VoidRoll
Space is cruel and unforgiving.
And you, being the captain of a starship, know that better than anyone.
It’s no breaking news to you that nothing out here in the void stays stable for long. Readings flicker. Anomalies twist data into numbers you wish were errors. Hazards slam into your hull hard enough to make you wonder if the ship can take one more hit. And with every step forward, the void feels like it’s asking whether you’ll hold your ground or break under the pressure.
This is where your identity forms. Maybe you stick to the law and trade your way toward a reputation people actually trust.
Or maybe the chaos of the frontier pulls you in and turns you into an outlaw, the kind that makes everyone think twice before crossing you…
Entry: Before playing VoidRoll
First impression
Florian reached out to me in November, mentioning that he had designed a successor to Roll 4 Rum and wanted me to try it out. I haven’t played Roll 4 Rum myself, but it’s well known in the PNP community. I paid a quick visit to Sir Thecos’s YouTube channel to rewatch the playthrough, and its mechanics looked neat. If VoidRoll is inspired by this, which it is, then I’m in for a treat!
Having just played Florian’s Rook & Ruin, my expectations were already sky high. Time to jump from dungeons straight into deep space.
I’ve had my fair share of spacefaring adventures, kudos to the likes of Starfront Scouting Academy and Hyperdrive Odyssey. Happy to add one more to my belt.
A bit on the game
In VoidRoll, you lead a starship and chart a path through dangerous sectors of deep space. Each mission pushes you to build a reputation that could turn you into a trusted trader or a feared outlaw. You’ll be juggling contracts, keeping your ship’s systems running, and deploying drones to harvest vital resources, all while the void waits for the first mistake.
The stakes are straightforward. Push too far, and the hazards overwhelm your hull. Let your shields drop, and the ship can’t hold together. Your ultimate goal is to reach the target Victory Points before ambition or misfortune catches up with you.
All you need
As much as I like crafting games, I’m also equally fond of those that require zero assembly, so I can jump right into the action. VoidRoll happens to be one of them.
Print out a Sector Map, a Ship Console sheet, grab seven D6 dice, a pen or marker, and you’re ready to go. You can laminate the sheets since it’s a roll-and-write, but I stuck with the non-glare option. I printed everything on cardstock and kept a pencil and eraser handy, since the game involves shifting levels and adjusting values as you play.
The map sheet looks incredibly detailed, and the console sheet is loaded with systems I have to keep in check. This is gonna be fun!
Entry: After playing VoidRoll
Findings
No preconceived notions, no fixed strategy
On my first attempt, my strategy was clear: keep anomalies in check, keep hazards at zero, avoid becoming an outlaw, score most of the contracts before it’s too late, and give full focus to harvesting on planets. I stuck to my plan for a while, before things started going sideways. I couldn’t always keep anomalies or hazards under control, my outlaw level began climbing, and in no time, I forgot about contracts entirely, getting caught up in fixing the damage my ship had taken.
The one thing I wasn’t doing right was embracing the chaos the game unleashes. You can’t keep a clean slate with this game. You will take damage, become an outlaw, and yes, even hit the edge of the universe. And that’s fine, as long as you survive. As long as you keep evolving your strategy and find ways to stay afloat while bagging points. So ditch any preconceived notions like “I should only focus on contracts first,” keep an open mind, explore every option, and the game is on.
Juggle for the long run
VoidRoll is not a sprint. It’s a marathon with no room for complacency. You have to think beyond small victories, like scooping up spare credits scattered across the void, and focus on what will help you survive and thrive. Planting and upgrading drones to double up on the harvest, upgrading the system level to take on aliens or building better defense, or making the most of contracts when you can has to take precedence.
And like I mentioned earlier, you can’t pin down on just one plan. Plan when to lower the hazard level, or stop experimenting with the outlaw level. If you’re aiming to be an outlaw, plan how to maximize Victory Points while embracing the chaos. Complete as many contracts as you can before you go all in.
I didn’t start playing VoidRoll with all these pointers in mind; it came to me after playing it a couple of times. So allow this game to reshape your thoughts.
Don’t rush this game. There are no timers or round limits to push you along. Take your time, and enjoy this delightfully dangerous ride!
A solid engine builder
I thoroughly enjoyed the Flowing Arsenal System that Florian introduced in Rook & Ruin, and the engine-builder of VoidRoll is another classic. It’s not just about building the ship; it’s about the delicate choices you make each round, based on one of my favorite concepts: Opportunity Cost.
Simply put, you can’t do everything every turn. If you focus on a couple of actions, you’ll have to forfeit two others. Making the right call at the right moment is the only formula for ruling the void.
The more you upgrade your ship and drones, the stronger they become. You can double your harvest, earn more credits, use them to repair your ship, take on aliens and collect loot, and so much more. Watch your small steps turn your starship into a formidable force. That is, if you plan it well!
A year long journey!
Having played VoidRoll three times, I know I can still go back for more. There are just so many ways to approach it. If a single Sector Map feels this replayable, imagine what twelve would do..?
No need to imagine it, VoidRoll has you covered! The space voyage isn’t limited to one map. Florian plans to release a new map every month for a year, an amazing commitment I can’t help but appreciate. I’d be excited to get a fresh map each month and save a couple of hours over the weekend to give it a shot.
You can finish a game in 45–50 minutes, but why rush? I’d rather take my time and savor the mission.
The campaign is closing!
The short and sweet Gamefound campaign for VoidRoll has been a blast, but it’s nearing its end. If it’s your thing, make sure to back the game and dive into the void this holiday season!
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Game Overview
Publisher: Florian Fiedler
Designer: Florian Fiedler
Number of players: 1 and more
Difficulty level: Medium
Rounds of gameplay needed to learn: 1 to 2 rounds
Game duration: 40-90 minutes
Available on: Gamefound
Theme: Roll-and-write | An engine builder
Number of pages and color: 2 pages (color print)
Assembling difficulty level: Zero assembly required
Lamination: Recommended for replayability
Additional elements required: A pen or marker and seven D6 dice
Time to learn: Within 20 minutes
Travel-friendly: 10/10
Shelving friendly: 10/10
Rating from PnP Time: 9/10
Tas is a game designer and blogger based in Bangladesh, with the dream of exploring the world of games and introducing it to anyone new to it.
