ships and 1 Q-ship.
3. Determine starting positions for landing ships.
4. Resource areas are marked on the map.

Turn Structure

Each turn, a player may:

1. Land Ships: Deploy factory ships or Q-ships from orbit to the planet surface.
2. Assemble Robots: At a factory ship location, assemble a robot from randomly drawn parts.
3. Move Units: Move robots and ships across the hex map.
4. Combat: Engage enemy robots or ships in adjacent hexes.
5. Mine Resources: Robots in resource areas generate resource points.

Actions

Landing: Place a factory ship or Q-ship on a valid hex on the map from your orbital reserve.

Robot Assembly: At a hex containing your factory ship, draw random parts to build a robot. Each robot has different capabilities based on its assembled components (weapons, armor, speed).

Movement: Move robots and ships their allowed movement value across hexes. Terrain may affect movement costs.

Combat: When opposing units share or are adjacent to the same hex, resolve combat using the combat resolution chart. Robot capabilities (based on assembled parts) determine attack and defense values.

Mining: Robots occupying resource areas score resource points for their player. Controlling more resource areas generates more points per turn.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Players accumulate resource points each turn by mining with their robots in resource areas. The game ends after a set number of turns or when one player is eliminated. The player with the most resource points wins.

Alternatively, a player wins by eliminating all opposing robots, factory ships, and Q-ships.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Robot assembly is random, creating unique robots each game with different strengths and weaknesses.
• Factory ships are vulnerable but essential for building new robots.
• Q-ships provide military capability but cannot produce robots.
• Terrain on the hex map affects movement and may provide defensive bonuses.
• The microgame format means rules are streamlined; games are relatively quick.

Player Reference

Starting forces: 2 factory ships, 1 Q-ship, no robots.

Key cycle: Land ships > Assemble robots > Mine resources > Combat.

Win: Most resource points at game end, or eliminate all opponent’s units.