Mighty heroes don’t just appear out of thin air -- you must create them! Race, class, alignment, skills, traits, and equipment are all elements of the perfect hero, who is ready to take on all opposition in the quest for glory and riches.
In Roll Player, you will compete to create the greatest fantasy adventurer who has ever lived, preparing your character to embark on an epic quest. Roll and draft dice to build up your character’s attributes. Purchase weapons and armor to outfit your hero. Train to gain skills and discover your hero’s traits to prepare them for their journey. Earn Reputation Stars by constructing the perfect character. The player with the greatest Reputation wins the game and will surely triumph over whatever nefarious plot lies ahead!
- highly replayable with many combinations
- fun dice puzzle
- accessible for new to mid-weight gamers
- narrative depth depends on players' fantasy familiarity
- dice-driven party-building with role-play flavor
- fantasy RPG character creation
- puzzle-like, variable setup with many permutations
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dice drafting — roll and draft dice to build a character's abilities
- hand management — manage dice and cards to maximize your score
- set collection — collect equipment and stats to optimize your build
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's the long game versus the short game
- it's a really fun dice puzzle
- the depth grows the more you play
- it's a legacy you can actually finish in a campaign
References (from this video)
- Array
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- dice manipulation to reach ideal character stats
- Array
- fantasy RPG character creation
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- positive
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's just like a super easy to teach but super mean game that you can play with your family
- I love games where you're involved on everyone's turn
- the expansions have added a lot to it
- the production value of the aliens those miniatures
- this is basically alien the board game
References (from this video)
- fascinating character customization
- expansions add depth and variety
- box can be bulky; setup can be heavy with expansions
- dice drafting to build a capable hero
- fantasy adventurer character creation
- puzzly, strategic, dice-driven
- Role Player Adventures
- Dale of Merchants
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dice drafting — draft dice to assign to character stats
- resource/gear purchase — acquire items and weapons to boost abilities
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Chakra is wonderful
- I absolutely love it and I'm so freaking happy I didn't get rid of it
- Dutch Blitz is the best time
- Rove is absolutely amazing
- Witchcraft is a fantastic card based game
- Azul I am so excited to talk about my number 72
- Role Player is wonderful wonderful game
References (from this video)
- strong early momentum with many dice initially rolled
- clear progress toward end-game goals
- dice placement can become fiddly for new players
- dice-driven character optimization and alignment
- an RPG-style character creation arc
- abstract puzzle with thematic flavor
- Dice Forge
- Quacks of Quedlinburg
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card/ die-slot interaction — cards influence player order and available actions
- dice drafting — place dice into rows to build stats and alignments
- dice drafting with character slots — place dice into rows to build stats and alignments
- end-game scoring via stats — stat arrays determine scoring potential
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- These aren't necessarily sprawling long games or even complex complicated games, but they're games where you feel like you've accomplished something fairly big over the course of the game despite having a small number of turns.
- the order of operations puzzle is what you're really thinking about on your turn
References (from this video)
- strong integration of dice drafting with character-building
- expansions and variants add depth and replayability
- theming aligns well with a D&D-style character progression
- can become time-intensive, especially with expansions
- learning curve may be steep for newcomers
- RPG character development and storytelling
- Fantasy character creation in a D&D-inspired world
- mechanics-driven with thematic flavor
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting — build a market around your board by drafting character- and equipment-related cards
- card market drafting — build a market around your board by drafting character- and equipment-related cards
- dice drafting — draft dice to place on a personal board to drive character construction
- dice placement — place dice to activate stats and actions aligned with character development
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- This has been the hardest one thus far to rank because there are so many games that are like amazing with this kind of mechanism of using dice in cool ways.
- I love the mechanism video. There are so many good dice games.
- Wayfarers of the South Tigers is my number one favorite game that uses dice in cool ways.
References (from this video)
- Engaging dice-puzzle with a D&D-like flavor
- Strong thematic tie to character building and backstory
- Some players may want more direct combat/loot systems
- fantasy role-playing attributes and backstory
- D&D-inspired character creation
- puzzle-like character optimization with backstory
- Sagata
- Sada
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dice drafting — Draft dice from the center and place them into rows representing attributes.
- dice drafting into attribute rows — Draft dice from the center and place them into rows representing attributes.
- end-game attribute scoring — Scores are based on totals in each attribute row and other card-based bonuses.
- row-based actions — Each row contains an action that triggers when a die is placed there.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I really love the way that this works
- I really enjoy this solo as well
- the dice Caravan mechanism is really cool
- the dice mechanism for this one is you have three dice in three different little spots
- the dice in this game are absolutely beautiful
- you are creating a character … you are trying to complete all of your different attributes
- I really enjoy the dice puzzle mechanism that they have in role player
- the end scoring phase you're going to lose some points and also you're going to have less for the next round
References (from this video)
- addictive puzzle with many moving parts
- deep strategic layering despite accessible core rules
- solves into a satisfying personal optimization loop
- not the most social or collaborative experience
- can slow down as players deliberate on their boards
- character creation and aspirations
- fantasy role development
- puzzle with moving parts and progression
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card market — buying cards from a market to augment dice, unlock powers, and boost scoring.
- Card/Chit Market — buying cards from a market to augment dice, unlock powers, and boost scoring.
