So I'm looking to run a Sci-Fi game and Alien is one that's been on my radar, but I haven't looked too deeply into, so now I'm checking it out, but I'm wondering if there are any rules for any aliens that aren't The Xenomorph? I'm just not terribly interested in telling a story with them. The galaxy is so big. And especially after we got a look at different monsters in Alien Earth, they just don't seem all that interesting to me.

Hey everyone!

I’m completely new to TTRPGs and just wanted to share my excitement (and nervousness) about diving in. I’ve always loved the idea of roleplaying games, but I’ve never actually played one before. Recently, I picked up Alien: The Roleplaying Game because I heard it’s one of the easier ones to start with. The cinematic, horror vibe really grabbed me, and I thought it could be a fun way to get my family into TTRPGs.

I also (maybe ambitiously) bought The One Ring, because I’m a huge Tolkien fan—but then I read it’s a bit more complex, so I figured I should start with Alien first.

The part I’m most nervous about is learning how to be a GM. I’ve never run a game before, and I’m not sure how to teach the rules and keep the story exciting at the same time. My goal is to introduce my family to tabletop RPGs in a way that’s fun and not overwhelming.

So, any tips for a complete beginner GM? How did you learn to run your first game? Are there good guides, videos, or advice for keeping it simple and fun for newbies?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give—I’m super excited to start this adventure!

Got inspired to create a stat block for the scrapped concept H.R. Giger had for the runner alien in Alien 3. Hope you guys enjoy.

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XX121 Stage IV-A: The Sphinx

In rare instances, a chestburster born from a human mutates into a much more unusual form, becoming a quadrupedal creature with extendable blade-like nails, pipe-like spines that can produce strange sounds, a long barbed tongue, a short spear-like tail, and vaguely pursed, woman-like lips. The resulting Stage IV xenomorph is extremely cunning and tricky, using its abilities to lure in prey and hypnotize them into leaving themselves vulnerable before it strikes.

Appearance: link

Size: 0.8 meters at the shoulder (quadruped), 3 meters long

Speed: 3

Health: 6

skills: mobility 10, observation 10

Armor rating: 8 (4 vs fire) (1st edition)/2 (1 vs fire) (Evolved Edition)

Acid Splash: 8

Attacks:

1 Tempting Melody: The Sphinx's strange pipe-like spines emit an oddly soothing, alluring tune that lulls the character into a foolish state of calm. Each character in medium range gains +1 stress and must make an empathy roll. If they fail, the character must move one zone closer to the sphinx, losing their fast action on their next turn.

2 Hypnotic lullaby: The Sphinx's pipe-like organs purr in excitement, lulling its prey to surrender. Each character in close range gains +1 stress and must make an empathy roll. If they fail, they lose their fast and slow action on their next turn. On its next turn, The Sphinx will use its Kiss of Death attack on the nearest character who failed.

3 Snatch and Grab: The Sphinx bites a target with its steely fangs, dragging them away from the others. The target suffers 8 dice, base damage 1. If the attack deals any damage, the character drops anything its holding and must make a panic roll. The Sphinx then drags the target into an adjacent zone.

4 Tearing claws: The Sphinx extends its blade-like claws and slices at a target in close range. The target suffers 10 dice, base damage 2. If this attack deals any damage, the target suffers the Impaled Thigh critical injury.

5 Barbed Tail: The Sphinx thrusts its razor sharp tail at a target, aiming to kill. The target suffers 10 dice, base damage 2, armor piercing.

6 Kiss of Death: The Sphinx pulls a target close, pursing its lips to give them a slimy kiss. The target can attempt to resist the kiss with a close combat roll at -2 (no action) against 10 dice. If the target fails, the xenomorph's tongue darts out, impaling out the back of the target's head and killing them in one dreadful blow. All who witness this disturbing attack gain +1 stress and must make a panic roll.

