I got the core rulebook through KS. and luckily the Starter set and all the extras came with it in PDF form. I wanted the Core book in particular as I was looking for all the info, background and fluff in one book. Excellent review, thanks.
I got the alien rpg and found the rules very simple limited and only a few pages. The rest was information about the world which we all know from watching the movies. That's what worries me about this. 20 pages of rules the rest telling what you already know
One thing you didn't mention is that this game is definitely meant for a mature audience with good roleplaying chops. The reason it recommends running games for very small groups is because of the game's emphasis on personal character growth. A good chunk of the game is spent with characters' downtime activities, key memories and relationships ... and most importantly, their sense of morality vs work ethic. A good GM will frequently throw players into situations where they have to choose between doing their duty and doing the right thing. It's a Neon Noir (or Tech Noir) game and should be played as such. Basically, don't get this game if you want an easy good guy vs bad guy setting. This is not a black and white game. It's very much shades of grey throughout. The experience system very much highlights this as you get one type of experience (promotion points) by being a good cop, and another type of experience (humanity points) by being a good person.
Id prob agree with you about the lack of a case file for the core book, even a short one would have been good for the people who only purchase the book. I backed the deluxe offworld bundle so eagerly awaiting that with all it's perks. They have kind of mentioned/hinted a couple times during the campaign that they intend to release a number of case files and expansions including some more replicant focused stuff too. (There is the option in the core as well) Something that has also always interested me is telling non-bladerunner stories within the setting, I think that could be really interesting as it isn't completely over the top like a certain cyberpunk game... i'm sure you can work out what it's called ;) haha I love Alien RPG, so the thing about the starter set though is it lacks the character creation rules and only provides the pregens which is why i also grabbed the book, it's totally intended I feel.
Well the system does allow for players to be secretly a replicant if you let your Game Runner roll for it. The assumption again would that be that you could be a number of different models of replicants dependent on your relative age in the game such as Nexus-8, Nexus-9, or even some bootleg model. I'm glad I got the starter set and the core rulebook then haha, but I can see where you are coming from with the lack of an adventure.
I really enjoyed your in depth review! I am a firm opponent of putting adventures into core rulebooks. They are only useful once in a blue moon for the DM and basically never useful for players. I would rather that page count go towards adding other cool things to the rulebook. Having said that, I am also a firm believer that adventures are needed, especially for games that are not fantasy, not D&D clones. But that adventure should, preferably, be online rather than in the core rulebook.
I seriously want to get this. Not sure I would even get it played, but I just want to own it and read it. lol :-) Definitely looks like a small group game.
Again, appreciate your review of the Blade Runner RPG. I agree; the starter set is the better deal. I own both, but I will dig into the starter set first and use the core rulebook and GR screen to supplement.
Great Review, Jeff. This has my interests. I have a Gaming Group that is entirely made up of Military folk who now work in the Security field. So this game is probably perfect for them. I am sad that there is not a Pre-Written adventure within the book. But, I'll probably pick up the starter set anyway... especially with the cool dice and handouts.
Oh hey! Just watched the Hard City Review.... don't pit me in the running for the Blade Runner pdf. I have a PDF coming my way from one of my Players! So please, send it to someone who needs it!
Thanks for the page through and review! Just beginning to read through my copies of the Core Rules and Starter Set. So far I like the Core Rules. I need to look for any errata as I think I found an inconsistency in the Core Rules. Pg 027 ‘Years on Force’ states Replicants start as Rookies. Pg 028 ‘Years on the Force’ chart ‘**’ at the bottom of the chart states Replicants get one less Chinyen Point, ‘meaning they can start with zero’. The chart states a Rookie gets -1 Chinyen Point. It wouldn’t be possible to have zero if they get one less than -1. Am I reading it wrong?
So apparently if I kept reading to Pg 034, I would have noticed that you roll a die to determine Chinyen Points based upon your archetype and then modify it by your Years On the Force. Reading is fundamental. Lol
Thanks, Jeff! I bought a copy based on your review.
I think it is obvious that this core rulebook and the starter set are effectively mutually supportive releases. Owning both is nearly essential.
If amazon is behind the show, I’m not holding breath that it will be any good.
Right? If Rings of Power is anything to go by...
Well Ridley Scott is on board. I think we will be good.
The Boys is great.
Yeah... and now with the 40k
f-up...
