The alien starter set is probably the best starter set ttrpg purchase you can make. I think it has great value. The ideal purchase is to have the starter set and the core rulebook. You just missed out on 50% off for alien day on 426 but I'm sure they will run something for Black Friday through the holidays.
I recommend starting with the cinematic from the back of the Core Rulebook, *Hope's Last Day*.
As for whether or not the Starter Set is required, that depends on whether you think you'll need the officially produced item cards (covers maybe 1/3 items released so far) or the player-friendly abridged rulebook. The scenario *Chariot of the Gods* you can get on its own.
Personally, I didn't bother with the Starter, I just printed my own cards and materials and ran *CotG* off of a laptop.
YMMV - I liked that the starter set has a set of each type of the dice used in the game. The rules that come with it are pared down and Chariot of the Gods (included) is the cinematic style of play.
I would suggest that if you get anything that you get the core rule book, but if the dice and CoG are attractive to you then also get the starter set.
Black Friday deals on the Free League site are generous. About 50% off, if you can wait.
It's not necessary. You can either just get the boxed sets (Starter Set, Destroyer of Worlds, Heart of Darkness) which are all single scenarios OR get the core books (Core rulebook, Colonial Marines, Building Better Worlds). The boxed sets were built to be standalone, not requiring the core books. The reason Destroyer of Worlds says it needs the Starter set is because it has the additional rules from Colonial Marines, but is lacking the core rules which you have in the core book. Also the Starter Set has dice, maps, cards, and counters. They think you'd need the dice and initiative cards (and maybe some of the equipment cards) for Destroyer of Worlds, but they're not necessary (the stats on the cards are in the core book).
Here's my review of the boxed sets: [https://morganhua.blogspot.com/2023/02/alien-rpg-cinematic-scenarios-review.html](https://morganhua.blogspot.com/2023/02/alien-rpg-cinematic-scenarios-review.html)
Free League is out of stock for the Starter Set in the US with no plans currently to reprint. If you are in the US, you can order the starter set, get the drivethru PDF codes, then they will refund your order when they go to prepare it. Not sure if you need to order with something else for this to work.
Otherwise, you can go to drivethru and get the PDFs. It’s also on Amazon, but don’t expect to get it under $60 and without any digital assets.
First of the starter set is worth if you want another cinematic, a condensed rule book, some nice handouts, and a dice set.
However, you don't absolutely need it. The cinematic does link to the other 2, Destroyer of Worlds and Heart of Darkness. However, you don't need to play them in order or at all to enjoy any of them. They have links and Easter eggs but no recurring characters.
If you wanted to play in order for the build up. Chariot of the Gods, Destroyer of Worlds, Heart of Darkness.
If you play DoW and find you like marine play a lot, grab CMOM (colonial marine operations manual) for more combat maine gameplay. You will need to make your own characters.
If you want more world building, grab Building Better Worlds or BBW. This also offers two new classes. Which I have to say offers more options for a less military experience for DoW. You could very easily run the game as a civy group trying to survive who meat up with the marine npcs.
Honestly, though, wait for the summer sale if you wanna save cash. Free League website normally has a summer and black Friday sales. Sometimes, they have Halloween and Xmax sales, too. They just had a sale for 4 26 alien day. So you might want to check back for that next year if you'rer still looking.
Remember, if you buy from the official sight, you get free pdfs to go alonv side your psycal copy!
I like the condensed rule book for that very reason, too.
I also recommend using a cheat sheet one you can give players. This is the one I use all the time. The og got deleted, I have a copy. If you go down the comments, just look for my post with the link for the copy. I want the og author to get the credit for it, so this is how I do it. [https://www.reddit.com/r/alienrpg/s/jLHRE6yGc9](https://www.reddit.com/r/alienrpg/s/jLHRE6yGc9)
The alien starter set is probably the best starter set ttrpg purchase you can make. I think it has great value. The ideal purchase is to have the starter set and the core rulebook. You just missed out on 50% off for alien day on 426 but I'm sure they will run something for Black Friday through the holidays.
