Voidfall

2023

Experience Voidfall, an intense Euro-style 4X space game. Fight cosmic corruption, manage your empire, and outsmart rivals to restore the galactic Domineum.

240
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

15+

Heavy

About the game

Voidfall is an enthralling, deep-space exploration board game that whisks players away to a universe on the brink of oblivion, marred by the destructive influence of the Voidborn. This game is an intricate dance of empire development, resource management, and strategic combat, set against the backdrop of a sprawling cosmic theatre.

The setting of Voidfall is a distant galaxy known as the Dominion Syndicate, once a prosperous and advanced civilization, now threatened by the encroaching Voidfall. As players, you will take on the role of noble houses, vying to purge the Voidborn and restore the fallen glory of your galaxy.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

1. Game Box: Houses all the game components. It’s not just a storage tool but also a reflection of the game’s theme and the first impression of the game.

2. Game Board: This is the main platform where players interact and make their moves. It represents the galaxy where the actions of Voidfall take place. Each sector on the board is a location where players can send their ships and perform various actions.

3. Player Boards: Each player has their own board that represents their faction, with spaces for ships, technologies, and resources. Players use their boards to plan their strategies and track their progress.

4. Rulebook: This is the guide to playing Voidfall. It contains all the rules, strategies, and a glossary of terms used in the game.

5. Tokens: These are various markers used to represent different elements in the game. There are different types of tokens in Voidfall, including resource tokens (representing food, materials, and knowledge), damage tokens (indicating the damage a ship has taken), and control tokens (marking a player’s control over a sector).

6. Diplomacy Cards: These cards are used to interact with other players in various ways, either by making alliances, trading resources, or declaring war.

7. Technology Cards: These cards represent the technological advancements a player can develop. They provide various benefits and upgrades to the player’s faction.

8. Ship Miniatures: These represent the player’s fleet. Players move their ships around the board to explore new sectors, battle opponents, and control territories.

9. Dice: Used to resolve battles in the game. Different types of ships have different strengths and weaknesses, represented by the number and type of dice they roll in combat.

10. Scenario Cards: These cards set the specific conditions and objectives for each game. Each scenario card provides a different set of challenges and strategies.

11. Faction Cards: Each player chooses a faction at the start of the game, represented by a faction card. Each faction has unique abilities and strengths, influencing the player’s strategy.

12. Resource Trays: These trays are used to organize and store the resource tokens. They help in keeping the game area neat and the resources easily accessible.

13. Player Aids: These aids provide quick rule references and gameplay summaries to help players during the game.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

The game ‘Voidfall’ is a deep strategy game set in a galactic empire in decline. Before the game begins, there are several important steps you must take to properly set it up. Please follow these steps carefully to ensure a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience.

Step 1: Board Setup

Unfold the game board and place it in the center of the table. The game board represents the galaxy in which the game takes place. It is divided into several sectors, each with its own planets and resources.

Step 2: Player Roles

Each player chooses a House to represent. These Houses have unique abilities and starting resources. Each player takes the House board of their chosen House, along with the corresponding House tokens and ship tokens.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Each player receives starting resources based on their chosen House. These resources are listed on the House board and include things like credits, technology, and influence.

Step 4: Random Elements

Shuffle the Technology deck and draw four cards, placing them face up next to the game board. These represent the initial available technologies that players can research during the game. Also, shuffle the Voidborn deck and draw three cards, placing them face down. These represent the unknown threats lurking in the void.

Step 5: Voidborn Placement

The Voidborn are the enemies in the game. They are placed in the void sectors of the game board, which are the sectors that do not belong to any player’s House. The number of Voidborn in each void sector is determined by the number of players.

Step 6: Player Ships Placement

Each player places their starting ships in the sectors of the game board that belong to their House. The number and type of ships each player starts with are listed on their House board.

Step 7: Turn Order

Determine the initial turn order. This can be done randomly or by agreement among the players. Each player places their House token on the turn order track on the game board in the determined order.

With these steps completed, you are now ready to begin playing ‘Voidfall’. Enjoy the strategic battles and political intrigue as you strive to restore your House to glory and fend off the threats of the Voidborn.

