ALIEN RPG vs Black Star
Compare ALIEN RPG and Black Star side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| ALIEN RPG | Black Star | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Scifi, Horror | Scifi |
| Play Style | Horror, Survival, Deadly, Atmospheric, One-Shot Friendly, Gritty, Licensed IP | Rules-Light, Pulp Action, Space Opera, Beginner-Friendly, Fast-Paced, Mana Points |
| Core Mechanic | Roll a d6 dice pool (attribute + skill). Each 6 is a success. Stress adds extra dice — better odds, but stress dice that roll 1 trigger panic. Push rolls to reroll failures but gain stress. Cinematic mode for one-shots, Campaign mode for long-form play. | Roll 2d6 + ability, 9+ to succeed. Ten abilities rated 0–5. Pick two archetypes from ten options (Commander, Engineer, Mystic, Scoundrel, etc.) to define your character's strengths. Resolve serves as both HP and hero points — spend it to boost rolls or fuel special abilities, but run out and you're down. Advantages and disadvantages modify the roll. |
| Dice | d6 dice pool | 2d6 |
| Complexity | Medium | Low |
| Accessibility | High | Very High |
| Community | Medium | Low |
| License | All Rights Reserved (20th Century Studios license) | All Rights Reserved |
| Cost | $$ | $ |
| Publisher | Free League Publishing | Lakeside Games |
| Year | 2025 | 2023 |
| Best For | Sci-fi horror campaigns and one-shots in the Alien universe, with a stress/panic system that mechanically drives tension. Supports both deadly cinematic one-shots and long-form campaign play. | Groups who want fast, pulpy space opera with simple rules — pick two archetypes, grab some d6s, and blast off into adventure. |
| Highlights | Stress and panic system mechanically reinforces horror tension, two distinct play modes (Cinematic and Campaign), Evolved Edition streamlines rules and improves layout, well-supported licensed setting | Simple to learn, dual archetype system creates unique combinations, Resolve as HP-and-hero-points is a clean design, fast character creation, suited for one-shots and pickup games |
| Considerations | Tightly bound to the Alien IP with limited genre flexibility, stress mechanics can feel punishing at high levels, Evolved Edition changes are modest over 1st edition | Limited advancement options, narrow space opera focus, lacks deep tactical combat |