Regarding the UPP invasion, perhaps it could be a mix. I'm guessing it couldn't be detected heading their way in FTL, but can be once the UPP vessels exit FTL in the system. Since the UPP force has to wake up, recover from cryosleep, prep their assault, and spend more time approaching the proper jump-off point at sublight speed, you could have them issue a warning to the troops on the planet to peacefully leave, thereby giving them an appropriate timer for where you are in the scenario at that moment. Send that message shortly after arrival but before they're done preparing. You can still make their arrival a surprise, not detecting them until they arrive, but still provide a time limit via comms while they're still transiting/prepping.
I like this idea a lot - I didn't even think about the cryosleep and recovery time issue. But the moon getting an automated warning ahead of the arrival works great.
@@1ShotJC - Any military commander worth her salt will start wake-up from cryosleep before falling out of FTL. (Unless FTL messes with awake humans' heads, which I don't remember in ALIEN. It would certainly fit the genre, though.)
@@JeffWilder I’d say set the exit point behind another stellar body or where some kind of detection interference can conceal them… wake up, warm up, get briefed, THEN start burning towards the drop. 😜
Pretty sure the black goo attack was meant to cover the extraction of the Queen/specimens. Cause chaos so the UPP can’t storm the elevator. I don’t think the Engineers are “out and about” enough to to launch that kind of attack at this point in the timeline.
I like that theory. The entire "Border Bombers" mystery in the Alien universe is a little frustrating to me. It's such a centerpiece of this adventure (and I hear show up in the newer novels), but if the GM takes it in a specific direction (engineers? rogue faction? W-Y? David?) it's likely to be wrong later. Obviously a good GM doesn't have to follow canon, but when I play in a specific universe, I like to stick fairly close to the canon IP.
@@1ShotJC Ah! Yeah. That totally makes sense. Given that WY has been shown to be all about experimenting with the black goo (thanks Alien Romulus) I would be comfortable going with that as the background reason - even if it proves to have been something else once more material is released! But I totally get your instinct. I’m like that with The One Ring RPG. 🤣
I sort of feel the same way about the extent of Fort Nebraska, although, as written, a lot of it is inaccessible, so it's not *really* five full levels. The thing that bugs me a little is the radiation, which differs in intensity and location across multiple levels. I'm not entirely sure what having it there gains the adventure, although I suppose it could raise thoughts of the nukes, and make rigging a nuke for detonation tougher to do. I dunno ... "nuke the site from orbit" is *absolutely* already going to be an idea from my players, so I think I'm going to skip the radiation.
I didn't mention it, but I mostly skipped the radiation too. The only time it came into play was when one group went to go get a nuke, I had that chamber flooded, so they had to get hazmat suits and then (awkwardly in those suits) deal with a radioactive alien charger in that room.
I'm about to run this adventure and these thoughts and tips are super helpful. You mentioned that there are some tools and assets available on your website for the adventure, but I cannot seem to find them. Any chance I could get a direct link to them, or some pointers as to where they are? Thanks!
I'm running DoW now, and for some reason my (wonderful) players fixated on the insurgency, so to get info on the insurgents, the Marshal Station was literally their first stop! Talk about a baptism by fire ... Interestingly, I'm going the other way with the UPP. Sure, they're soldiers and at war, but they're really in the same boat as the Marines when the black goo drops. War may be hell, but what does that make the black goo bombardment? (By the way, I'm pretty sure the Border Bombers aren't the Engineers. I'm not positive, but there are some clues scattered through various media.)
I’m pretty sure the Border Bombers are the Perfected from Heart of Darkness, and it feels like they’re the only ones within the RPG timeline who would drop the accelerant at this point. I saw Heart of Darkness as basically the reveal of the identity.
@@hankb9682 - SPOILERS for Heart of Darkness! > > > > > > > > > I don't think it's the Perfected. I'm actually playing in Heart of Darkness now (I'm Drabikowski), and one of the things my PC has discovered is that the Perfected are trying really hard to find worlds to FTL to and "colonize." They're also trying to extort the 26 Draconis strain from the PCs. Since HoD takes place *after* DoW, and the Perfected (AFAICT) arise in HoD, it doesn't fit for them to be the Border Bombers. But I don't know who they are (3WE? Morse "Beast" cultists?), so anything is possible, I guess.
