Quick answer
If you enjoy tactical dice manipulation and character building, Roll Player offers a deeper, more puzzle-like experience. If you prefer spatial reasoning and a lighter, faster game that works well at any player count, Cartographers is the better fit. Both shine with their expansions, but the choice ultimately comes down to whether you want to draft dice or draw maps.
Cartographers
Roll Player and Cartographers are two popular games from Thunderworks Games, but they offer very different experiences. Roll Player challenges you to build a fantasy character by drafting dice and managing attributes, while Cartographers has you drawing a map based on cards revealed each round. Both are excellent, but they appeal to different tastes.
In this comparison, we'll break down the core differences, look at how expansions like Roll Player: Fiends & Familiars and Cartographers: Map Pack 5 enhance each game, and help you decide which one deserves a spot on your shelf.
Core Gameplay: Dice Drafting vs. Map Building
Roll Player is a dice-drafting game where you roll dice and assign them to your character's attributes. Each die has a color and a number, and you must balance your character's stats, alignment, and skills. The puzzle is figuring out how to use the dice you draft to maximize your score while also preparing for combat at the end. It's a game of optimization and planning.
Cartographers, on the other hand, is a flip-and-write game where you draw shapes on a map sheet. Each turn, a card reveals a shape and a terrain type, and you must place it on your map to score points based on objectives. It's more about spatial awareness and adapting to changing goals. The game is lighter and quicker, making it a great filler or family game.
- Roll Player: deeper strategy, more player interaction through dice drafting.
- Cartographers: easier to learn, better for casual gamers.
Expansions and Replayability
Both games have expansions that add variety. For Roll Player, Fiends & Familiars introduces familiars that grant unique powers and fiends that hinder you, adding a new layer of decision-making. It also includes a novel type of dice—split dice—that can be used for different values, increasing strategic options.
Cartographers: Map Pack 5, Kethra's Steppe, adds new map sheets with twin mountain spires and beacon ranges. Players score points by surrounding beacons, introducing a new scoring card type. This expansion is compatible with both Cartographers and Cartographers Heroes, making it a versatile addition.
- Fiends & Familiars adds more complexity and replay value for Roll Player veterans.
- Map Pack 5 offers a fresh challenge for Cartographers fans without overcomplicating the game.
Player Count and Group Dynamics
Roll Player plays best with 2-4 players, and the dice drafting becomes more competitive with more players. It's a game that rewards careful planning and can be quite thinky, so it's ideal for gamers who enjoy a mental challenge.
Cartographers supports 1-100 players because everyone draws on their own sheet simultaneously. It's an excellent choice for large groups or as a solo game. The simultaneous play means no downtime, making it a great party game or a way to wind down after a heavier session.
- Roll Player: best for small groups of 2-4 who like deep strategy.
- Cartographers: perfect for large groups or solo play.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Roll Player: Dice drafting depth: You'll spend time analyzing dice and optimizing your character sheet. It's satisfying but can be mentally taxing. Choose Roll Player if you enjoy crunchy optimization.
- Cartographers: Map building accessibility: The rules are simple, and drawing shapes is intuitive. It's easy to teach and quick to play. Choose Cartographers for a lighter, more social experience.
- Expansion investment: Fiends & Familiars adds significant complexity to Roll Player, while Map Pack 5 keeps Cartographers simple but varied. Consider your group's tolerance for complexity when buying expansions.
Product facts
- Roll Player: Fiends & Familiars (Expansion): In Roll Player: Fiends & Familiars, players compete to construct the greatest fantasy characters, now with the help of Familiars and the hindrance of Fiends. Familiars lend unique powers to their keepers, and along with new goods in the market, offer hope. But all the while, malicious Fiends torment the players with new obstacles. Fiends & Familiars also includes a novel type of dice - split dice. This expansion deepens Roll Player's strategic choices, giving veterans new ways to build characters and adding replay value.
- Cartographers: Map Pack 5, Kethra's Steppe: Cartographers: Map Pack 5, Kethra’s Steppe can be played with either Cartographers or Cartographers Heroes. It includes 75 double-sided new map sheets featuring twin mountain spires and their beacon ranges and 3 new scoring cards, specifically for use with this map pack. Players light beacons by surrounding them and score points based on a 5th type of scoring card introduced in this map pack. This map pack adds a new scoring dimension to Cartographers, keeping the game fresh for players who have mastered the base game.
Which game should you choose?
Best for
- Players who enjoy dice manipulation and deep character-building puzzles.
- Small groups of 2-4 who like competitive drafting and strategic planning.
Not for
- Those who prefer a lighter, more casual game with less mental overhead.
- Large gatherings where simultaneous play and quick rounds are more important.
Both Roll Player and Cartographers are excellent games, but they serve different needs. Roll Player offers a deep, dice-drafting challenge that rewards careful planning, while Cartographers provides a quick, accessible map-building experience that shines with larger groups. Consider your group's preferences and the kind of experience you want—then pick the one that fits best. And don't forget the expansions to keep the fun going.
