Roll for the Galaxy
2-5
13+
30+
Roll for the Galaxy is a dice game of building space empires for 2-5 players. Your dice represent your populace, whom you direct to develop new technologies, settle worlds, and ship goods. The player who best manages his workers and builds the most prosperous empire wins!
This dice version of Race for the Galaxy takes players on a new journey through the Galaxy, but with the feel of the original game.
User Reviews (2)
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The rules and the components are overwhelming when you first see them. We played this last night with 5 players who have never played the game. 1 person had read the rules and 1 other had seen reviews.
We did a test play-through of one round after the rules were explained. I was totally confused. After two actual rounds I understood the goals and the mechanics of playing the game. I came in third of the five who played.
The game is a good balance of worker placement and dice rolling. Each round hidden behind a screen you place you dice on a board that has figures that match the 5 phases. You all reveal at once.
The 5 Phases of Roll for the Galaxy are:
– Explore for new tiles or Galactic Credits
– Develop technologies for powers that modify play
– Settle worlds for more population and places to hold goods
– Produce goods on worlds, in preparation for shipping
– Ship goods for Galactic Credits or victory points
Each player then selects one phase that they want to occur this round. I was surprised with 5 players how often only two or three phases were chosen. There are other placement options see the rules.
http://www.goblins.net/sites/default/files/RollftGalaxy.pdf
You gain more power, dice and options with each Technology you develop and World you settle.
Since you take each of the 5 phases as a group and then move onto the next phase there is a lot of table talk and sharing what you are doing. The play is quick and there is little down time because you need to watch what others are doing so you can guess what Phase they will select the next round.
I love the game. Other reviews I have seen on the game do not do it justice(not on this site).
2-5 players
Under 1 hour with players who have played it before 1.5 hours for first time players.
Try it you will become a fan.
“Roll for the Galaxy” is a sci-fi themed game where dice represent workers of your expanding empire. Each empire will start from humble beginnings but as you put your workers to use, based on their roles (rolls), you’ll settle new planets, develop new technologies, and gain victory points by shipping out your plethora of planetary goods. The game ends when an empire hits its peak, arbitrary threshold of planets/developments, and victory points are counted and a winner proclaimed.
My gaming group, as well as visiting guests to my home, had no problem learning the mechanics of “Roll for the Galaxy”. Its rules are not completely intuitive, but familiar enough that those who understand worker placement and dice games can pick it up pretty quickly.
Once becoming familiar with the “Development” and “World” cards of the game, things move pretty quickly, which is good and bad. Good, in a sense that it’s a fast paced; Rhado Runs Through calls it a “filler” game, I disagree. In summary the game mechanics are based on Workers, each represented by a D6 dice, are secretly rolled at the beginning of each turn (simultaneously). Each facing of the D6 dice has a unique function corresponding with a phase: Exploration, Development, Settle, Produce, Ship. It’s an enjoyable experience, especially figuring out how best to place your fresh rolls to your advantage, wagering on other players to activate a phase that you desperately need. However, the “bad” is that’s the extent of the interaction with other players.
The total interaction between/among players is based on the activation of different phases. A single player may only activate a single phase per round. Hence, if you’re hoping to perform multiple “actions” with your ivory, cube workers, then another player around the table must activate it. Some social interaction can be had to convince another player to activate a phase that you need in addition to one you’ve chosen, but it’s a fleeting plea that few participate in and none dare repeat.
Games of “Roll for the Galaxy” with my wife have now boiled down to the two of us shaking dice, lifting screens, and doing our own thing with the active phases…all in silence.
Definitely a fun game, good for those new to board gaming, or an avid gamer seeking to experience “Race for the Galaxy” Yahtzee style, but replay value may diminish over time with the underwhelming interaction with other players.
It’s in my collection and will remain. I think it appeals to the gamer who really likes a worker-placement game with a little bit of luck required to accomplished your desired goal. I would definitely place this title more on the Euro-game genre, with a mix of Ameri-trash due to the necessary dice roles. It’s on the lighter end of the spectrum, but there are moments throughout the game that you definitely need that additional minute or two to think through how best to place your workers. I like to think “Roll for the Galaxy” is the perfect game for a Settlers of Catan player who loves Catan, but hates the mechanic of trading and the robber.