I got the core rulebook through KS. and luckily the Starter set and all the extras came with it in PDF form. I wanted the Core book in particular as I was looking for all the info, background and fluff in one book. Excellent review, thanks.
Thank you Coco B!
I got the alien rpg and found the rules very simple limited and only a few pages. The rest was information about the world which we all know from watching the movies.
That's what worries me about this. 20 pages of rules the rest telling what you already know
One thing you didn't mention is that this game is definitely meant for a mature audience with good roleplaying chops. The reason it recommends running games for very small groups is because of the game's emphasis on personal character growth. A good chunk of the game is spent with characters' downtime activities, key memories and relationships ... and most importantly, their sense of morality vs work ethic. A good GM will frequently throw players into situations where they have to choose between doing their duty and doing the right thing. It's a Neon Noir (or Tech Noir) game and should be played as such. Basically, don't get this game if you want an easy good guy vs bad guy setting. This is not a black and white game. It's very much shades of grey throughout. The experience system very much highlights this as you get one type of experience (promotion points) by being a good cop, and another type of experience (humanity points) by being a good person.
Id prob agree with you about the lack of a case file for the core book, even a short one would have been good for the people who only purchase the book. I backed the deluxe offworld bundle so eagerly awaiting that with all it's perks. They have kind of mentioned/hinted a couple times during the campaign that they intend to release a number of case files and expansions including some more replicant focused stuff too. (There is the option in the core as well)
Something that has also always interested me is telling non-bladerunner stories within the setting, I think that could be really interesting as it isn't completely over the top like a certain cyberpunk game... i'm sure you can work out what it's called ;) haha
I love Alien RPG, so the thing about the starter set though is it lacks the character creation rules and only provides the pregens which is why i also grabbed the book, it's totally intended I feel.
Well the system does allow for players to be secretly a replicant if you let your Game Runner roll for it. The assumption again would that be that you could be a number of different models of replicants dependent on your relative age in the game such as Nexus-8, Nexus-9, or even some bootleg model. I'm glad I got the starter set and the core rulebook then haha, but I can see where you are coming from with the lack of an adventure.
Thanks for reviewing this. I was skeptical about the game, but it's likely something I'll end up picking up now
I really enjoyed your in depth review!
I am a firm opponent of putting adventures into core rulebooks. They are only useful once in a blue moon for the DM and basically never useful for players. I would rather that page count go towards adding other cool things to the rulebook.
Having said that, I am also a firm believer that adventures are needed, especially for games that are not fantasy, not D&D clones. But that adventure should, preferably, be online rather than in the core rulebook.
Glad it was helpful!
@@Thegaminggang It was! After watching, I bought the core rule book 📚 😄
I seriously want to get this. Not sure I would even get it played, but I just want to own it and read it. lol :-) Definitely looks like a small group game.
Thank you for your review.
My pleasure!
Again, appreciate your review of the Blade Runner RPG. I agree; the starter set is the better deal. I own both, but I will dig into the starter set first and use the core rulebook and GR screen to supplement.
My pleasure!
Great Review, Jeff.
This has my interests. I have a Gaming Group that is entirely made up of Military folk who now work in the Security field. So this game is probably perfect for them.
I am sad that there is not a Pre-Written adventure within the book. But, I'll probably pick up the starter set anyway... especially with the cool dice and handouts.
Oh hey! Just watched the Hard City Review.... don't pit me in the running for the Blade Runner pdf. I have a PDF coming my way from one of my Players! So please, send it to someone who needs it!
Thanks for the page through and review! Just beginning to read through my copies of the Core Rules and Starter Set. So far I like the Core Rules. I need to look for any errata as I think I found an inconsistency in the Core Rules. Pg 027 ‘Years on Force’ states Replicants start as Rookies. Pg 028 ‘Years on the Force’ chart ‘**’ at the bottom of the chart states Replicants get one less Chinyen Point, ‘meaning they can start with zero’. The chart states a Rookie gets -1 Chinyen Point. It wouldn’t be possible to have zero if they get one less than -1. Am I reading it wrong?
So apparently if I kept reading to Pg 034, I would have noticed that you roll a die to determine Chinyen Points based upon your archetype and then modify it by your Years On the Force. Reading is fundamental. Lol
So every PC is LAWFUL GOOD...
Not quite the game allows for gray areas. Lawful Good would be keeping on the straight and narrow.
No. The Skimmer class represents the "corrupt cop" trope, for example. Don't assume.
Lawful neutral would be the baseline. Characters then can drift into either good or evil territory.