Watch Well Games: Issue #33
ALIEN 2e. Help new players. Four layer free map.
Welcome to our RPG community newsletter!
Glad to have you here.
Here’s What We’ve Got For Y’all:
A Quick Shameless Plug
Guest Writer Warren Davidson Discusses ALIEN 2e
Help New Players With RPG Lingo
Free Map from Schlau (Light in Darkness Gaming)
I’m K.J. If you’re curious, you can learn more about me here.
Programming Note: Starting today, the frequency of newsletters will drop down to twice a month (2nd and 4th Fridays). I need more time to work on other projects.
A Quick Shameless Plug
Moments of Mirth: Vol. 2 - Captain Coggins’ Chronometer (a Dragonbane supplement) is available.
Because I enjoy Dragonbane so much and want others to start playing it, I put my supplement on sale - this weekend only.
I’d love for you to check out both “Moments of Mirth” volumes. The first one is free, while I charge for the second one out of respect for my own time, energy, and creative thoughts being used to produce this.
Grab up a copy on itch.io, where creators earn 100% of what they list on the site:
DTRPG takes 35% of my earnings, but if you feel more comfortable using it to make purchases, you can find it here:
Wazza’s Whimsical Wanderings: ALIEN 2e
by guest writer Warren Davidson
“You still don’t understand what you’re dealing with do you? The perfect ruleset.”
Role-playing games are like viruses, they spread and change over time, and are incredibly infectious, but in a good way of course. Rules are tightened up and clarified, the artwork is improved, the games companies make more money, and everyone is happy. Well, that’s the theory anyway. The cynic in me realises that games companies need to make money and that means increased sales. So, every now and then a new edition of a popular RPG is announced to much fanfare. The thing is do you really need it? I was happy with Windows 98, it did everything I asked of it without the need for constant updates. Then the Millennium edition was released in 2000 and crashed my computer; I uninstalled it faster than you can press “Ctrl+Alt+Del.” Do I harp on about how bad it was? No. I went back to Windows 98, and everything was Hunky-dory.
Role-Playing games are the same; if you don’t like a particular edition or version of the rules, then use the one you do like. A perfect example of this is the Star Wars RPG. There have been several editions and rules systems released over the last thirty-seven years since the first game by West End Games in 1987 and I still feel it’s d6 system is the best fit. I’ve tried the d20 game by Wizards of the Coast and the narrative dice system released by Fantasy Flight Games and enjoyed them thoroughly; however, for me, the d6 system feels more in-tune with the Star Wars universe.
I’m of the same mind about the ALIEN RPG by Free League Publishing, the rules compliment the setting and tone of the universe perfectly. It’s currently my favourite RPG and the product line up to this point has been consistently strong and incredibly fun to play. The rules are straightforward, and they work. So, you can imagine my surprise upon receiving an email saying a second edition was in the offering. It’s only been five years since the ALIEN RPG was released, so has enough time passed for a new one? Again, I could be cynical and say it’s a cash-grab tied into the forthcoming ALIEN Romulus movie release to maximise sales, and it certainly won’t harm them. However, I’m going to stay positive here and say I’m optimistic. Why? Because any new gaming material is welcome and if it encourages new players to join the hobby then so much the better. So, without further ado let’s have a look at what Free League Publishing are offering in ALIEN the Role-Playing Game Second Edition!
ALIEN Second Edition by Free League Publishing is coming to Kickstarter in the Fall of this year. We’re told that the new core rules will deliver an updated and streamlined version with new artwork. Sounds good so far. We have a new starter set which will include abridged rules, character sheets, dice, reference cards, handouts and an expanded version of the cinematic adventure: “Hope’s Last Day.” Well, for my money, the ALIEN RPG Starter set was the best starter set released in recent years. It has everything you need plus the fantastic cinematic adventure: “Chariot of the Gods” which is one hell of a world ride and an experience you’ll never forget, it’s that good. So, I feel disappointed that we won’t be getting a brand-new adventure in this box set. Don’t get me wrong “Hadley’s Last Hope” is one hell of a good adventure considering it’s designed as the final act in a three-act adventure. And I’ve run it on numerous occasions, and it’s been different each time. However, I would much rather prefer something new and fresh. What do I think an expanded version of this adventure might be like? I’ll hazard an educated guess and say it’ll be a full three-act adventure now. With expanded details on the Hadley’s Hope Colony and a lead into playing the Colonial Marines from ALIENS when they investigate the Colony’s communications blackout. Imagine official stats for Hicks, Hudson, Vasquez and Ripley - now that’s a long-awaited pipe dream come true!
Next up is a new cinematic box set entitled “Rapture Protocol” which says it returns to ALIEN’s roots with players taking on the roles of a star freighter crew on a resupply run. So familiar territory there. That’s it on the RPG release. I shall reserve my comments until more information is forthcoming. Finally, and the most surprising, are miniatures tied in with Rapture Protocol. I for one am not interested as I play exclusively online now, but I can see the appeal. They will be competing with the ALIENS miniatures range by Gale Force Nine, so it will be interesting to see how they compare in both quality and price.
There we have it, the product line-up for ALIEN The Role-Playing Game Second Edition. Watch this space.
Now, for purely selfish reasons, here is what I would like to see:
An ALIEN resurrection universe sourcebook (I know, I know it’s considered the worst movie, but it has a soft spot in my heart and would make for a great campaign setting.)
An expanded critical hits table (as I am a cruel Games Mother who loves to make my player’s lives more miserable)
More careers
More adventures
An official ALIENS vs Predator tie-in would be cool (we can always dream)
Lots more battle maps
Until next time this is Wazza, signing off…
What would you like to see in ALIEN 2e? Leave a comment below.
Help New Players With RPG Lingo, Abbreviations, and Acronyms
You’ve played RPGs for a while. You know your way around. I get it. I’ve been guilty of doing this very thing too.
Those other (often silently lurking) members in those Discord servers, subreddits, forums, or other shared social media spaces where RPG fans gather aren’t like you - yet.
What am talking about?
I see many folks who join these shared spaces, introduce themselves as new to roleplaying games, then not engage any further. I wondered why until I myself was the newbie (again) for a game I just purchased. I saw experienced players of that RPG chat with each other using lingo I wasn’t familiar with yet. I had questions about that particular game, but hesitated because it felt rather intimidating. Going forward, I then applied my own experience to those who are completely new to tabletop roleplaying games altogether.
We forget that these newcomers need definitions for the sweet lingo and cool abbreviations and acronyms that we casually use when chatting with other RPG veterans.
A suggestion for all of us (me included): Be ready to type out the long form for WFRPG, CoC, WoTC, FL, TFtL/TFtF, AoE, VTT. Be okay with taking a moment to define and contextualize “murder-hobo” and “min-max.” (I use these specific examples because these have been the ones I’ve seen new players ask - over and over.)
And please - let’s avoid simply telling new players to “just google it.”
If you’re too busy, at least share this, this, this, this, this, or this.
Final thought for veterans of the RPG realm (including me):
Free Map from Schlau (Light in Darkness Gaming)
Here’s this issue’s free map.
Schalu says:
This is a small tower from my larger castle map, "Castle of the Vanishing." Four grid layers from basement to roof provide a nice little vertical battle map with vertical challenges. The larger map is huge, containing two towers, a castle with three layers, and an underground system connecting everything.
Grab this one and any others you’ve missed via this Dropbox link:
Light in Darkness Gaming’s Patreon is currently in soft launch mode. Join for free today, or go ahead and subscribe now to support a human creator.
That’s all for this week, folks. Remember:
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https://www.questportal.com
I didn’t pick up Alien 1e. Will probably back 2e.