What about using the Wilson PC from the Chariot of the Gods instead of Ms Eckford? In our camapaign he managed to escape from Cronus with all the samples and all the data.
@@1ShotJC Your suggestion of running Heart of Darkness before DoW is sound and I think I'm going to go with that. Putting Wilson in that adventure would be an option too, but for some reason I think he'd be betterin DoW. There already is the very good link there in the form of the ejected lab/lifeboat from Cronus. What do you think? EDIT: Also since I got your attention. Kudos to you sir! Very very good and useful ideas in these 2 videos I've seen so far.
I know, this doesn't really matter much, but a Lance Corporal and a Colonel are completely different rank-wise. A lance corporal is a low rank enlisted, basically almost the lowest of the low, barely above private. A lance corporal is not yet even a non commissioned officer (like a sergeant). A colonel is a fairly high ranking officer: a colonel's next promotion will take them up to general. Lance corporals stand guard, colonels are in charge of entire missions, even the ranking officer on an entire base or post. The lowest ranking officer (lieutenant) outranks the highest ranking enlisted (master sergeant). I know, "who cares"? I served in the military, so i get picky about that. 😊
This adventure sounds like the end piece to a longer adventure on the world. The marines arrive to deal with the insurgents, and after some various missions, this is the end. imho
Thanks, these are great tips. I was a bit at odds with this scenario, it felt a bit bloated, trimming away the unnecessary fluff will help run it.
Regarding the UPP invasion, perhaps it could be a mix. I'm guessing it couldn't be detected heading their way in FTL, but can be once the UPP vessels exit FTL in the system. Since the UPP force has to wake up, recover from cryosleep, prep their assault, and spend more time approaching the proper jump-off point at sublight speed, you could have them issue a warning to the troops on the planet to peacefully leave, thereby giving them an appropriate timer for where you are in the scenario at that moment. Send that message shortly after arrival but before they're done preparing. You can still make their arrival a surprise, not detecting them until they arrive, but still provide a time limit via comms while they're still transiting/prepping.
I like this idea a lot - I didn't even think about the cryosleep and recovery time issue. But the moon getting an automated warning ahead of the arrival works great.
@@1ShotJC - Any military commander worth her salt will start wake-up from cryosleep before falling out of FTL. (Unless FTL messes with awake humans' heads, which I don't remember in ALIEN. It would certainly fit the genre, though.)
@@JeffWilder FTL travel definitely messes with heads in the Alien universe. Part of the reason they're out during the whole trip.
@@JeffWilder I’d say set the exit point behind another stellar body or where some kind of detection interference can conceal them… wake up, warm up, get briefed, THEN start burning towards the drop. 😜
That map is GORGEOUS! I've not run gurps yet, this might be a good opportunity.
KatakiY’s maps are amazing. I can’t imagine how many hours he spent to make them so perfect for this adventure.
Pretty sure the black goo attack was meant to cover the extraction of the Queen/specimens. Cause chaos so the UPP can’t storm the elevator.
I don’t think the Engineers are “out and about” enough to to launch that kind of attack at this point in the timeline.
I like that theory. The entire "Border Bombers" mystery in the Alien universe is a little frustrating to me. It's such a centerpiece of this adventure (and I hear show up in the newer novels), but if the GM takes it in a specific direction (engineers? rogue faction? W-Y? David?) it's likely to be wrong later. Obviously a good GM doesn't have to follow canon, but when I play in a specific universe, I like to stick fairly close to the canon IP.
@@1ShotJC Ah! Yeah. That totally makes sense.
Given that WY has been shown to be all about experimenting with the black goo (thanks Alien Romulus) I would be comfortable going with that as the background reason - even if it proves to have been something else once more material is released!