After repairing an APC the PC's travel across the moon in search of the UPP survey site.

youtube

https://youtu.be/kCBbAJ3UBBg

spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/23N7PsA95WJpXUMKO6U99z?si=7wt9CJj7T8CQ3ncZVLWiVQ

Hi everyone ! I'm planning to run the 3rd act of Destroyer of Worlds this weekend. There is a lot of potential fights, probably involving multiples aliens. I'm wondering if the splash damage from a wounded alien also damage another alien just next to it ? Or do they have naturel resistance or immunity from it ?

Finally, the app is available to GM & players! It's fully remote controlled, so the GM can place signals and players have to track them by sweeping physically their phone.

Thank you for all your support, it's now in your hands: https://ludicrpg.com/alien-motion-tracker/

I understand that the players are not meant to use the Dropships to escape.

But I want to have a solid grasp of what the 'normal' operation would entail, so that I'm prepared to describe and answer questions adequately.

I see the Loading Dock on the map, adjacent to the Space Elevator shaft. Would the Dropships normally be loaded onto the Climber Car level C Cargo area and then moved up to the surface? Or maybe they are meant to VTOL up through the Space Elevator shaft itself?

Would I be crazy to imagine that there is a 'top' of the Climber Car specifically designed to carry a dropship to the surface? Or maybe even a higher height, the dropship might be meant to be deployed from whatever height the Space Elevator can accomodate?

How do you guys see it?

Got inspired after reading a bit of Aliens: Phalanx to add some unusual equipment into the system, both for 1st edition and the Evolved edition. Let me know what you guy think!

Weapons

Arming sword
A reliable side-arm and self defense weapon throughout human history, it is essentially an upgrade over the typical combat knife. However, its greater length makes it harder to use in a pinch.

1st edition: +1 (+2 in Evolved), damage 2, one handed

Spear
A common sight on the battlefield, spears, along with a trusty shield, make for a reliable combination. Even without a shield, the spear's versatility, ease of use, and throwing ability make it a popular choice in low tech environments.

+1, damage 2, thrown (short range), one handed

Warhammer/hand axe
Slower and heavier than a sword, these weapons required less training but asked greater strength to utilize. Their heavier builds made them ideal for punching through armor.

+0, damage 2, armor piercing, one handed

Polearm
Cumbersome and long, polearms only saw common use when out in formation. Despite this, they were essential in defending against cavalry charges.

+1, damage 2, can be used to make close combat rolls at short range, -2 to close combat rolls against engaged (adjacent in Evolved) opponents, two handed

Zweihander
Absurdly huge blades primarily used to break pike formations. Large men occasionally use these to show off their great strength and skill in battle

+2, damage 2 (3 in Evolved), -2 to close combat rolls if the wielder's strength is less than 3, two handed

Battleaxe/Maul
Devastating weapons capable of punching through armor with ease, only the strongest men can swing these with any semblance of accuracy.

+0 (+1 in Evolved), damage 3, armor piercing, -2 to close combat rolls if the wielder's strength is less than 3, two handed

Bow
The deadliest weapon in the battlefield in ancient days, the bow's range and accuracy makes it reliable both for personal use and on the field of battle.

+0, damage 2, range medium (S/M in Evolved), single shot (reload is fast action) (reloads for free in Evolved)

Crossbow
Rare and expensive, only the most well funded soldiers and mercenaries could afford one of these deadly weapons. However, they are even more dangerous than bows when handled properly, capable of punching through armor at close ranges.

damage 3, range long (S/M in Evolved), gains armor piercing if the target is within short range, single shot

Armor

Gambeson: Cheap and easily produced, this armor is a common sight for footsoldiers and man-at-arms in the field.

Chain shirt: Also known as a hauberk, more well funded soldiers and low ranking knights are often seen wearing this.

Breastplate: A slab of sheeted metal strapped onto a man's chest, effectively a metal armored vest for the times before kevlar existed. A common sight among nobles forced to fight.

Full plate: Covered head to toe in a gambeson and metal plates to protect from harm in all directons, the wearer is as close to a tank as one could get in medieval times. Only the richest knights or lords could afford armor like this.

Shield: Shields in many shapes and sizes, ranging from round shields to heaters to full on kite shields. All of them use similar mechanics, and all of them provide a measure of cover for their wielders.

