%% date:: [[2023-06-04]] %% # [[Alien RPG]] [site](https://www.alien-rpg.com/) Alien RPG is a [[Tabletop Roleplaying Games|TTRPG]] system created by [[Fria Ligan]], based on the [[Year Zero engine]] and set in the Alien movie trilogy universe. ## System Summary Setting:: Space sci-fi, in the Alien movie trilogy universe Classes:: Yes, *careers* - Colonial Marine, Colonial Marshal, Company Agent, Kid, Medic, Officer, Pilot, Roughneck, Scientist Races:: Sort of - most are human, but there are also androids (synthetics) and aliens (xenomorphs) Tests:: number of d6s equal to: `Attribute + Skill level + Base dice from gear + Stress level`. A 6 is a success. Degree of success:: Yes, for every extra 6 rolled on success dice Attributes:: Strength, Agility, Wits, Empathy Player agency:: High (story points) PC hardiness:: Medium PC power level:: Medium Rules complexity:: Medium ## Distinctive Features ### Stress and panic Stress is a way to push your character past their limits, but at a cost. Your stress level increases when you "push your roll", which is when you can take all the dice you rolled that didn't result in a 6 and roll them again: - If any of them is a 6, and you don't already have a 6, you succeed on the check. - If any of them is a 6, and you already had a 6 before pushing your roll, you get an extra success that you can use to get something extra (like a stunt). - If any of them is a 1, you fail to push the roll and instead you must make a panic roll. A panic roll involves rolling 1d6 + your Stress Level and then checking it against a Panic Roll table, and can result in anything from keeping it together to becoming completely catatonic. ### Dice pools At its heart is a simple mechanism: your modifiers determine how many dice you roll, and every 6 on the die is a success. Every *extra* 6 is a potential stunt or further degree of success. Dice stack up quickly, but it's fun to roll so many dice! ## My impressions of Alien RPG It's a great system that is surprisingly easy to get into. The rulebook is 400 pages but most of those pages describe the setting instead of adding rules. It's a pretty good system for a one-shot, but the tension is addictive and I could easily see myself wanting to play more. ### What I like - The stress and panic mechanisms really add to the element of mounting horror in the game. You go from stress barely mattering in the beginning to rolling 5+ dice and it adds a lot of tension, similar to [[The Witch Is Dead#Increasing danger]]. - The setting is everywhere, and it's hard not to get drawn in. There are many dangers to be wary of, and the relatively light rules make it easy to lean into the cinematic moments. - Mu-th-ur, the computer AI, is both an NPC and a way to do lore dumps, and is a constant reminder of the high-tech setting. I love that she's also not 100% consistent, though-- like she has a little more personality and mystery. ### What I don't like - Weapons are limited... but then again, you can just make up your own. - I would have liked to have had more playable races. Most players will just be human, which seems like a missed opportunity. ### My games of Alien RPG - [[ttrpgs/Chariot of the Gods/World|Chariot of the Gods]] ## Resources -