Free League announces official Alien RPG

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I actually liked the narration in BLADE RUNNER because I thought it added in a layer of "detective noir" similar to the old Raymond Chandler stuff. I guess the whole human versus replicant was totally off my radar for the first couple of decades, then I finally saw some discussion on the topic on the internet somewhere. Never crossed my mind that Decker might not be human, but I tend to see things in a more literal manner so it's no surprise to me that I missed that layer of potential depth.
 
I actually liked the narration in BLADE RUNNER because I thought it added in a layer of "detective noir" similar to the old Raymond Chandler stuff. I guess the whole human versus replicant was totally off my radar for the first couple of decades, then I finally saw some discussion on the topic on the internet somewhere. Never crossed my mind that Decker might not be human, but I tend to see things in a more literal manner so it's no surprise to me that I missed that layer of potential depth.
I never thought about the Deckard as a Replicant thing until years later, when whichever special edition it was came out on VHS. Which was around the time people started to see Blade Runner as a film worth watching, rather than a dreary thing where nothing happened, then there was a boring chase scene and it ended in a way that didn't really make any sense. Early to mid 90s I'd say. Back in out 'get hammered and watch cyberpunk' days. As an aside, it's no surprise that I never took to Shadowrun. We were proper 'punk purists back then.

Back on topic, the theatrical cut seems very difficult to find. All I can find now is the Final Edition or the Director's Cut.
 
Back on topic, the theatrical cut seems very difficult to find. All I can find now is the Final Edition or the Director's Cut.
That's too bad. While I prefer the final cut, in the media-rich age we live in, there shouldn't be any reason for people not to be able to get their hands on their favorite version of a movie.
 
I first saw Blade Runner on one of the cable movie channels probably sometime in 83. I came in somewhere right after the shot of the eye and before Holden starts administering the test to Leon. I'm like, what is this? Then, BOOM! And I'm like WTF? It hooked me in and I was absolutely enthralled for the entire runtime of the movie.

After that, the movie became a regular rental from the video store for me. I don't think I started considering Deckard as a replicant until my third viewing or so. Even then, I considered it only as an open ended question. Rachael's accusation of the validity of the test definitely raises the spectre of if anyone is really human, but I did lean more to a metaphorical interpretation.

I saw the version with the narration first. Nowadays I prefer the non-narrated version. Would I have done so back in the beginning? Would I have been able to make sense of the movie without it? It's impossible to say now.

I never thought Blade Runner as slow paced. It definitely is a movie that gives itself time to breathe and develop. It's a movie that lets you soak in the world. It's a movie that lets you consider what's going on. Even being harsh, I'd only call the pacing deliberate, not slow.
 
I prefer the noir-ish narration.

Back in the day, I never really considered whether or not Deckard was a replicant. I just assumed that him being a hollowed-out shell of a person who was less human than the replicants he was hunting was kind of the point.
 
I've read Do androids dream of electric sheep, and even knowing the underlying "is he or isn't he human" thing, I just don't see it in any version of the film. Blade Runner is enough of a divergence from the story that I think one could do a film more faithful to the story without too much concern of being seen as a Blade Runner rip off. I don't dislike the narration-less version, just strongly prefer with.

I agree about the narration, it fits the noir style of BR as classics like Double Indemnity like Out of the Past also have great narration. Apocalypse Now is another film that just isn't the same without Michael Herr's slightly purple and over-ripe narration.

Slow isn't always bad. It can be refreshing to find a film that takes it time and trusts the audience. Pretty much every film tradition, from Europe and Russia to Asia and Iran, tend to be much slower paced than American commercial films. That isn't some error on filmmaker's part but just a different approach to filmmaking and editing.

Was that the Apocalypse Now Re-dux edition? I've only seen that version once, it was interesting, but for the most part I preferred the earlier release. I didn't remember them removing the narration, but agree it wouldn't be the same without it.

Talk about a movie with a convoluted release history, geez, they could release a boxed set to cover all the minor variations. In fact they have one planned for sometime this year to celebrate its 40th.
 
That's too bad. While I prefer the final cut, in the media-rich age we live in, there shouldn't be any reason for people not to be able to get their hands on their favorite version of a movie.
Tell Lucasfilm that. The original release of Star Wars has been pretty much buried.
 
Tell Lucasfilm that. The original release of Star Wars has been pretty much buried.
Yeah, that actually makes me really angry.

Some people say, "Well, it is his movie. He can do what he wants with it."

