Black Void Review
I originally posted this article on A Pawn's Perspective on November 12, 2020.
Set in humanity’s past, Black Void deals with a cosmic calamity that tosses the human race into the cosmos into a new universe of sentient beings that see us as nothing more than refuse. Struggling to make something of themselves, humanity does what it does best. Adapt. It’s a dark, new world where possibilities are endless, yet just out of reach. Do you seek to find a way back to Earth, if it’s even still there? Do you explore the worlds trying to find meaning in it all? Maybe you’ll try to climb the social ladder in Llyhn the Eternal, a melting pot of species and a hub in the midst of The Void.
Black Void is a mix of the grotesque, the beautiful, and the outright bizarre. It’s a setting filled with similar creatures to us and ones that are so far removed that it’s hard for the mind to comprehend. The book contains artwork with a distinct fantasy feel, though like nothing I’ve seen in the genre so far. Even the language used in the book evokes something “other,” furthering the theme of the game.
The first section of Black Void deals with lore and character creation, reading almost like a novel as it delves into the mayhem caused on Earth by The Void and the structure of worlds humans now find themselves part of. It talks about our blood has mingled with other species and how even The Void has left a mark on some of us. While we remain human, the definition of human has changed quite a bit now that we’re part of the cosmos.
Unfortunately, the flow comes to a grinding halt when it gets into the game’s core mechanics. The basic d12 system isn’t too hard to comprehend but is far removed from how flexible and simple the book’s beginning makes them out to be. It’s not bad or overly difficult, yet there are so many options and layers presented afterward that it makes the head reel. Black Void is a book that needs to be read several times by the Arbiter (game master) and at least a couple of times by the players. The book is huge and contains so much information that to learn the system and actually play will take some time.
Every bit of the book, from the art to the layout, is increadibly well done. Even with the overwhelming amount of information and minutia, Black Void is an excellent book and a system that I’m dying to dive more into. The setting is so unique that it’s almost impossible not to be intrigued by it. The possibilities contained with this one book boggle the mind. Do you run a campaign solely in the city of Llyhn, or one of the many world types available? Do you travel the cosmos and try to unravel the mysteries of The Void? Is your story hopeful or hopeless? There are so many ideas already running through my head.
A copy of Black Void was provided free for review by Black Void Games