- dice drafting — players draft dice to assign to character boards, shaping abilities and scoring opportunities.
- dice manipulation — on placement, players can flip or swap dice to alter values, enabling strategic combos.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the best lines are the ones that people actually use
- arghhhh is a simple bluffing game that gets straight to the point of can you lie to your friends
- the puzzle of role player is addictive with so many moving parts to consider
- paperback is a word game that has you creating words with letter cards
- Santorini is an abstract game which puts it in the same vein as chess
- cartographers is a really satisfying puzzle to get lost in
- the game is brilliant at making players look suspicious
- railroading is the perfect puzzle game you can play in just 30 minutes
- the temptation of pushing on risking death to reach the peak is what makes this game so fun
- stockpile is all about trying to get a bargain and riding the wave of the market
References (from this video)
- Cooperative, hilarious atmosphere that captures the ridiculous side of filmmaking
- Strong atmosphere and art direction with vibrant storybook cards
- Fun, optional player-specific rules that add variety and chaos
- Engaging production meetings and pitching mechanic
- Compact, portable components (cute clacker box, film canister storage)
- Accessible to groups who enjoy co-ops and humor
- Clear escalation of drama as problems pile up, rewarding teamwork
- Theme lands well with the mechanics, making the experience immersive
- Not ideal for groups who dislike cooperative play or silly conceits
- Humor and film-industry satire may not land for all players
- Rules depth may be lighter for some groups depending on familiarity with co-ops
- Humorous, chaotic filmmaking with a satirical wink at classic cinema
- Film production on a chaotic movie set during a cooperative shoot.
- Story-driven session where problems and scenes drive the film's progression; humor and chaos weave through every turn
- The Networks
- Space Cadets
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card_management — Manage multiple card types (script/scene cards, problem cards, prop cards) to gain benefits and shape the film.
- cooperative_meetings_and_pitching — Production meetings allow players to pitch ideas and pick actions to play, shaping the film collectively.
- dice placement — Blue spaces require dice placement to gain benefits; some spots resolve problems or grant money/schedule bonuses.
- dice_placement — Roll dice each turn and place them to take actions on the board, resolving problems and advancing scenes.
- dice_recovery_and_intern_actions — Intern action can flip dice and draw a problem; dice can be reclaimed to continue shooting.
- genre_tokens_and_scenes — Top/bottom script cards determine bonuses and the required genre tokens; scenes require matching dice and tokens.
- problem_draw_and_resolution — At the start of each turn, players draw a problem; unresolved problems block actions until resolved.
- resource_tracking — Budget and schedule are tracked; spending money or time risks losing the game.
- scene_slot_management — Blue spaces require dice placement to gain benefits; some spots resolve problems or grant money/schedule bonuses.
- Unique player powers — Each crew member has unique abilities that affect actions and strategy.
- variable_player_powers — Each crew member has unique abilities that affect actions and strategy.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Roll Camera is an absolute hoot of a Cooperative game and a tour de force on the ridiculous side of filmmaking.
- the core gameplay is a straightforward dice placement system that works, but what makes the game special is the atmosphere it brings to the table.
- the best thing about this game is the meetings as everyone takes turn pitching their zany ideas.
- this is a great game for any group who loves co-ops and having a laugh.
- Roll Camera, Oscar worthy, gold medal game.
- every problem you draw is a horror show that sabotages your efforts in a hilariously over-the-top way.
- the production meeting lets you pitch ideas, then pick one to play immediately and one to discard, which is wonderfully chaotic.
References (from this video)
- clever idea of turning character creation into a dice drafting game
- solid dice drafting and placement with multiple levers for adjusting dice
- market cards provide depth and scoring options
- relaxed, puzzle-like gameplay suitable for groups who enjoy puzzles and low confrontation
- action on placing a die is a strong decision point
- easy to teach to D&D players
- limited interaction between players
- end-game scoring can feel unsatisfying; multiple point sources make winners less satisfying
- character creation, dice drafting, and alignment/backstory scoring
- Fantasy role-playing character creation in a tabletop-like setting
- character-driven puzzle with scoring based on class, backstory, alignment
- Sagrada
- Call to Adventure
- Munchkin
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting — Draft market cards (weapons, armor, traits, skills) that affect points and dice
- dice drafting — Draft dice each turn and place on a character sheet
- dice manipulation — Modify dice values or swap with others; flip a die to opposite side; reroll
- market/card drafting — Draft market cards (weapons, armor, traits, skills) that affect points and dice
- scoring by attributes/backstory/alignment — Points from stat goals, backstory placements, class color matching, alignment actions
- set collection — Collect dice of specific colors to meet backstory/class requirements
- turn order via card — Turn order determined by picked market card; next round's starter
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Roll Player takes the idea of rolling up a character in dungeons and dragons and turns that into the game itself which is a remarkably clever idea.
- as a dice drafting and placing game it's pretty solid with plenty of levers to pull to adjust the dice you get
- all up a relaxed dice placement game with lots of options suitable for a group who likes puzzles and low levels of confrontation
- the best thing about this game is the action you get when placing a die that's a really good decision point and where Roll Player shines
- however, role player has limited interactions between players and while there is the idea you are rolling up a character it really is just a puzzle game
- end game remarkably unsatisfying
- if you just want to make fun characters