Death in Space RPG is a sci-fi horror tabletop game set in a collapsing universe. Players navigate a gritty, blue-collar future with unreliable technology. Available as a PDF on DrivethruRPG and Free League.
1.1 Overview of the Game
Death in Space RPG is a sci-fi horror tabletop role-playing game set in a collapsing universe. Players navigate a gritty, blue-collar future where technology is unreliable and survival is uncertain. The game emphasizes crew dynamics, risky jobs, and power struggles within the lawless Tenebris system. It blends elements of horror and sci-fi, offering a unique vision of space exploration where danger lurks around every corner. The core rules are available as a PDF, providing a rules-lite system focused on storytelling and player agency. With its dark, atmospheric setting and emphasis on teamwork, Death in Space challenges players to thrive in a universe on the brink of destruction. The game also includes additional content, such as character sheets, adventures, and supplements, making it a comprehensive experience for fans of sci-fi horror RPGs.
1.2 Key Themes and Setting
Death in Space RPG delves into a grim, apocalyptic universe where the fabric of reality unravels. Central themes include survival, camaraderie, and the struggle for power in a lawless cosmos. The game is set in the Tenebris system, a wartorn expanse filled with broken technology and ancient mysteries. Players navigate a blue-collar existence, taking on risky jobs to survive amidst collapsing infrastructure and societal decay. The setting combines elements of horror and sci-fi, with a focus on atmospheric tension and moral ambiguity. The PDF version of the game provides a detailed backdrop for this dying universe, offering players a rich, immersive environment to explore. The blend of gritty realism and cosmic dread creates a unique narrative space, making Death in Space a standout in the sci-fi RPG genre.
Core Rules and Gameplay Mechanics
Death in Space RPG features a rules-lite system, emphasizing skills, quirks, and phenomena purchasable with XP. The game thrives in a collapsing universe, where risky jobs and survival define progress.
2.1 Core Rules Overview
The core rules of Death in Space RPG provide a streamlined, rules-lite system designed for immersive storytelling and player agency. The game emphasizes a gritty, survival-focused experience, where players navigate a collapsing universe filled with risk and opportunity. Character creation is flexible, allowing players to craft unique individuals with skills, quirks, and phenomena that define their roles in the story. Task resolution is straightforward, relying on simple mechanics that prioritize narrative over complexity. The rules also include systems for resource management, crew dynamics, and the inherent dangers of space travel. With a focus on collaboration and adaptability, the core rules ensure that both new and experienced players can quickly immerse themselves in the game’s bleak yet captivating universe. The PDF edition of the core rules is available on platforms like DrivethruRPG and the Free League webstore.
2.2 Key Gameplay Mechanics
Death in Space RPG features a rules-lite system with mechanics designed to enhance storytelling and player agency. The game uses a simple task resolution system, where success or failure is determined by resource management and player choices. Crew dynamics and relationships are central, with mechanics encouraging collaboration and conflict. The Void Points system allows players to influence outcomes, adding a layer of strategic decision-making. Resource scarcity and environmental hazards create tension, forcing players to make tough decisions. The Press mechanic introduces high-stakes risks and rewards, while the Reputation system tracks the crew’s standing among factions. These mechanics work together to create a gritty, immersive experience, focusing on survival and narrative depth in a collapsing universe. The PDF edition details these systems, ensuring players can quickly grasp the game’s core mechanics and dive into the story.
Additional Content and Supplements
Death in Space RPG offers a variety of supplements, including 6 Additional Origins and the Transit Precinct 45 adventure. These expand gameplay and story depth, available as PDFs on DrivethruRPG and Itch.io.
3.1 6 Additional Origins for Death in Space
6 Additional Origins for Death in Space is a single-page PDF supplement that expands the game with six new unique origins. Each origin comes with two benefits, offering players more customization options for their characters. These origins introduce new skills, quirks, and phenomena that can be purchased with XP, adding depth to character creation. The supplement is designed to enrich the Tenebris system and provide fresh narratives for players. It is available digitally on platforms like DriveThruRPG and Itch.io, making it easily accessible for fans of the game. This content is ideal for players seeking to diversify their playstyle and explore new storylines within the grimy, blue-collar universe of Death in Space.