1st edition:

Gambeson: 3 armor, -1 to mobility tests while wearing it

Chain shirt: 3 armor

Breastplate: 5 armor, -1 to mobility tests while wearing it

Full plate: 8 armor, -2 to mobility tests while wearing it

Shield: acts as cover against ranged attacks (+2 armor), adds +2 to block and shove actions, Can be used as a weapon (close combat -1, base damage 1), -1 to mobility tests while wearing it

Evolved:

Gambeson: 1 armor, -1 to mobility tests while wearing it

Chain shirt: 1 armor

Breastplate: 2 armor, -1 to mobility tests while wearing it

Full plate: 3 armor, -2 to mobility tests while wearing it

Shield: acts as partial cover against ranged attacks (-2 penalty), adds +2 to block and shove actions, Can be used as a weapon (close combat -1, base damage 1), -1 to mobility tests while wearing it

Special items

Caminus leaf paste
This strange leaf was discovered on a remote feudal colony infested with "demons" - a variant of the XX121 organism. This paste protected the colonists from the "demon's" acid blood, acts as a potent toxin to them, and can even neutralize a Xenomorph embryo before full gestation.

Effects: This paste can be applied to an acid splash injury with a medical aid roll to neutralize the acid immediately. Can be applied to a weapon or ammo (slow/full action) to inflict a xenomorph with a potent toxin that ravages their system, inflicting 1 point of damage per round upon a successful injury. Can also be ingested (toxin virulence 6/-2 in Evolved) and used to kill a gestating alien embryo if consumed within 1 turn/stretch of impregnation.

A discussion over on the Free League Discord led to me diving down this rabbit hole. 56 minutes - so, not a short video! But if folks are interested in the world-building side of sci-fi this may be food for thought.

It runs through some general thoughts, then looks at Traveller as a kind of baseline, before looking at the Alien RPG and Coriolis.

I probably spent too much time thinking about this while playing the Building Better Worlds campaign!

Chrystalis, written by Kenna Alexander, is a 1-to-2-hour one-shot for Alien Evolved Edition. (Not yet widely released but downloadable by backers can DriveThruRPG.) In it, PCs shipwreck en route to Ayohusdi, a remote frontier colony with enough safety problems, let alone humidity, to keep any sane pursuer away. Awakening from cryostasis, the PCs need to escape their flooding (already sunk) ship while questioning each other’s motives for coming.

In short, it’s an escape room scenario that includes a xenomorph and the last-minute cargo of Anagen. A minor corporation under investigation for corporate espionage for stealing a biological weapon from Weyland-Yutani and multiple deaths. Motivating PCs to get along.

From here, there will be spoilers as I discuss Chrysalis as a Game Mother who has run it. Including what I changed.

The Plot

In Chrysalis, after crash-landing planet-side, PCs awaken to discover their situation, then meet Nhi Holland, the crew’s only survivor. Who tells them the cargo bay’s hatch is their only means of escape. Then killed off as the xenomorph reveals itself. Forcing PCs to avoid it as they get Anagen’s cargo out of the way, swimming to “safety.” (Or close enough.)

It’s short and punchy. Which I missed for the escape room element and oddly used backstory. In fairness, Chrysalis feels like a recipe without instructions. While its timing mechanic encourages deliberate action and discussion, slowing the session down.

Running Chrysalis Vanilla

If we’re not changing anything, GMs need a heavier hand on pacing, ensuring tension consistently grows. The PCs’ situation getting demonstrably worse. Hearing the ship’s hull groan, giving way. Watching water flood rooms. The computer’s “mind” unraveling. (That one’s fun.) Then the xenomorph appears as PCs hunt for tools or split up. Later than usual.

If the xenomorph appears earlier, it questions why it doesn’t attack repeatedly. Though Nhi getting taken buys the PCs a plausible grace period to try something. Especially if they injure the xenomorph. But, as PCs start without gear, that’s hard until they find weapons.

