Void Pirates is a razor-sharp, no-nonsense sci-fi TTRPG that nails the feeling of desperate, bullion-fueled piracy in a hard-scrabble future. The NOVACore system is math consistent—every action, from cracking a vault in zero-G to boarding an enemy hauler, runs on the same clean 3d6 + mods framework, so the table never slows down for subsystem switches. Gravity Ratings replace outdated race mechanics with something fresh and mechanically meaningful: Floaters dominate void breaches, Stompers smash high-G assaults, and mismatched environments actually punish you until you gear up or medicate. Psionics stay rare and dangerous, cyber and bio-augs feel gritty and high-stakes, and the seamless shift from ship combat to personal-scale boarding keeps the adrenaline pumping without new dice or rules bloat.
(Links To Core Rule Game Sections Below)
- Tight, elegant core resolution that handles everything from hacking to hull breaches
- Gravity Rating system that defines crew roles and creates real tactical trade-offs
- Seamless ship-to-personal combat transition—boardings feel cinematic and deadly
- Bullion-based economy with local modifiers keeps scavenging and fencing tense
- LNC “brain-in-jar” characters and Neuro-Core ship modules add wild, taboo flavor
- Random salvage tables, space encounter charts, and downtime activities that make every derelict and port visit rewarding
- Balanced progression through skills rather than levels, perfect for long-haul campaigns
NOVACore Basic Mechanics – Action Rolls
Gravity Rating (GR): Floaters, Hoppers, Bricks, and Stompers
Experience Points (XP) and Skill Advancement
Planetary Environment & Hazard Rules
This is old-school RPG spirit fused with modern mechanical polish—perfect for crews who want to raid, salvage, and survive the Cradle without drowning in bookkeeping.
Eye Of Balor Magazine 