ALIEN [System Game] [Interest Check]

[Malkavian]

In space, no one can hear you scream...

Sevastopol Station was, at one time, a proud possession of the Seegson Corporation. A monolithic structure floating in orbit about KG-348, it was originally constructed to exploit the mineral wealth of the gas giant below and service the trade routes between Earth and the Outer Rim. But in this galaxy, good things rarely last.

Unfortunately for the Corporation, Sevastopol had fallen into decline due to economic fluctuations and re-routing of the Sol-Thedus flight path before their purchasing of the station, and their efforts to re-purpose it into a commercial hub proved to be poorly timed. With the company in dire financial straits, Seegson decommissioned Sevastapol in 2137, leaving behind only a skeleton crew and a contingent of Working Joe androids to enact the shutdown.

For reasons unexplained, the Weyland-Yutani Corporation purchased Sevastapol Station, and sent forth a small team to collect the recently recovered flight recorder of the long-missing USCSS Nostromo, which had been located and salvaged by the independently owned Anesidora. This team, and their courier, did not return and, without explanation, Sevastapol Station was sabotaged and left to burn up in the atmosphere of KG-348.

The Company want answers - answers that they believe lie with the sole surviving member of the team originally sent to recover the flight recorder. Found floating in space and in critical condition, Amanda Ripley has been taken to the nearby Mendel Station, a Weyland-Yutani owned research platform. It is here that the young woman is being kept, injured and restrained, to await the arrival of a Weyland-Yutani recovery team.

Application Information - Campaign Notes: ALIEN is a homebrew campaign for Free League's Alien: The Roleplaying Game. It will take place in the same year as the Alien: Isolation computer game, and its story-line will be related to the events of that title.

Regarding canon: from the moment the game begins, nothing is set in stone. Player character actions, or lack thereof, can affect the Alien universe in unexpected ways, and no aspect of canon is considered sacrosanct.

The Alien rules feature threats and combat that are extremely deadly - as befitting the source material, death isn't only possible, but extremely likely. Should a character die - and it's always a possibility - the player will be invited to make a replacement, and will be reintroduced to the story as quickly as possible.

Application Information - Character Creation: I'll be looking for 4-6 players for this game. Characters will be made using the standard method detailed in the Alien rulebook (14 attribute points, 10 skill points). I will consider all Careers, though some will be harder to justify than others (specifically, the Colonial Marine).

With the above in mind, I'll only be taking on ONE character of each Career, in order to ensure a bit of diversity. I will also only be allowing ONE android character - either one known to everybody, or a sleeper (in which case, only the controlling player will know what they are).

All characters will be associated with Weyland-Yutani in some way, either as employees or independents working under a Company contract. Regardless of affiliation, all characters will travel together upon the same ship - either a private hire or a company vessel, though the former is more likely.

Whilst it is very easy to die when faced with the nightmarish threat posed by the xenomorph, I would like players to create their characters in as much detail as possible, both to ensure that they feel real, and also to help the player care about them: these things are essential to bringing out the horror of the setting, as it's hard to care about the survival of the protagonists when you're making them with the expectation that they are throw-away personalities.

Application Information - Posting Expectations: Whilst I won't begin the game with strict rules in place for posting, I do ask all players to ensure I'm made aware of any absences, or occasions when they're unlikely to be able to post for a while: I'd like to limit how frequently the group is waiting on individual players posting in order to advance. Where necessary, I will remove inactive players from the game should they prove too unreliable!

It's worth noting that, when it comes to science-fiction and horror, I love telling stories that involve interactions, relationship- and world-building, and a good level of immersion. As such, I'll be looking solely for players who thrive off of RP, and who love to engage in it with PCs and NPCs alike. Furthermore, I'd like to find players whose writing style compliments my own, and vice versa, to ensure that all parties remain invested and interested throughout - as such, this will not be a first-come, first-serve game.

To keep things paced, I will likely ask players to join a Discord server, where communication can be much faster - but this is not mandatory, and unless everyone's on board with its use we will simply use an OOC Thread here on E.

If the above grips you, please post your interest here!

[wander]

I'm in for this. 

I'm not up to join a Discord for this, though otherwise I dig this game, got all the supplements outside the Starter Kit for it and yeah, open to play whoever depending on who else joins and what occupation they want to go for. 

So I take it this game is set around the aftermath of ALIEN Isolation and we're a WY recovery team to pull Amanda Ripley in for a debrief, ja?

[Malkavian]

Essentially, though I'd likely give you guys more time to get used to your characters before simply throwing you into the core premise, just so the characters are more realised.

[Vigduson]

Definitely interested. Can play any career.

[Malkavian]

Two interested. Nice. If we have more, then I'll take this further.

[Hawkwood]

...and my axe pulse-rifle.

I'll have a re-read of the careers and come up with a more sensible character suggestion other than dropship pilot.

[Malkavian]

Glad to hear it! Looks like three interested parties so far.

[wander]

I'm playing a roughneck and engineer technician in a game here already, so ideally I'd like to do someone a little different for this one.

Ironically I'd go for Pilot, though for other things more useful to WY learning more, an investigator based off the Colonial Marshal occupation, or a Scientist with the Analysis talent could work. Failing that, Corporate Agent with the Personal Safety talent seems super fun to play too.

Not claiming any of these, if anyone else thinks one of these sounds fun, that's all cool. I'll take whatever's left. 

[Malkavian]

Interesting concepts all. If we had another interested party show up, we can begin to discuss this properly.

[PixelatedPixie]

I would be interested.  I have the system but haven't had a chance to use it except for one game that failed to launch.

[Hawkwood]

I've been thinking

Colonial Marine (sorry Malk. The "banter" ability sounds like way too much fun)
Officer
Marshal - I watched Outland recently.

I'd normally go for medic or pilot, but want to break out of those ruts.

[Malkavian]

Sounds like we have four interested parties. If you can, send me two or three concepts (concepts only) with desired careers/roles. I'd like to keep it diverse and so won't be looking to double up at the start.

Only send concepts you wouldn't mind playing - not only will this help determine back ups (should your main go ker-splat), but it'll also make it easier to ensure that everyone ends up with an idea they like whilst also giving a more well-rounded team.

In terms of ship... Still working on that. It's likely owned by, or being paid off to, the Company, though you're all beginning in their employ (unless career would suggest another means of involvement is needed, like Marshal, Marine, etc.).

[lore]

Colour. Me. Interested.

...also terrified.

It's been a while since I wrestled with a system, but for Alien, I'd gladly do so

[Malkavian]

Colour. Me. Interested.

...also terrified.

It's been a while since I wrestled with a system, but for Alien, I'd gladly do so

Welcome!

ALIEN is an easy system to learn fortunately, once you get your head around the Stress mechanic.

Looks like we have five interested. I'll begin planning for an OOC Thread and then move us over to there once I have concepts from people and a more thorough idea of who is playing what.

[Vigduson]

I can fill any role we lack by the creation stage, no real preference on career.

[Malkavian]

Let's all move over to the OOC Thread - we'll discuss the game and characters over there.