12 Hours Of Nostromo Medical Bay Ambient Sound

A BETA PDF IS COMING IN A FEW WEEKS!

This week's newsletter from Free League Publishing revealed that those of us who've pre-ordered the Alien RPG (and already got our sizeable 'quickstart' preview PDF) should be receiving a Beta PDF of the full game soon.

Of this unexpected bonus, the newsletter says:

"Behind the scenes, we're working very hard on the full rulebook, and we expect to be able to share a Beta PDF of whole thing with you in a few weeks.

The full game contains lots of material beyond the Cinematic Starter Kit, mostly focused on fleshing out the Alien universe for Campaign play.

One really meaty chapter of the full rulebook deals with life in space in 2183 AD, and a big part of that chapter is focused on something every self-respecting sci-fi RPG needs – spaceships.

The rulebook will include comprehensive rules for starships, how to modify and upgrade them – and how to fight fast and brutal battles with them."

I know a lot of people have been keen to see how the game handles space travel, where it sits between "hand-waving" and "ultra-crunchy".

Artwork by John R. Mullaney

Nostromo Auto Destruct Sequence

Perfect to play in the background of your game - to really get the players on edge!

LOVECRAFT GETS IT

Alien: Isolation

GM INSPIRATION: Alien Worship

Whatever you thought of Noomi Rapace's Elizabeth Shaw in Prometheus, it is clear that - to some people anyway - religion is still a key element in 22nd Century life.

However, while Shaw's faith was recognisably rooted in current mores, Diana Pasulka, a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina, suggests in her new book, American Cosmic, that a belief in aliens could become a new "religion".

Transposing this to the world of the Alien RPG, we could see cults of searchers, looking for salvation in the nebulous concept of "alien life", but then getting a rude awakening when they cross paths with the xenomorphs.

A second idea would have a nihilistic, doomsday cult worshipping the "perfection" of the xenomorph, perhaps giving themselves up to become willing hosts to their "alien gods".

You can read Pasulka's interview in Vox here.

LOVECRAFT GETS IT

HOPE'S LAST STAND (actual play podcast)

Previously known as The Coriolis Effect, Effekt is a fan podcast celebrating (mostly Swedish) roleplaying games, which now includes Free League's Alien RPG.

The episodes above are a three-part actual play of the game, involving the people who ran the official demos of the game at the recent UK Games Expo, followed by a discussion of how it went.

• Meanwhile, here's a write-up at AvP Galaxy from someone who played the scenario at UK Games Expo.

Today's The Day (In 2122)

On June 4, 2122, The Nostromo took off from LV-426 with a facehugger attached to its executive officer, Kane.

Over the next few hours, the events of the movie Alien played out, and cinema-goers were introduced to the xenomorph.

Alien: Infestation

Alien: Ore