The team that did the effects in Star Wars did historically ground-breaking work in movie-making, and I guess Lucas can do alternate versions if he wants, but his actions to deliberately erase the originals is disgusting.

It's no different than if Don Chaffey, the director of Jason and the Argonauts, were alive today and decided to remove the original version from availability and replace everything Harryhausen did with CGI. "Well, it's Don Chaffey's movie. He can do what he wants!"
 
That's too bad. While I prefer the final cut, in the media-rich age we live in, there shouldn't be any reason for people not to be able to get their hands on their favorite version of a movie.

I've got a blu set with all three versions I picked up used.
 
I first saw Blade Runner on one of the cable movie channels probably sometime in 83. I came in somewhere right after the shot of the eye and before Holden starts administering the test to Leon. I'm like, what is this? Then, BOOM! And I'm like WTF? It hooked me in and I was absolutely enthralled for the entire runtime of the movie.

After that, the movie became a regular rental from the video store for me. I don't think I started considering Deckard as a replicant until my third viewing or so. Even then, I considered it only as an open ended question. Rachael's accusation of the validity of the test definitely raises the spectre of if anyone is really human, but I did lean more to a metaphorical interpretation.

I saw the version with the narration first. Nowadays I prefer the non-narrated version. Would I have done so back in the beginning? Would I have been able to make sense of the movie without it? It's impossible to say now.

I never thought Blade Runner as slow paced. It definitely is a movie that gives itself time to breathe and develop. It's a movie that lets you soak in the world. It's a movie that lets you consider what's going on. Even being harsh, I'd only call the pacing deliberate, not slow.

By the standards of the 70s it isn't slow paced by the mid-80s I guess it would be because it spends more time on characters than explosions.
 
Three versions? There's a LOT more cuts of Blade Runner than that.

I wouldn't consider workprints or previews offical cuts. Almost every film in the 80s would have preview and TV cuts.

Anyways I just checked and my set is 5 discs and includes the workprint, the US theatrical cut, the international theatrical cut, the director's cut and the final cut. Plus the Dangerous Days documentary on the making of the film.
 
I wouldn't consider workprints or previews offical cuts. Almost every film in the 80s would have preview and TV cuts.

Anyways I just checked and my set is 5 discs and includes the workprint, the US theatrical cut, the international theatrical cut, the director's cut and the final cut. Plus the Dangerous Days documentary on the making of the film.
It's all stuff that's been put out for sale, I'd say that means it counts. Jist because it was a pre release edit for focus groups doesn't matter if you can buy it.
 
It's all stuff that's been put out for sale, I'd say that means it counts. Jist because it was a pre release edit for focus groups doesn't matter if you can buy it.

Was the pre-release version ever available for sale? Sometimes these cuts pop up on the grey market but I haven't ever heard of a commerical release of that cut.
 
Was the pre-release version ever available for sale? Sometimes these cuts pop up on the grey market but I haven't ever heard of a commerical release of that cut.
There's an Ultimate Edition box set out there. It goes for silly money.
 
There's an Ultimate Edition box set out there. It goes for silly money.

Ah, mine is the 'Complete Collector's Edition.' I only watched the final cut and the international cut so far, should dig into the workprint some time.
 
By the standards of the 70s it isn't slow paced by the mid-80s I guess it would be because it spends more time on characters than explosions.

Yeah, try watching Bullit, The French Connection, The 7 Ups, or even Dirty Harry. These are among the top mentions of action flicks in the late 60s early 70s and they are quite slow paced compared to modern action movies. The damn story keeps getting in the way of the car chases and shootouts. :smile:

Ah, mine is the 'Complete Collector's Edition.' I only watched the final cut and the international cut so far, should dig into the workprint some time.

Silly, you need the Ultimate Extra Complete Uber-nerd Collectors Edition. Holy Crom do the studios get creative in finding ways to market DVD collections.

I'm guessing it is just a matter of time before extra footage is filmed specifically for the collector DVD market if they aren't already doing it.
 
Preorder for this goes up this weekend. There will be various bundles similar to Fria Ligan's KS, including a special edition of the book.
 
So my sister loves to play RPGs, mostly various editions of D&D, and she has never seen Alien. I wanted to explain to her what it's about and I found that I failed miserably.

"Well, you are space truckers taking cargo from point A to point B and sometimes you encounter these Aliens that you fight or they kill you."

She thought about it a moment, "and then what?"

