Alien The RPG's Revamp Adds Tools to Allow for Long-Term Campaigns

Alien RPG’s upcoming revamp is one of the more exciting updates for the game. It will expand the world of Weyland-Yutani, androids, and Xenomorphs to allow new ways to play and incorporate some of the latest films and lore into the books and expand the realm of terror that players may face in the coming days. The original game has had some significant success. Still, its design aimed more toward shorter campaigns, where players face their fears and the encroaching terror of Xenomorphs and other monstrosities in short cinematic episodes rather than longer campaigns.

Thankfully, the Free League team is trying to make campaigns in this sci-fi setting a lot easier with the book and has added new tools that they claim will help players survive longer and hopefully have a greater time at the table.

TTRPG Insider spoke with Tomas Härenstam, CEO of Free League Publishing, about the game and what fans should expect to change.

TTRPG Insider: What are the big, most exciting changes that the Alien update has for fans and for longtime players of the game?

Tomas: We’re adding a more sturdy stealth mode, support for using miniatures, locations and gear from ALIEN Romulus, a new graphic design - and a solo mode!

TTRPG Insider: What standout rule changes should most new players anticipate with the game's release?

Tomas: The revised rules for stress and panic, as well as armor, will hopefully improve the experience. I also think the expanded stealth mode will be a lot of fun to play!

TTRPG Insider: When talking about the Starter Kit and the Cinematic event, what are some of the big story elements that fans should be excited for?

Tomas: Hope’s Last Day in the new Starter Set is a short but intense visit at one of the most iconic locations in the ALIEN universe. Rapture Protocol is a more expansive story, focusing on the creeping horror of ALIEN but with few twists along the way. We hope people will enjoy them!

TTRPG Insider: ALIEN RPG has always seemed better for short campaigns than long ones. Is the team striving to address this or provide better guidance around it?

Tomas: The game has two game modes - cinematic play and campaign play. Cinematic play is perhaps the way most players will continue to enjoy the game, but we are adding more support for campaign play in the core rulebook - expanded tools for missions, the new campaign location Jackson’s Star from ALIEN Romulus, and the Tartarus Sector campaign setting.

TTRPG Insider: What collaborative efforts occurred with regard to ALIEN ROMULUS and the upcoming ALIEN EARTH show? Anything fans should expect?

Tomas: Working with the ALIEN Romulus material was great! We had access to Col Price’s amazing concept art of the Jackson’s Star colony, and could discuss with him directly and use his art - and the film itself of course - to create a map of the colony, by Stefan Isberg, and the text description of it, by Paul Elliott. Also, John R. Mullaney did a fantastic job researching and recreating the new pulse rifle and the Corbelan spaceship featured in the film. Alien: Earth will not be incorporated in the new core rulebook, but we hope to explore it in future expansions.

6. With books like Colonial Marines not as prominent, were their rules incorporated into the main rulebook? Any new class or character options?

Tomas: The Colonial Marines Operations Manual is also getting a revision. It will mainly update the graphic design but also update the stats for weapons, vehicles, and spaceships to the Evolved Edition.

Alien RPG -Evolved Edition and Rapture Protocol is available for backing on Kickstarter until April 17. You can also learn more about the game with Tomas’ interview over at The Fandomentals by fellow reporter Dan Arndt.