3.2 Transit Precinct 45 Adventure
Transit Precinct 45 is a thrilling adventure for the Death in Space RPG, originally featured in the Thoughts & Prayers zine in 2023. This scenario presents a unique “reverse prison-break” setup, where players are tasked with infiltrating a Marshall station. The adventure is designed to challenge players with high-stakes objectives, tense encounters, and strategic decision-making. It offers a mix of combat, stealth, and role-playing opportunities, immersing players in the gritty, lawless environment of the Tenebris system. Available as a digital PDF, Transit Precinct 45 is a must-play for fans of sci-fi horror and intense narrative-driven gameplay. This supplement is accessible on platforms like DriveThruRPG and Itch.io, enhancing the Death in Space experience with fresh and exciting content.
Character Creation and Development
Death in Space RPG offers customizable character creation with diverse origins and backgrounds. Players can choose from various skills, quirks, and phenomena, progressing through XP-based advancements. Character sheets are available in multiple formats, including color, black & white (A4, A5, letter), ensuring flexibility for all players.
4.1 Origins and Backgrounds
In Death in Space RPG, character creation begins with selecting an origin, which defines a character’s starting skills, traits, and background. The core rules provide a variety of options, while supplements like the 6 Additional Origins for Death in Space expand this further. Each origin offers unique benefits, such as enhanced abilities or access to exclusive gear. Players can choose from diverse backgrounds, ranging from space-faring mercenaries to engineers, each with distinct roles in the crew. These origins are designed to be flexible, allowing for customization through XP-based advancements. The rules-lite system ensures that character creation remains streamlined, focusing on storytelling and immersion. With additional content like Transit Precinct 45, players can explore even more unique backgrounds tied to specific adventures, enriching their experience in the Tenebris system.
4.2 Skills and Progression System
The Death in Space RPG features a modular skill system tied to the game’s gritty, survival-focused setting. Skills are acquired and improved through experience points (XP), allowing players to customize their characters based on their roles and adventures. The core rules provide a foundation of skills, while supplements like the 6 Additional Origins for Death in Space expand these options further. Progression is gradual, emphasizing practical advancements that reflect the harsh environment of the Tenebris system. Characters can develop unique quirks and phenomena, adding depth to their abilities and background. The system encourages strategic thinking, as players balance immediate needs with long-term growth. This progression model ensures that characters evolve organically, fitting seamlessly into the game’s narrative-driven gameplay and the collapsing universe’s unforgiving conditions.
The Tenebris System
The Tenebris System is a lawless, wartorn environment where technology often fails. Players must navigate power struggles, risky jobs, and a dying universe to survive and build their crew’s reputation.
5.1 Setting Overview
The Tenebris System is a lawless, wartorn environment in a collapsing universe. Technology is unreliable, and society is fractured, with humanity struggling to survive. The setting emphasizes gritty, industrial aesthetics, with cramped spaceships and derelict stations. Players navigate a mix of corporate interests, criminal factions, and alien threats. The system is filled with opportunities for scavenging, smuggling, and risky jobs. Crew dynamics are central, as trust and loyalty are vital in a harsh, unforgiving world. The Tenebris System blends sci-fi horror with a blue-collar ethos, creating a unique atmosphere of desperation and survival. Its design encourages storytelling through resource management, moral dilemmas, and the consequences of choices in a dying universe.
5.2 Factions and Power Struggles
Factions in Death in Space shape the political and social landscape of the Tenebris System. Major corporations, criminal syndicates, and rogue military groups vie for power amid the universe’s collapse. These factions often clash over resources, territory, and influence, creating a volatile environment for players. Corporations like the Iron Ring dominate trade and technology, while criminal organizations exploit chaos for profit. Military remnants and extremist groups further complicate alliances and conflicts. Players must navigate these power struggles, choosing to align with, oppose, or manipulate factions to survive. The dynamic interplay between factions adds depth to the game, offering countless opportunities for intrigue, betrayal, and strategic play. This complex web of alliances and rivalries is central to the game’s narrative and gameplay experience.
Adventures and Campaigns
Transit Precinct 45 is a standout adventure, offering a reverse prison-break scenario on a marshall station. It introduces players to the gritty, high-stakes environment of the Tenebris System.
