In 1979, fans got their first look at the terrifying alien known as the Xenomorph in the film Alien. The creature has made an appearance in numerous video games and sequel films as well and now can be fought at the table. Now, just in time for Christmas, Free League Publishing released Alien: The Roleplaying Game so you can take on the face-huggers at the table.
The core rulebook is being published alongside 20th Century Fox and was written by Tomas Harenstam and Andrew E.C. Gaska with stunning art by Martin Grip, John R. Mullaney, and Axel Torvenius.
Space is vast, dark, and not your friend. Gamma rays and neutrino bursts erupt from dying stars to cook you alive, black holes tear you apart, and the void itself boils your blood and seizes your brain. Try to scream and no one can hear you—hold your breath and you rupture your lungs. Space isn’t as empty as you’d think, either—its frontiers are ever expanding. Rival governments wage a cold war of aggression while greedy corporations vie for valuable resources. Colonists reach for the stars and gamble with their lives—each new world tamed is either feast or famine. And there are things lurking in the shadows of every asteroid—things strange and different and deadly.”
Just like Dungeons and Dragons, the Alien RPG can be played in two distinct ways. For players who want to focus on more streamlined stories, there is a campaign mode. It’s a great way for game masters to expand upon the film world created by Ridley Scott.
While players who want to focus on individual games can play in what Free League is calling the cinematic play, these are pre-made stories or settings within the Alien universe. They may contain familiar characters, locations, and ships we’ve seen in the movies and games as well. They are designed to be played in one session will be released as smaller guides for players and game masters.
The job was routine, the money fair. Then the damn company diverted you to answer a distress call from a ship that disappeared almost 80 years ago—a derelict carrying something bizarre, twisted, and alien. What the ship’s frozen crew brought back with them was bad enough—what they themselves were turning into was a bloody nightmare. Add to that an annoying sensor ghost shadowing you in the void, and your stress level is shot.”
The first cinematic scenario released by Free League is the Chariot of the Gods by Andrew Gaska. It is available now as well through Free League’s website, DrivethruRPG, and retail stores.
The scenario is a 48-page guide written to help introduce players to the game while the full RPG contains 392 pages of lore, stat blocks, weapons, and rules to see if you can survive in the vastness of space.
Will you purchase this Alien: The Roleplaying Game? Let us know in the comments.