But I totally get your instinct. I’m like that with The One Ring RPG. 🤣
I sort of feel the same way about the extent of Fort Nebraska, although, as written, a lot of it is inaccessible, so it's not *really* five full levels. The thing that bugs me a little is the radiation, which differs in intensity and location across multiple levels. I'm not entirely sure what having it there gains the adventure, although I suppose it could raise thoughts of the nukes, and make rigging a nuke for detonation tougher to do. I dunno ... "nuke the site from orbit" is *absolutely* already going to be an idea from my players, so I think I'm going to skip the radiation.
I didn't mention it, but I mostly skipped the radiation too. The only time it came into play was when one group went to go get a nuke, I had that chamber flooded, so they had to get hazmat suits and then (awkwardly in those suits) deal with a radioactive alien charger in that room.
Great job.
I'm about to run this adventure and these thoughts and tips are super helpful. You mentioned that there are some tools and assets available on your website for the adventure, but I cannot seem to find them. Any chance I could get a direct link to them, or some pointers as to where they are? Thanks!
Happy to help! You can find those assets on this page here: 1shotadventures.com/more-vtt-assets/
@@1ShotJC Thanks so much. Don't know how I missed them the first time.
I just read somewhere that they are going to make a 2.0 release for Aliens.
Yup! Kickstarter this fall along with a new campaign
I'm running DoW now, and for some reason my (wonderful) players fixated on the insurgency, so to get info on the insurgents, the Marshal Station was literally their first stop! Talk about a baptism by fire ...
Interestingly, I'm going the other way with the UPP. Sure, they're soldiers and at war, but they're really in the same boat as the Marines when the black goo drops. War may be hell, but what does that make the black goo bombardment?
(By the way, I'm pretty sure the Border Bombers aren't the Engineers. I'm not positive, but there are some clues scattered through various media.)
I like that take on the poor UPP soldiers. I'm curious now who dropped the black goo - would be cool if that was setting up another trilogy though.
I’m pretty sure the Border Bombers are the Perfected from Heart of Darkness, and it feels like they’re the only ones within the RPG timeline who would drop the accelerant at this point. I saw Heart of Darkness as basically the reveal of the identity.
@@hankb9682 - SPOILERS for Heart of Darkness!
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I don't think it's the Perfected. I'm actually playing in Heart of Darkness now (I'm Drabikowski), and one of the things my PC has discovered is that the Perfected are trying really hard to find worlds to FTL to and "colonize." They're also trying to extort the 26 Draconis strain from the PCs. Since HoD takes place *after* DoW, and the Perfected (AFAICT) arise in HoD, it doesn't fit for them to be the Border Bombers. But I don't know who they are (3WE? Morse "Beast" cultists?), so anything is possible, I guess.
What about using the Wilson PC from the Chariot of the Gods instead of Ms Eckford? In our camapaign he managed to escape from Cronus with all the samples and all the data.
Definitely anyone who escaped CotG could be the culprit!
@@1ShotJC Your suggestion of running Heart of Darkness before DoW is sound and I think I'm going to go with that. Putting Wilson in that adventure would be an option too, but for some reason I think he'd be betterin DoW. There already is the very good link there in the form of the ejected lab/lifeboat from Cronus. What do you think?
EDIT: Also since I got your attention. Kudos to you sir! Very very good and useful ideas in these 2 videos I've seen so far.
I know, this doesn't really matter much, but a Lance Corporal and a Colonel are completely different rank-wise. A lance corporal is a low rank enlisted, basically almost the lowest of the low, barely above private. A lance corporal is not yet even a non commissioned officer (like a sergeant). A colonel is a fairly high ranking officer: a colonel's next promotion will take them up to general. Lance corporals stand guard, colonels are in charge of entire missions, even the ranking officer on an entire base or post. The lowest ranking officer (lieutenant) outranks the highest ranking enlisted (master sergeant). I know, "who cares"? I served in the military, so i get picky about that. 😊
I care! And appreciate you pointing this out, it’s an easy thing to get wrong for us civilians.
This adventure sounds like the end piece to a longer adventure on the world. The marines arrive to deal with the insurgents, and after some various missions, this is the end. imho
My next video is going to suggest this very thing 😄