Francesca Viganò
As always, before tackling the review of Alien RPG: Starter Set and the included adventure, Chariot of the Gods, I would like to thank Free League Publishing for sending us the product in digital.
If you would like to purchase this product, you can find it on the editor’s store for 41,06 €; if you are only interested in the Foundry Virtual Tabletop version, you can buy it for 20.87 €.
Why a Starter Set?
I admit that it is a little difficult to talk about this adventure extrapolating it from the context in which it is presented. As I said, Chariot of the Gods is the adventure included in the Alien RPG Starter Set. It is therefore not possible to purchase it separately except as a module for Foundry VTT.
It is a 52-page product where the illustrations are strictly essential, almost exclusively dedicated to NPCs and maps to be used during the game. However, as we have already seen both in the Alien RPG review and in Alien RPG: Destroyer of Worlds, the whole volume is a great aesthetic success.
However, you may wonder about the need to purchase the Starter Set if you already own the basic manual; well I can say that collecting it is, in my opinion, an expense worth facing. The material contained in this box is worth the cost; furthermore, it is convenient to have a quick compendium of the rules that can be provided to players without having to go through the basic manual every time.
To Start Playing
As we said, the Starter Set is perfect for starting to play Alien RPG. Inside the cardboard box, which immediately recalls the tones of the franchise, you can find everything you need to approach the game and the Alien universe:
- The rulebook is condensed into 104 pages with a fast and effective ruleset, designed specifically to support the central themes of Alien: horror and action in the cold darkness of space.
- The 48-page scenario we’ll talk about shortly.
- A huge colour map, double-sided (864×558 mm format), with the space in the year 2183 on one side and the plans for the film scenario on the other.
- 84 game markers to keep track of your characters.
- 56 custom cards for weapons, personal objectives and initiative during combat.
- A set of ten basic dice and ten stress dice, designed specifically for the game.
A New Adventure
Let’s start by specifying that Alien RPG: Chariot of the Gods is not contained in the basic manual even if it is a cinematic module. We will therefore have a new adventure full of tension and revelations for our group to play.
In order not to give excessive spoilers, I will limit myself to outlining the incipit to have a little clearer focus of the plot. The crew of the USCSS Montero is awakened from hypersleep by a distress call. The call for help comes from the USCSS Cronus, an ancient science ship. So the characters, employees of a company, have a contractual obligation to investigate the abandoned ship and, if possible, save any survivors. Otherwise, they will not be paid for the current mission. What could go wrong?
The Cronus is not as adrift as it might seem at first glance. Power is still working in some areas and several crew members have survived in stasis. However, it is true, and how could it be otherwise, that something terrible is hidden on board the spaceship I’ll stop here but know that there’s much more.
Adrenaline and Plot Twists
The story is designed to be developed in approximately three sessions, although the duration always depends greatly on the table at which it is proposed; It comes with 5 pre-generated cards for the members of the USCSS Montero team and I advise against thinking about creating characters independently because the plot revolves perfectly around them.
Compared to the module present in the basic manual, this is certainly a more claustrophobic and contained plot, at least as regards the spaces; therefore it is essential that the gaming group likes the idea of having deep space around them and very little escape.
I would like to point out another fundamental difference compared to the Hope’s Last Days adventure that we talked about in the Alien RPG review. In this plot, the characters will not have to deal with traditional xenomorphs. The creatures presented in this module are those seen in Prometheus. I think this is a winning choice; players will constantly wonder what is happening and will not know what awaits them in terms of threats and twists. Of course, if the party prefers a story that puts the xenomorphs at the centre of attention, this adventure may not be the best one to start them off with.
The adventure, written by science fiction author Andrew E.C. Gaska (who also wrote the adventure Alien RPG: Destroyer of Worlds) doesn’t hold back. I can guarantee that the structure of the plot is very compelling and there will be no shortage of well-known chair jumps and twists.
I would also add that the choice of personal objectives for the characters is particularly apt, especially because it adds unexpected implications and the possibility of more than one turnaround among the crew members.
Alien RPG Starter Set Aesthetics Review
Abbiamo già visto in questa recensione alcuni elementi grafici di Alien RPG: Chariot of the Gods, ma guardiamo ora un po’ più da vicino cosa può aspettarsi da un punto di vista visivo chi si approccia all’avventura.
The full-print pages that reproduce the starry sky pleasantly accompany the reading; the green boxes are reminiscent of spaceship monitors in which the text stands out as if it were a real digital message. In my opinion The whole module is very nice.
The volume is a bit sparse on illustrations, although the works of Martin Grip and Gustaf Ekelund are always perfect. The entire module is full of maps, fundamental for managing the adventure and easily usable at the table thanks to the ever-present handouts of the Starter Set.
Conclusions of the Alien RPG Starter Set Review
Once again, in my opinion, we are faced with a very interesting module. Perhaps Alien RPG: Chariot of the Gods is not the best place to start if you have a group that is very passionate about the original saga. In any case, the plot is compelling and, as always happens with Free League products, the master is accompanied in managing the plot and aided by a very large number of accessories.
In conclusion, I recommend all fans of science fiction horror (and not just the Alien RPG franchise) to consider purchasing the Starter Set we talked about in this review. It can also be an excellent first approach for those who are not familiar with the saga at all.