"I guess you do it again." :-D

I'm re-watching the original Alien movie and it seems to be a lot like my feeble description. But the pictures of the RPG (like the one in the post above) look so darned cool. And I like Tales from the Loop, so if the same designers are doing this one I think I want one. But I have a feeling that my group won't be interested.

What's a better "sell" of the game than what I came up with? I haven't seen the whole series, but in my mind they are more of the same.
 
So my sister loves to play RPGs, mostly various editions of D&D, and she has never seen Alien. I wanted to explain to her what it's about and I found that I failed miserably.

"Well, you are space truckers taking cargo from point A to point B and sometimes you encounter these Aliens that you fight or they kill you."

She thought about it a moment, "and then what?"

"I guess you do it again." :-D

I'm re-watching the original Alien movie and it seems to be a lot like my feeble description. But the pictures of the RPG (like the one in the post above) look so darned cool. And I like Tales from the Loop, so if the same designers are doing this one I think I want one. But I have a feeling that my group won't be interested.

What's a better "sell" of the game than what I came up with? I haven't seen the whole series, but in my mind they are more of the same.
I think it would help if we knew more about the other factions in the IP universe.

Sometimes it's not the xenomorph as much as the threat to weaponize/experiment with the xenomorph (which is basically the entire plot of most of the Expanse). So it's more about exploration, investigations, corporate espionage/sabotage and cover-ups and all that versus always being the unlucky crew with a monster on board.
 
So my sister loves to play RPGs, mostly various editions of D&D, and she has never seen Alien. I wanted to explain to her what it's about and I found that I failed miserably.

"Well, you are space truckers taking cargo from point A to point B and sometimes you encounter these Aliens that you fight or they kill you."

She thought about it a moment, "and then what?"

"I guess you do it again." :-D

I'm re-watching the original Alien movie and it seems to be a lot like my feeble description. But the pictures of the RPG (like the one in the post above) look so darned cool. And I like Tales from the Loop, so if the same designers are doing this one I think I want one. But I have a feeling that my group won't be interested.

What's a better "sell" of the game than what I came up with? I haven't seen the whole series, but in my mind they are more of the same.

I see it as more Traveller / horror with Aliens (TM) as a constant but low rate of appearance threat. To be more useful than a one shot they will need to flesh out the Alien universe more. I think the material exists, so not a matter of making stuff up just finding it and connecting the dots in an interesting way and then filling in some of the gaps.

I see it as a similar issue to Call of Cthulhu which is very well suited to one shots and short campaigns, but longer term campaigns tend to run into more mundane encounters and non-mythos occult, sprinkled with only the occasional run ins with the tougher more mind shattering mythos baddies.

If every game runs into the Alien, it will become routine (and deadly), perhaps even boring. I imagine a longer term campaign would run some mundane Travelleresqe cargo runs, marine show the flag missions, maybe some inter-corporation intrigue. Suggest the presence of of an Alien, but have it turn out to be something else, so that when they actually encounter an Alien, it is a surprise.

Space is a harsh and uncaring place, and who knows what is out there among the stars. The Alien should just be one of many threats.
 
Some nice ideas and suggestions. So in some ways it's a bad thing that the franchise tag ALIEN is all over the game, and the "sell" is probably more of a generic scifi setting where the aliens are more background than foreground.

I like the Cthulhu example. And the mention of "The Expanse." :smile:
 
That's too bad. While I prefer the final cut, in the media-rich age we live in, there shouldn't be any reason for people not to be able to get their hands on their favorite version of a movie.
Try living in New Zealand! The media selection here is very limited.

Anyway, usually if you get a box set of Bladerunner or Alien, they throw in the originals in the extras. They also do it occasionally on the dowloads.
 
This is why I think the Hostile expanded dystopian future based on that era's movies has more legs as a campaign RPG. The aliens would be more like a one-off, hardly to be believed (and hushed up when they are) kind of element.
 
The entire reason for the existence of the game is so they can play up that it is the real deal, not a serial numbers filed off clone. it will be up to them to actually make it better than a generic sci-fi with trappings of Alien. I think it can be done, but they will have their work cut out for them.

If it just turns out to just be a series of one shots "The PCs get killed by Aliens" every week, I will be quite disappointed.

 
What's a better "sell" of the game than what I came up with? I haven't seen the whole series, but in my mind they are more of the same.
You're on the inside of a thin skin of metal shutting out the most hostile environment imaginable and one of your crewmates just let something deadly in there with you.
 
What's a better "sell" of the game than what I came up with? I haven't seen the whole series, but in my mind they are more of the same.