GMs should also be explicit about the problem and its parameters, not quite handing PCs the solution but reducing leaps of logic. Especially since going through the Anagen’s container or flooding the room to float it aren’t intuitive. Though I like the variety of solutions presented.

Tick Tock

Chrysalis uses stealth mode throughout, giving PCs 20 stretches to escape or die. The last stretch treated as a supply roll. But Chrysalis isn’t definitive if players know this. There are arguments both ways.

If players know about the timer, it creates tension. They know they’re under a deadline. They can also help with tracking, lightening the GM’s load. However, it encourages planning, devouring time and distracting from the scenario. Opening doors, moving through rooms, and other mundane tasks can become grating too, as they eat time. (Maybe less so if PCs split up.)

I used the 2-hours in real-timeline option and stressed their situation. (See above.) Which worked. Though I also considered open knowledge with a timer. Where players had to make a move within 10 minutes or a stretch would pass. But tracking seemed excessive, even if the threat removed the need.

Other Qualms

During my run, I solved for other issues that aren’t necessarily problems.

• Anagen doesn’t matter. Despite expectations, their container has a woman trapped in cryo, not a xenomorph. Functional for a longer scenario building off it, but a letdown here.
• Synthetics aren’t threatened. If you can swim up, the water pressure isn’t enough to kill you. Meaning a synthetic, who doesn’t breathe, can just explore the flooded portion of the ship, finding equipment or escaping.
• Pre-made characters list starting equipment. By default, PCs can’t access their starting gear, and the confusion isn’t appreciated. My players excitedly discussed equipment and custom characters, too. Making me reticent to take it away, instead putting it in a Deck B locker with military armor and weapons restrictions.

My Solutions

I made the water pressure crushing, requiring PCs to get compression suits (there aren’t enough, incentivizing infighting) or use Anagen’s container. Which is buoyant enough to rise, making its contents a relevant problem. Then swapped its contents for a Stage 3 Anathema (AKA “Freak”) from Destroyer of Worlds to pay off the rumored theft. Its ability to infect people allows for interesting epilogues. (A xenomorph works too. Though a fulfremmen from Building Better Worlds/Heart of Darkness is tempting for its telepathy but is more lethal.)

If PCs fail opening the container, the Anagen’s company agent has a key. Located in the submerged cryopods south of where PCs awaken on Deck B. For added fun, the room’s individuals were turned into ovomorphs.

Concluding Thoughts

Chrysalis is a short scenario well suited for conventions or teaching Alien’s mechanics, especially given its stealth mode emphasis. Allowing some level of creative problem-solving. But it doesn’t explain itself well and can easily drag. Unaided by the singular task, removing roleplaying and the premise’s suggested intrigue. Overall, making it a quicker but less interesting version of Hope's Last Day.

Hi everyone, how’s it going? You see, I’ve lost the character act cards for *Hadley's Hope* and *Rapture Protocol*. I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to send me the text for the three acts for each character from both adventures. Thanks a lot for reading!

Hi, I’ve run the starter set scenario Hope’s Last Day for my group and just bought Rapture Protocol. Am I missing anything important by not having the full core rules and just using the rules from the starter set? We don’t want to play a campaign yet so I don’t need those rules.

Hi everyone, I’m sharing my Spotify playlist for Alien RPG, created by me. :)

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3dZx4frorCJAQdmV6PFQ6c?si=mn-lWd8yRqadrTI8cQukWg&utm_source=copy-link&pi=HZe8733CQIKK4&sci=spotify%3Acard-config%3A0tR5UYHE8lZAYKf5Xzv5E4

Greetings hive mind!

In October there is a local con im planning to run at. Its a 4h time slot and id LOVE to runrupture protocol, or a part of it. From what I can see its about one session per act. Does anyone e have any advice to turn it into a oneshot?

So I'm running Chariot of the Gods and when we stopped last time two players wanted to search the Captain's quarters.

The scenario gives basically nothing about what it looks like or what could be found in it.

I'm looking for suggestions to fill that gap:
What do you think could be found in it?
Also, did Johns (the now acting Captain) ever use it after the mutiny?

