Halifax | Episode 35 | Into the Darkness | Alien RPG
Table of Contents
Welcome to Alien RPG and Halifax | Episode 35 | Into the Darkness. We are in the middle of a survival horror phase. The crew remains stuck on the second floor. Supplies are running low and the crew is tired. The good news is that there appear to be no threats aside from the lack of supplies and exhaustion. The ventilation system on the second floor is open. What will the crew find next?
EXPLORATION
The crew must push forward in order to find their way off the second floor. They also need to figure out what the hell is going on. There are minor impact periods consisting of light tremors and low-frequency booms that pound the chest. However, there is no indication as to what is causing these minor impacts.
The ventilation system on the second floor is open. Maintenance lights flicker on so the crew can avoid blind exploration. They may not have to travel into the darkness, but their vision is limited and they must travel carefully. Who knows what lurks in the dark?
THE CAMERA
The crew doesn’t have any light source of their own. The only light source they have comes from the building they are in. So, when the crew finds a camera in the ventilation system, they figure that they can use the camera’s flash as a light source.
This camera does not have any film in it nor is there any film to be found. The camera appears to be low on power, too. With that said, the crew needs to be careful when they choose to use the camera. The flash will give them only a brief view of any dark areas they encounter and once they go into the darkness, they will have to fully rely on the camera for light.
IMMERSIVE OPPORTUNITY
I took this opportunity to come up with something unique to the Halifax campaign. I designed a virtual camera for my players to use when they use the camera in a dark area. This immersive opportunity replaces the stealth mechanic in Alien RPG. However, this immersive opportunity is temporary and has been made specifically for the scenario they are in.
This web application simulates a camera flash in a dark corridor. You press the button to activate the camera’s flash and a d12 rolls in the background. If you roll a certain number, you will run into an encounter. That’s all there is to it.
Check out the camera yourself and feel free to use it in your campaign or cinematic.
WHAT DOES MU/TH/UR THINK?
I feel like I can’t get much closer to survival horror in a tabletop RPG. Supplies are limited, there are no weapons aside from a knife and the environment. There appears to be no danger but we all know that danger can present itself any second. Thinking before acting takes precedence. They can’t get thrown much further into the darkness without completely falling.
Survival horror is one of my favorite genres in gaming. I have spent a lot of time with Alien RPG for this reason. I haven’t had the opportunity to go all-in on survival horror until now and I’m milking it for all it’s worth. I’m having a blast with it, too.
I created the Alien RPG Cameras to help make the experience more immersive. There is always room for improvement or added functionality but I feel like what I have for them now is enough. It seemed to work well which added to my excitement for my players.
ABOUT HALIFAX: PRECIOUS CARGO BETWIXT DRAGONS AND GHOSTS
This is the story of Halifax, an M-Class Commercial Starfreighter under the ownership of Weyland-Yutani, a large multinational conglomerate. The Wey-Yu employed crew aboard Halifax takes on cargo delivery jobs that dispatch them across the Stars of the Middle Heavens. However, space is a dangerous place, and the unimaginable is bound to happen.
The story of Halifax is set within the Alien universe. We are a team of five and we work together to tell the story. Our adventure begins in the year 2179, the same year that Ellen Ripley is recovered from the Nostromo, survives LV-426, and then is lost on Florina 161.
Alien RPG is a tabletop role-playing game that serves as the framework that guides us through our journey. Halifax: Precious Cargo betwixt Dragons and Ghosts is based on a homebrew campaign written by Joseph Stader. Every episode features actual play with minimal editing.
Expect story elements regarding space horror, sci-fi action, survival, and a sense of wonder. Gameplay consists of chance mixed with strategic planning. Every choice has a consequence. The right choice leads to another day where the wrong choice leads to panic, injury, or death.
Parental warning: The following presentation contains mature content and is intended for a mature audience. Listener discretion is advised.
Welcome to Halifax. Buckle up. We are in for some chop.