For the first movie: You're in a cabin in the woods... in space.
 
Free League has gotten a LOT of my money lately. Just can't justify $100+ with shipping on a coffee table, one shot game.
 
Thanks for posting that.

I finally got into the site: OUCH!!! $65 CAD, not including taxes and shipping (which tends to be around $20) means a $100 for a game that I could run with stuff that I already own.

Very nice coffee table book indeed... but this hobby is getting too expensive for me!!
 
Preordered the bundle (really good value IMO) with an extra set of each type of dice. I can’t wait to run this at a local con. All the dice and cards have done the hard work to make it an excellent presentation game.

Also, keen for a longer campaign of colonists on a hostile world, desperately fighting over resources and position as I use some form of alien to tighten the screws. Something a little less confrontational than the traditional xenomorph.
 
Also, keen for a longer campaign of colonists on a hostile world, desperately fighting over resources and position as I use some form of alien to tighten the screws. Something a little less confrontational than the traditional xenomorph.
I'm thinking about focusing on Weyland Yutani's competitors, like Seegson from Alien: Isolation. There has to be rumors that Weyland Yutani is up to something "innovative."
 
Thanks for posting that.

I finally got into the site: OUCH!!! $65 CAD, not including taxes and shipping (which tends to be around $20) means a $100 for a game that I could run with stuff that I already own.

Very nice coffee table book indeed... but this hobby is getting too expensive for me!!
(Cries in New Zealand)
 
Well I'm in for the standard bundle. I hope the game turns out to be as nice as the artwork.

I can be a sucker for special editions, but I like the standard book cover better than the special edition cover and it is $40 cheaper as an added bonus.

I'm going to have a nice birthday this year with this, Ruin Masters and Chassepot to FAMAS, French Military Rifles 1866-2016 (written by Ian McCollum, the Forgotten Weapons guy) all due to arrive near my birthday.


Now enough with the kickstarters and bundle of holding bundles, I have machines to feed. :ooh:


What's a better "sell" of the game than what I came up with? I haven't seen the whole series, but in my mind they are more of the same.

I think that is kind of selling the movies short, granted 3 and 4 needed some work, but what you essentially have is:

Alien: Space truckers accidentally allow a terrifying creature on board with them. A murderous android they are unaware of and who is secretly on the side of keeping the creature alive is an added bonus.

Aliens: Badass space marines are sent on a routine "check on a colony" mission. What they find is anything but routine. Unknown to them an asshole "company man" has other orders which hinders the team from completing their assignment. Added bonus, they are led by a greenhorn lieutenant who lacks the initiative to override BS rules of engagement placed on him by the company man (intentional or coincidence?).

Aliens 3: (Some repeat of 1), A ship "crashes" on a prison colony (accident or intentional act), there is one survivor and an unknown stow away. The company eventually shows up to claim its "property" and prove to be as bad as the creature.

Alien Resurrection: The corporations show that they in fact are worse the the creatures. A secret lab is attempting to weaponize the Aliens. Space pirates, mad scientists, a secret agent synthetic (with her own motivations), marines and civilians mingle in the action.



Personally I'd sell it more as a cyberpunk-ish / space sci-fi game with horror as an added feature. I'd look at movies / series like Blade Runner, Altered Carbon, Hardware and Firefly for plot inspiration. Almost any Cyberpunk 2020 or Shadowrun mission could be made to work. The corporations are ambitious and ruthless, the government corrupt, and ineffective due to the influence of the Corps, but not entirely without teeth or morals. There are many hazards out there for a regular Joe just trying to make a living, even for a well armed one trying to make the universe safer, one exterminated alien or company man at a time.

Hopefully the game is able to capture this, but that is where I would go with it. Maybe even throw in something like Event Horizon to make the Aliens seem sedate.
 
Personally I'd sell it more as a cyberpunk-ish / space sci-fi game with horror as an added feature. I'd look at movies / series like Blade Runner, Altered Carbon, Hardware and Firefly for plot inspiration. Almost any Cyberpunk 2020 or Shadowrun mission could be made to work. The corporations are ambitious and ruthless, the government corrupt, and ineffective due to the influence of the Corps, but not entirely without teeth or morals.
I completely agree with the cyberpunk angle primarily due to the corporations so quick to betray people to boost their stock value. It is more working joes compared to rebels/anarchists, but you have to start somewhere! I wonder if Ripley's character arc would have made it to dissident/rebel if she had lived longer?
 
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