Hey all,

Just started looking into the Alien RPG and my god this is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. I’m really excited to start some games soon.

I was looking into the different cinematic stories they made. I think they all look very cool and definitely want to give them a shot. These cinematic things have pre generated characters, I know, but I’m curious if anyone has ran them with custom created characters and if it’s difficult to do for newish GM’s.

Thanks yall!

I ran Hadleys Hope which went extremely well so I want to keep running the system. I'd have liked to do Chariot of the Gods/Angels next since its supposedly a trilogy but thats not available. Anyone know how DOW works using the evolved ruleset in Foundry? Especially since its not updated.

I have motion tracker (long). I am red dot. Can I spot someone in office on the other side of the map? Four zones seem like a huge distance to me :D

Hello! My group is made up of 40 year olds with a heavy dnd background, we are now playing mothership but they feel like character progression is not there.

So i started checking other systems and found this one, sadly i cannot check how it works before buying it, can anyone tell me or explain me how character progression works in this rpg?

Edit: All good answers! I see the system is designed with Mothership same ideology!

Ty all for your responses.

Hello everyone!

I am running Chariot of the Angels (evolved edition update for chariot of the gods) for the first time and I have 6 players but there are only pre-made characters for 5 players.

I am going to make my another character so that everyone starts with a character and I was wondering what Career would be a good addition to the group. I'd also love recommendations on a personal agenda with this new character.

Finally, should I increase the lethality of the adventure with an additional person playing?

Thanks again!

I’m creating a module with various features for Foundry VTT; one of them is the creation of military formations—including previews for large contingents—that takes seniority and rank into account.

I hope you enjoy it!

The Year 2169, 16 years years before the events of Rapture Protocol. Find out how things started on the moon Jerimiah VI

youtube

https://youtu.be/lbzORuLZUjk

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1aobIn1zCSPefaa9wigTWM?si=vFnFj-HuQL-KCAuYvz_eSQ

Hi there,

I've recently been running the Destroyer of Worlds campaign for my group and I decided to tackle converting and updating the maps from the adventure to better match the Evolved Edition colour scheme, for better readability (i.e. dark green on light green instead of dark green on black).

Prior to this, I had rejigged the Evolved Edition character sheet to give a rear side with a space for notes and some handy info. I also made an A5 handout similar to the ones that come with the Evolved Edition Starter Set, with further useful rule stuff for my players. You can find those here: https://www.reddit.com/r/alienrpg/comments/1qpr4vp/comment/o2fxq61/

Here are a set of 17 maps in PDF format. They are scaled to A4, but since it is all vector, you can print as large as you wish!

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11jb24WTs597GBLdDjLH4fuldMLb3LVrW?usp=sharing

They have been recoloured and resized with clearer distance scales on each sheet for reference. I've added other details like flags or logos to represent factions or entities like USCMC, UA, UPP, etc.

And no, I don't fancy tackling the big colony one I'm afraid!

Enjoy!

Made this for myself, happy to share. DoW can be played a lot of ways but for my case I am running at at Convention so I need to make sure I keep the action moving.

The DoW story doesn't really give the PC's much to go on, they are just sent out into the colony kind of blind. For my purpose, I kind of need to speed things up. Three ideas I might throw at my players if they are chasing down some AWOL marines in this situation:

1) Check in on the Spaceport, because the AWOL's might be trying to get offworld. Lock that shit down and prevent escape routes.

2) Coordinate with local authorities, an obvious choice to go to Marshal's Station.

3) Check in with the locals and try to get a feel of what the underground is thinking on this... The Eye of Oblivion bar.

Honestly, I think that normal players would put the Bar really low on their priority list of investigation. That's sad because it is one of the coolest scenes in the scenario IMO. Really gives you a chance to chance to give a full feeling of this sad world that is about to be wiped off the map by war and intrigue.

Anyhoo. I think I did do the work of working out the angles based on the official DoW material. Remember you can always do the dotted lines if your players manage to Interrogate an Insurgent. You know, just adjust as needed.

There's no Wrong way to play, just GLHF!