Alien RPG Adventures

ALIEN RPG ADVENTURES

Free League Publishing has Alien RPG adventures mapped out and ready to play. These are set up as cinematic scenarios which the core rulebook defines as “A cinematic scenario emulates the dramatic arc of an ALIEN film. Designed to be played in a single session, this game mode emphasizes high stakes and fast and brutal play. The conflict between player characters is likely, and you are not all expected to survive. Most of your PCs probably won’t live to see the end of the scenario.”

There are plenty of Alien RPG adventures to choose from. What you choose depends on your preferences. Do you want to run a scenario with marines, space truckers, or colonists? Do you want the scenario to take place on a ship or a planet? Take a look at the scenarios below and see if you can find one that fits your taste.

CHARIOT OF THE GODS

The star freighter USCSS Montero is diverted to check out a distress signal sent by the USCSS Cronus, a science exploration ship that has been missing for three-quarters of a century. The crew of the Montero investigate and find the few remaining Cronus crew in stasis and the ship overrun by alien creatures. As they attempt to transfer the survivors to the Montero, the star freighters reactor is set to overload by
one of the crews, who have orders to bring back the xenomorphic materials the Cronus is carrying.

With their ship destroyed, the Montero crew is forced to repair the Cronus instead. The crew soon finds themselves caught between corporate agents who put their mission and a paycheck ahead of human lives, the crew of the Cronus who are suffering from an infection that is slowly turning them into monsters, feral alien creatures that are out for blood, and a murderous android who wants to stop Weyland-Yutani from getting their hands on anything alien. Just when the Montero crew discovers that they too might be infected, pirates attempt to seize the ship. It all comes down to one question—does the crew want to stop a dangerous biological weapon from getting into the wrong hands, or do they want to become very, very rich?

DESTROYER OF WORLDS

The mission was a manhunt, the objectives clear—track down four fugitives, recover any assets they may have made off with, and keep ‘em all out of enemy hands. Go find them on a frozen moon full of hostiles and get it done on the eve of war.

Nothing you couldn’t handle.

But what it is that these bastards stole—and how the hell it got inside them—is another thing altogether. It’s all above your pay grade, marine—but somehow you’re the one who’s got to deal with it.

Of course, now there’s an invasion fleet incoming, and there’s something else, too—something much worse. Something out there hates you—hates everyone. It is something big and ugly. Something with metal teeth—and you’re pretty sure it ain’t alone. Yeah, the mission was supposed to be a simple manhunt. Instead, it turned out to be just another glorious day in the corps.

COLONIAL MARINES

Armor-piercing rounds sizzle through raw flesh as plasma beams sear swollen retinas. Acrid smoke chokes down your throat before you realize what’s burning is you. Chemical attacks melt your armor, simmer your eyeballs, and fuse your warped helmet to your skull, while bioweapons turn your insides out and pulp you into a quivering mound of black jelly.

Welcome to the war on the razor edge of space, marine—where nukes are yesterday’s news, pulse rounds are cheap and human life is only worth its weight in stock options. It’s a living hell—but none of that’s as bad as the flashes of gnashing metal teeth that terrorize you every time you try to close your eyes—like some goddamn monster just split your head open and crawled inside your dreams.

You joined the Corps because you wanted to see the stars—well, that and because you wanted to shoot at things. But, you believe in duty and honor. You believe in the Corps. You’ve made your best friends for life here—and watched plenty of them get cut down by shrapnel or claw for no good reason at all. Hell, sometimes it feels like God doesn’t want you out in space any more than the Devil does. A nuke never cares whose side you’re on—both heaven and hell are always looking for new recruits.

But enough of that philosophy crap. You get paid to follow orders, not ask questions. You’re just a grunt—no offense. So lock and load your pulse rifle, marine—you’ve got a job to do. Protect and serve the citizens of the Outer Rim colonies— no matter what the cost.

HEART OF DARKNESS

The company found a new life form, and they want you to study it. Their offer’s uncharacteristically generous—you catalog this organism, determine how they can use it, and bring it back so they can slap their patent on it. Fairly routine stuff. In exchange, they’ll hook you up with a cushy corporate department head position, secure you a book deal, and make sure the institute of your choice gives you tenure. Did I mention the money? There’s a lot of it. A simple survey, sample, and analysis job. Seemed too good to be true.

Of course, it is.

HOMEBREW ALIEN RPG ADVENTURES

Cinematic scenarios are a great place to start if you are new to tabletop RPGs, Alien RPG, or both. They will give you the tools to learn the Alien RPG gameplay mechanics. Writing cinematic scenarios or campaigns can be a daunting task and not everyone is up for the challenge. These cinematic scenarios help alleviate that pain.

If you are looking for an original scenario, then you want to take the cinematic route. You’ll write your own Alien RPG adventure and use the rulebooks as the backbone for your storyline. This involves a lot more work but can be severely rewarding.

Alien RPG adventures that I run are all contained within Halifax: Precious Cargo betwixt Dragons and Ghosts. It is a homebrew adventure that uses Alien RPG as the framework.

Here are some tools to get you going. My Alien RPG Tools include a planet generator, resources, and homebrew content. These will help you with your Alien RPG adventures.