The Lost Universe: NASA's Tabletop Role-Playing Game Adventure

[dozens]

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/multimedia/online-activities/the-lost-universe/

A dark mystery has settled over the city of Aldastron on the rogue
planet of Exlaris. Researchers dedicated to studying the cosmos have
disappeared, and the Hubble Space Telescope has vanished from Earth’s
timeline. Only an ambitious crew of adventurers can uncover what was
lost. Are you up to the challenge?

This adventure is designed for a party of 4-7 level 7-10 characters and
is easily adaptable for your preferred tabletop role-playing game
(TTRPG) system.

NASA’s first TTRPG adventure invites you to take on a classic villain
(while also using and learning science skills!) as you overcome
challenges and embark on an exciting quest to unlock more knowledge
about our universe. Download your game documents below and get ready to
explore Exlaris!

[kyonshi]

Post by dozens
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/multimedia/online-activities/the-lost-universe/
A dark mystery has settled over the city of Aldastron on the rogue
planet of Exlaris. Researchers dedicated to studying the cosmos have
disappeared, and the Hubble Space Telescope has vanished from Earth’s
timeline. Only an ambitious crew of adventurers can uncover what was
lost. Are you up to the challenge?
This adventure is designed for a party of 4-7 level 7-10 characters and
is easily adaptable for your preferred tabletop role-playing game
(TTRPG) system.
NASA’s first TTRPG adventure invites you to take on a classic villain
(while also using and learning science skills!) as you overcome
challenges and embark on an exciting quest to unlock more knowledge
about our universe. Download your game documents below and get ready to
explore Exlaris!

I mean, kudos to them, but why are they going for a fantasy environment
for that instead of leaning into science fiction? Everybody can do
fantasy, but NASA would have the clout to just put out a science fiction
adventure and have it work.

Well, of course I know why they do it, it's because 5e is so popular
people might not even realize there's science fiction games out there.

[kyonshi]

Post by kyonshi

Post by dozens
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/multimedia/online-activities/the-lost-universe/
A dark mystery has settled over the city of Aldastron on the rogue
planet of Exlaris. Researchers dedicated to studying the cosmos have
disappeared, and the Hubble Space Telescope has vanished from Earth’s
timeline. Only an ambitious crew of adventurers can uncover what was
lost. Are you up to the challenge?
This adventure is designed for a party of 4-7 level 7-10 characters
and is easily adaptable for your preferred tabletop role-playing game
(TTRPG) system.
NASA’s first TTRPG adventure invites you to take on a classic villain
(while also using and learning science skills!) as you overcome
challenges and embark on an exciting quest to unlock more knowledge
about our universe. Download your game documents below and get ready
to explore Exlaris!

I mean, kudos to them, but why are they going for a fantasy environment
for that instead of leaning into science fiction? Everybody can do
fantasy, but NASA would have the clout to just put out a science fiction
adventure and have it work.
Well, of course I know why they do it, it's because 5e is so popular
people might not even realize there's science fiction games out there.

which reminds me that Wendy's (the fast food chain which I don't really
know because I am not American) released a ttrpg called Feast of Legends
https://archive.org/details/feast-of-legends

[dozens]

Post by kyonshi
which reminds me that Wendy's (the fast food chain which I don't really
know because I am not American) released a ttrpg called Feast of Legends
https://archive.org/details/feast-of-legends

I seem to recall that the community was so outraged about an obvious
corporate sellout grab that Critical Role had to apologize for playing a
oneshot of it.

There were in-game powerups for irl purchasing food from Wendys. Which
is awful and also kind of brilliant.

[kyonshi]

Post by dozens

Post by kyonshi
which reminds me that Wendy's (the fast food chain which I don't
really know because I am not American) released a ttrpg called Feast
of Legends
https://archive.org/details/feast-of-legends

I seem to recall that the community was so outraged about an obvious
corporate sellout grab that Critical Role had to apologize for playing a
oneshot of it.
There were in-game powerups for irl purchasing food from Wendys. Which
is awful and also kind of brilliant.

I had a look at it and it didn't seem like anything I'd want to play,
but I liked the idea of the hobby being so mainstream that a fast food
chain just decided to use it for advertisement.

[dozens]

Post by kyonshi

Post by dozens

Post by kyonshi
which reminds me that Wendy's (the fast food chain which I don't
really know because I am not American) released a ttrpg called Feast
of Legends
https://archive.org/details/feast-of-legends

I seem to recall that the community was so outraged about an obvious
corporate sellout grab that Critical Role had to apologize for playing
a oneshot of it.
There were in-game powerups for irl purchasing food from Wendys. Which
is awful and also kind of brilliant.

I had a look at it and it didn't seem like anything I'd want to play,
but I liked the idea of the hobby being so mainstream that a fast food
chain just decided to use it for advertisement.

I also remember the setting having obvious stand-ins for Ronald and for
the Burger King.

I thought it was funny.

[John Dallman]

Post by kyonshi
I mean, kudos to them, but why are they going for a fantasy
environment for that instead of leaning into science fiction?
Everybody can do fantasy, but NASA would have the clout to just
put out a science fiction adventure and have it work.

If NASA does SF, then it has to be really plausible, realistic SF. That
lacks mass-market appeal and is hard to do well. "Clout" doesn't let you
change popular culture.

Fantasy is easier to do, and nobody except the most determined conspiracy
theorists will expect it to have anything to do with the reality of NASA.


John