Alien RPG Immersion Tools
Table of Contents
ALIEN RPG IMMERSION
As Game Mother, we use many techniques to create Alien RPG immersion tools for our players. We want them to play the game but we also want them to experience the game. Immersion can come in many different forms and we all have our preferences.
I have been running the Halifax Alien RPG campaign for over two years and I have been exploring options to immerse my players as much and as often as possible. We play online so immersion can be even more difficult than playing in person. Virtual tabletops such as Roll20 help but I often find them limited in what they can do.
With that said, I’ve come up with a couple of Alien RPG immersion tools and techniques to start my path in creating immersive experiences with tabletop RPGs. The process can be challenging but I find the result so rewarding.
VIRTUAL TERMINAL
The first of the Alien RPG immersion tools I continue to work on is the Virtual Terminal. In the Halifax campaign, the crew has become stranded at LV-779 (a colony in the process of terraforming). The colony is large so I knew they were going to be here for a while. I decided that I needed something to keep them engaged and immersed in the experience.
The virtual terminal is a simulation of a terminal from the Alien franchise. I took inspiration from the first Alien movie and the video game Alien: Isolation. I combine several characteristics from the two sources such as visuals, sounds, and operation.
The virtual terminal Alien RPG immersion tools web application is a combination of a few programming languages. It is made specifically for desktop use since our campaign takes place online and we are sitting at our desktops during sessions. However, I have made the web application mobile-friendly although I don’t find it as intuitive as the desktop version. For the best experience, view the app on a desktop.
If you are interested in a Virtual Terminal for your campaign or cinematic, feel free to reach out to me via Discord or Email.
ALIEN RPG CAMERA
The Alien RPG Camera tool is part of the Alien RPG immersion tools for a specific scenario. For example, I put my players in a spot where they had to walk through some corridors with no light source. It is completely dark. They obtain a camera with no film but the flash still works. There is a limited amount of power left over so they have to be careful how they use it. They use the camera to make their way through the corridors.
The Alien RPG Camera replaces stealth mode, a mechanic in Alien RPG. However, this is not meant to replace the stealth mechanic indefinitely. Again, this is for a specific scenario and lightly breaks the rules of Alien RPG. With that said, I plan to use this until they make their way through the corridors and then discard.
The Alien RPG Cameras simulates walking through corridors and using the flash to see what is ahead. The images are used for immersion purposes only and don’t have to fully represent the corridors or rooms you are walking through. The images are random and so are the results. Think of it as rolling a d12. What you roll randomizes the images. Roll a specific number and you find danger. You’ll know when you do.
The neat thing is that you can use any of these Alien RPG immersion tools for your campaign or cinematic if you’d like. All you have to do is use the link to incorporate it into your game. Use it once and then be done with it.
THE FUTURE
I don’t have any other plans at this moment but I plan to make more Alien RPG immersion tools in the future. I’ll build them based on the needs of my campaign. I’m also open to suggestions. If you have an idea of something I can build, feel free to reach out to me via Discord or Email.