Game flow Round and round we go

Voidfall is a deep strategy game set in a sci-fi universe where players act as noble houses trying to take over control of the fallen galactic empire. The game is played over a number of cycles which are further divided into rounds and phases. The overall structure of a Voidfall game is as follows:

Setup Phase:

Each player takes a player board, a set of house cards, and a set of ship tokens in their chosen color.
The galaxy board is assembled in the center of the table using the hexagonal sector tiles.
Players place their home sector tile on the galaxy board and place their initial ships on it.
The Voidfall deck is shuffled and a number of cards are drawn and placed face up next to the board.

Gameplay:

During each cycle, players will perform actions in turn order, starting with the first player and continuing clockwise. Each cycle consists of the following phases:

Preparation Phase: Players draw a number of Voidfall cards equal to their draw limit, refresh their spent resources, and set their Influence to the current cycle number.
Action Phase: Starting with the first player and continuing in turn order, each player performs one action on their turn. Actions include Exploring new sectors, Building ships, Researching technologies, and Engaging in combat. Players continue taking turns until all players have passed.
Upkeep Phase: Players return all of their used action markers to their supply, adjust their supply limit based on any changes during the Action Phase, and then advance the cycle marker one space forward on the cycle track.

End of the Game:

The game ends after a certain number of cycles, which is determined at the start of the game. At this point, players add up their Victory Points from the sectors they control, technologies they have researched, and any remaining resources. The player with the most Victory Points is declared the winner of the game.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

The game of Voidfall consists of phases wherein players have the option to take various actions on their turn. These actions can be used strategically to influence the game’s outcome. The player’s turn in Voidfall is comprised of the following steps:

Action Selection: The player selects one of the available actions. These include Develop, Expand, Influence, Consolidate, and Prepare. The chosen action determines what the player can do during their turn.
Action Execution: The player carries out the action they have selected.
Housekeeping: The player ensures that all game components are in the correct place and that all effects resulting from their action have been applied.

Let’s delve deeper into each action and its strategic implications:

Develop: This action allows the player to purchase and install technologies in their home system. Strategically, this can provide the player with new abilities or bonuses that can be used later in the game. The technologies available for purchase are determined by the technology cards revealed at the start of the game.

Expand: The Expand action allows the player to place new fleets and/or control markers on the game board. This can be used to increase the player’s influence over different sectors, or to prepare for conflicts with other players. The strategic choice here is where and when to expand, as well as considering the potential for conflict.

Influence: The Influence action allows the player to replace a rival’s control marker with their own. This can be a powerful action for shifting control over sectors, and can be used strategically to disrupt other players’ plans.

Consolidate: The Consolidate action allows the player to gain Voidborn tokens. These tokens can be spent to perform special actions that are not available through the standard action selection. Strategically, this can provide the player with a greater range of options on future turns.

Prepare: The Prepare action allows the player to refresh their supply of command tokens, which are required to take actions. This is a crucial action to maintain the pace and fluidity of your game strategy.

The choices a player makes during their turn can greatly affect the flow of the game and their chances of victory. It is important to consider not just what actions are available, but also the potential strategic implications of each choice.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of Voidfall is a deep strategy game and ends when a specific set of conditions are met. These conditions vary depending on the type of game mode chosen by the players: Domination mode or Restoration mode. Let’s explore each game mode’s end conditions and final scoring rules.

Domination Mode:

In Domination mode, the game ends after the third cycle, which is the main game phase. Each cycle is composed of several rounds where players take their actions. At the end of the third cycle, players move to the scoring phase.

Scoring: Players will calculate their scores based on the following factors:
- The number of sectors they control on the game board.
- The level of development they have achieved in each sector.
- The number of Voidborn enemies they have defeated.
- Bonus points from completed mission cards.
The player with the highest score wins the game.

Restoration Mode:

In Restoration mode, the game ends either when one player successfully restores the fallen galactic civilization or when the Voidborn threat becomes too great to overcome. The conditions are as follows:

Restoration Victory: If a player manages to restore the galactic civilization by achieving all requirements listed on their Restoration card, they win the game immediately.
Voidborn Victory: If the Voidborn threat marker reaches the final space on the threat track, all players lose the game.
If neither condition is met by the end of the third cycle, players calculate their scores as in Domination mode.