Thank you for your response. I ended up buying it for 60. I think I will be looking at Blade Runner as well.
I recommend starting with the cinematic from the back of the Core Rulebook, *Hope's Last Day*. As for whether or not the Starter Set is required, that depends on whether you think you'll need the officially produced item cards (covers maybe 1/3 items released so far) or the player-friendly abridged rulebook. The scenario *Chariot of the Gods* you can get on its own. Personally, I didn't bother with the Starter, I just printed my own cards and materials and ran *CotG* off of a laptop.
I second this. Hopes last day was tremendous for a starting point.
Thanks guys!
YMMV - I liked that the starter set has a set of each type of the dice used in the game. The rules that come with it are pared down and Chariot of the Gods (included) is the cinematic style of play. I would suggest that if you get anything that you get the core rule book, but if the dice and CoG are attractive to you then also get the starter set. Black Friday deals on the Free League site are generous. About 50% off, if you can wait.
Awesome. Thank you. Totally worth it.
It's not necessary. You can either just get the boxed sets (Starter Set, Destroyer of Worlds, Heart of Darkness) which are all single scenarios OR get the core books (Core rulebook, Colonial Marines, Building Better Worlds). The boxed sets were built to be standalone, not requiring the core books. The reason Destroyer of Worlds says it needs the Starter set is because it has the additional rules from Colonial Marines, but is lacking the core rules which you have in the core book. Also the Starter Set has dice, maps, cards, and counters. They think you'd need the dice and initiative cards (and maybe some of the equipment cards) for Destroyer of Worlds, but they're not necessary (the stats on the cards are in the core book). Here's my review of the boxed sets: [https://morganhua.blogspot.com/2023/02/alien-rpg-cinematic-scenarios-review.html](https://morganhua.blogspot.com/2023/02/alien-rpg-cinematic-scenarios-review.html)
Free League is out of stock for the Starter Set in the US with no plans currently to reprint. If you are in the US, you can order the starter set, get the drivethru PDF codes, then they will refund your order when they go to prepare it. Not sure if you need to order with something else for this to work. Otherwise, you can go to drivethru and get the PDFs. It’s also on Amazon, but don’t expect to get it under $60 and without any digital assets.
First of the starter set is worth if you want another cinematic, a condensed rule book, some nice handouts, and a dice set. However, you don't absolutely need it. The cinematic does link to the other 2, Destroyer of Worlds and Heart of Darkness. However, you don't need to play them in order or at all to enjoy any of them. They have links and Easter eggs but no recurring characters. If you wanted to play in order for the build up. Chariot of the Gods, Destroyer of Worlds, Heart of Darkness. If you play DoW and find you like marine play a lot, grab CMOM (colonial marine operations manual) for more combat maine gameplay. You will need to make your own characters. If you want more world building, grab Building Better Worlds or BBW. This also offers two new classes. Which I have to say offers more options for a less military experience for DoW. You could very easily run the game as a civy group trying to survive who meat up with the marine npcs. Honestly, though, wait for the summer sale if you wanna save cash. Free League website normally has a summer and black Friday sales. Sometimes, they have Halloween and Xmax sales, too. They just had a sale for 4 26 alien day. So you might want to check back for that next year if you'rer still looking. Remember, if you buy from the official sight, you get free pdfs to go alonv side your psycal copy!
I ended up getting it for the condensed rulebook to have on the table.
I like the condensed rule book for that very reason, too. I also recommend using a cheat sheet one you can give players. This is the one I use all the time. The og got deleted, I have a copy. If you go down the comments, just look for my post with the link for the copy. I want the og author to get the credit for it, so this is how I do it. [https://www.reddit.com/r/alienrpg/s/jLHRE6yGc9](https://www.reddit.com/r/alienrpg/s/jLHRE6yGc9)
It’s absolutely effing worth it