6.1 Transit Precinct 45
Transit Precinct 45 is a gripping adventure for the Death in Space RPG, originally featured in the Thoughts & Prayers zine in 2023; This scenario presents a unique “reverse prison-break” setup, where players must navigate the challenges of a marshall station. The adventure is designed to immerse players in the gritty, high-stakes environment of the Tenebris System, emphasizing survival and strategic decision-making. With its focus on tension and moral dilemmas, Transit Precinct 45 offers a compelling narrative that challenges players to confront the harsh realities of a collapsing universe. Available as a digital download, this adventure provides a thrilling addition to any Death in Space campaign, showcasing the game’s blend of sci-fi horror and intense storytelling.
6.2 Other Notable Adventures
Beyond Transit Precinct 45, the Death in Space RPG offers a variety of compelling adventures that expand the game’s universe. One notable example is Cesium 66, a sector on the Iron Ring filled with unique locations and conflicts. This supplement, originally published in the Thoughts & Prayers zine, provides a rich setting for players to explore. Another standout is Echoes in the Void, a revised adventure featuring the wreck of the CC571, offering a haunting and atmospheric experience. These adventures often include bonus content, such as handouts and additional factions, enhancing gameplay depth. Players can find these and other scenarios on platforms like itch.io and DrivethruRPG, ensuring a steady stream of new stories to engage with in the Tenebris System.
Digital Resources and Tools
Digital resources for Death in Space RPG include official PDFs available on DrivethruRPG and Free League’s webstore. Character and hub sheets are provided in various formats, enhancing gameplay organization and accessibility.
7.1 Character Sheets and Hub Sheets
Death in Space RPG offers a variety of digital character and hub sheets to streamline gameplay. These resources are available in multiple formats, including color, black & white (A4, A5, and letter sizes), ensuring compatibility with different printing preferences. The character sheets are designed to organize player information, such as skills, equipment, and personal data, while hub sheets help manage crew and ship details. These tools are essential for tracking progression and maintaining clarity in the game’s complex setting. Players and GMs alike can download these resources from the official itch.io page, enhancing their tabletop experience with organized and visually appealing layouts. The sheets are regularly updated to reflect the game’s evolving content, ensuring they remain a vital asset for any Death in Space campaign. Their availability in digital formats makes them easily accessible for players worldwide.
7.2 PDF Availability and Platforms
The Death in Space RPG PDF is widely available across multiple platforms, ensuring easy access for players worldwide. The core rules and supplementary content, such as adventures and character sheets, can be purchased directly from the Free League webstore and DriveThruRPG. Additionally, scenarios and other materials are accessible via itch.io, offering a centralized hub for all digital resources. Players can acquire the PDF version of the game immediately upon purchase, making it convenient for tabletop enthusiasts to dive into the gritty, sci-fi horror setting. The availability of digital formats ensures that fans can easily download and share the content, fostering a vibrant community of players and GMs. This accessibility has contributed to the game’s growing popularity, allowing it to reach a global audience eager to explore the collapsing universe of Death in Space.
Community and Expansions
The Death in Space RPG community is vibrant, with fans creating custom content and sharing it online. Expansions like Dead Flag Contracts and third-party supplements are in development, offering new adventures and mechanics. Crowdfunding campaigns and updates ensure the game continues to grow, engaging players and GMs alike in its grim sci-fi universe.
8.1 Community Contributions and Fan Content
The Death in Space RPG community is thriving, with fans creating diverse content to expand the game. Players and creators share custom scenarios, origins, and adventures, fostering a collaborative environment. Notable examples include the Thoughts & Prayers zine, which introduced unique settings like the Cesium 66 sector. These contributions often blend seamlessly with the core game, offering fresh perspectives on the Tenebris System. Fans also produce character sheets, hub sheets, and digital tools, enhancing gameplay accessibility. The game’s official platforms, such as itch.io and DriveThruRPG, host a variety of third-party content. This grassroots support has helped Death in Space grow into a rich, dynamic tabletop experience, with its community-driven expansions and mods ensuring endless possibilities for players and GMs alike.
8.2 Future Expansions and Updates
Death in Space RPG continues to evolve with upcoming expansions and updates. The developers have announced Dead Flag Contracts, a new expansion offering additional missions and storylines. This content promises to deepen the game’s lore and introduce new challenges. Fans can expect early PDF access through crowdfunding campaigns. Regular updates and patches are also planned to enhance gameplay and address community feedback. The game’s success has led to global distribution, with physical copies soon to follow. These expansions will further immerse players in the gritty, high-stakes universe of Death in Space, ensuring a dynamic and engaging experience for both new and veteran players.