Before final scoring in either mode, players must perform the following actions:

Ensure that all game components are in their correct positions and state.
Return all unused resources and cards to the game box.
Count and verify the number of sectors controlled and the level of development in each sector.
Calculate the number of Voidborn enemies defeated.
Check for any completed mission cards and calculate the bonus points.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Voidfall is a deep strategy game where players aim to score the highest points to win. Points are awarded through various game elements and actions. Here is a detailed breakdown:

Scoring during the game:

Exploration: Players are awarded points for exploring and controlling new sectors. Each sector has a specific point value assigned.
Development: Points are also awarded for developing technologies, advancing on the technology track and building structures.
Combat: Points can be gained from successful combat against opponents. The points are equivalent to the defeated fleet’s strength.
Missions: Players can undertake missions, and upon successful completion, they receive points.

Scoring at the end of the game:

Sector Control: Players score points for each sector they control at the end of the game. The points are equivalent to the sectors’ value.
Resources: Players can convert their remaining resources into victory points at a fixed rate.
Technology: Each developed technology is worth certain points.
Structures: Each structure built by the player is worth a certain amount of points.

Tie-breaking Rules:

If there is a tie at the end of the game, the following rules are applied in order:

The player with the most sectors controlled wins.
If still tied, the player with the most developed technologies wins.
If still tied, the player with the most resources left wins.
If there is still a tie, the game is shared as a victory among the tied players.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Voidfall is an intricate and detailed board game that presents a number of unique rules, exceptions and important clarifications. Understanding these special elements of the game can enrich the gameplay experience and ensure that all players are on the same page.

Ownership and Control: In Voidfall, there is a distinction between ownership and control of a sector. A player may control a sector by having a presence there, but the ownership is determined by the Dominion marker. It’s possible for a sector to be controlled by one player and owned by another.

Naval Supply: This is a special rule that limits the total strength of fleets a player can have in a sector. If a player exceeds the naval supply limit of a sector, they must remove their excess ships.

Exploration Deck: When drawing cards from the exploration deck, if the deck is depleted, do not reshuffle the discard pile. The exploration phase ends when there are no more cards to draw.

Voidborn Dominance: Voidfall features a unique rule about Voidborn dominance. Voidborn dominance increases when Voidborn forces win a battle or when a sector with Voidborn presence changes control. This dominance can impact the game in multiple ways, including affecting the game’s ending.

Technology Research Exceptions: There are exceptions to the rule that a player can research only one technology per turn. Some Development cards and faction abilities allow players to research additional technologies during their turn.

Faction Special Abilities: Each faction in Voidfall has special abilities that can bend or break the standard rules. Players should familiarize themselves with their faction’s abilities to make the most of their gameplay.
Cooperative Mode: In the cooperative mode, players work together to defeat the Voidborn. This mode introduces additional rules, such as shared resources and joint decision-making.
Solo Mode: In the solo mode, the player competes against an AI opponent. This mode has its own set of rules and modifications to the standard gameplay.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies:

Resource Management: Always keep track of your resources. It’s easy to get carried away with expansion and combat, but without adequate resources, your progress will stall. Try to balance your resource income with your spending and always have a surplus for unexpected expenses.
Technology Advancement: Invest in the tech tree early on. It may seem costly at first, but the long-term benefits greatly outweigh the initial investment. The advanced capabilities you’ll gain can give you a significant edge over your opponents.
Defensive Planning: Don’t neglect your defences. An unexpected attack can severely hinder your progress. Keep a well-fortified base while also maintaining a strong offensive force.

Beginner Tips:

Start by focusing on resource gathering and base building. This will set a strong foundation for the rest of the game.
Learn to understand the tech tree and prioritize what advancements are most beneficial for your strategy.
Try to maintain a balanced approach to gameplay. It’s easy to get too focused on one area, like combat or exploration, but a well-rounded strategy is usually the most effective.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Overexpansion: While it’s tempting to expand your territory quickly, overexpansion can leave you vulnerable to attacks and drain your resources.
Ignoring the Tech Tree: The tech tree might seem complicated at first, but it’s crucial to your long-term success. Ignoring it can leave you at a severe disadvantage.
Neglecting Defense: Always be prepared for an attack. Neglecting your defense in favor of offense can lead to an early defeat.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Plan your moves in advance. Having a clear strategy and direction will help you make the most of each turn.
Stay adaptable. While it’s good to have a plan, it’s equally important to be able to adjust your strategy in response to what’s happening in the game.
Learn from each game. Each playthrough is an opportunity to refine your strategy and learn more about the game mechanics.