Alien: Earth and the rpg (Spoilers for the series)
Posted: Sat 16 Aug 2025, 17:23
MINOR SPOILER WARNINGS FOR EP1/2 OF ALIEN EARTH...
So, I've only seen the first two episodes so far and read a couple of spoiler free background articles, but how are we all incorporating Alien: Earth into the rpg background? Main points to consider would be:
1. The Five Companies - Weyland Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic, Threshold and newcomers Prodigy, change the corporate landscape a little. I guess we'll learn the fate of Prodigy for sure, since they're the focus of the series, but what about the others? Also, Weyland-Yutani controlling North & South America, plus Mars and Saturn, and Dynamic controlling the Moon doesn't quite fit with the TWE / United Americas as presented (although I guess it doesn't massively contradict it either in a weird sort of way...)
2. The Maginot has been out in deep space picking up some..um...questionable lifeforms. The tag text suggests a 65 year mission - which assuming that means it's just COMPLETED a 65 year mission and is on its way back to Earth at the end of that time period (4 months left) - Weyland Yutani chartered this mission in 2055, which pretty much jetisons the prequel movies, cos Weyland and Yutani are still separate entities in 2091, and thats before we consider David's role in xenomorph development...
To be fair this is the only major point of contention. Having Weyland-Yutani know about the xenomorphs before the first Alien movie is fine, I always assumed they knew about them in Alien, at least in basic terms, although the information doesn't seem to be available to the review board (or Burke) in Aliens. Kirsch's speech about "You stopped being food..." is interesting as well. For folks concerned with a certain aspect of the "Rapture Protocol" adventure that I won't repeat here cos its the open section, Alien:Earth actually does present a solution....
3. Morrow's Arm seems a teeny bit too high tech, but I guess as long as it doesn't become a "swiss army knife" of gadgets, I can live with it. If the corporations can create androids, there's no reason why they can't create modified replacement limbs, but the whole concept of "cyborgs" and how one of the Maginot crew reacts to him suggests a degree of prejudice. How common are cyborgs and where does the hate come from? The Hybrids I guess I have less of an issue with, its not too dissimilar to how Blue and Marcus interact in "Cold Forge", but I do think that "downloaded consciousness" might present the same question as Star Trek transporters - Are you a copy and the original is killed...?
That'll do for starters. Thoughts?
So, I've only seen the first two episodes so far and read a couple of spoiler free background articles, but how are we all incorporating Alien: Earth into the rpg background? Main points to consider would be:
1. The Five Companies - Weyland Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic, Threshold and newcomers Prodigy, change the corporate landscape a little. I guess we'll learn the fate of Prodigy for sure, since they're the focus of the series, but what about the others? Also, Weyland-Yutani controlling North & South America, plus Mars and Saturn, and Dynamic controlling the Moon doesn't quite fit with the TWE / United Americas as presented (although I guess it doesn't massively contradict it either in a weird sort of way...)
2. The Maginot has been out in deep space picking up some..um...questionable lifeforms. The tag text suggests a 65 year mission - which assuming that means it's just COMPLETED a 65 year mission and is on its way back to Earth at the end of that time period (4 months left) - Weyland Yutani chartered this mission in 2055, which pretty much jetisons the prequel movies, cos Weyland and Yutani are still separate entities in 2091, and thats before we consider David's role in xenomorph development...
To be fair this is the only major point of contention. Having Weyland-Yutani know about the xenomorphs before the first Alien movie is fine, I always assumed they knew about them in Alien, at least in basic terms, although the information doesn't seem to be available to the review board (or Burke) in Aliens. Kirsch's speech about "You stopped being food..." is interesting as well. For folks concerned with a certain aspect of the "Rapture Protocol" adventure that I won't repeat here cos its the open section, Alien:Earth actually does present a solution....
3. Morrow's Arm seems a teeny bit too high tech, but I guess as long as it doesn't become a "swiss army knife" of gadgets, I can live with it. If the corporations can create androids, there's no reason why they can't create modified replacement limbs, but the whole concept of "cyborgs" and how one of the Maginot crew reacts to him suggests a degree of prejudice. How common are cyborgs and where does the hate come from? The Hybrids I guess I have less of an issue with, its not too dissimilar to how Blue and Marcus interact in "Cold Forge", but I do think that "downloaded consciousness" might present the same question as Star Trek transporters - Are you a copy and the original is killed...?
That'll do for starters. Thoughts?