During the past week I joined a Facebook group for running Genesys Android Universe Games.

I was hoping that there might be illicit copies of the two part scenario that FFG ran at GenCon and Pax Unplugged showcasing the Android Universe and the upcoming source book.

Alas I was disappointed.

If I have one complaint about the Genesys system, particularly once they have released a source book is the lack of scenarios.

I understand why there are none for the actually Genesys Core Rulebook. After all it’s a generic rule set. The intention is that using the generic rules you go off and build worlds and run your campaigns in those.

However when they release source books for Terrinoth (their fantasy setting) or the upcoming Android Universe (their cyberpunk setting) they put out a “taster” scenario on the website as a pdf (I’m making the assumption FFG will put up the two part scenario they have been using), and that’s it.

It almost seems like bare minimal support for the systems compared to the likes of WotC and D&D.

Are FFG caught in a chicken and egg situation? More people would use the system if there were more readily available campaigns/scenarios. But FFG need more people playing before they produce more campaigns/scenarios. A vicious circle.

I’m not even going to mention about GM screens, or range of miniatures. Ok the Terrinoth one is easier to do, re-use D&D/fantasy stuff or use models from Descent. But Android? It’s much harder to find cyberpunk miniatures. However there are some out there.

Anyway back to the Facebook group I joined. I came across the following post:

Genius and so obvious!

So I decided to look at the other none lcg Android games to see if their premise would potentially make a good setting for a scenario/campaign in the Android Universe.

The most potential in my opinion out of the remaining games was…

Android the Board Game

“In the futuristic city of New Angeles, five detectives are investigating a vital murder case. They are:

• Caprice Nisei, Psychic Clone

• Floyd 2X3A7C, Doubting Bioroid

• Louis Blaine, Corrupt Cop

• Rachel Beckmann, Estranged Bounty Hunter

• Raymond Flint, Troubled P.I.

In Android, three to five players each take on the role of one of these detectives, and are given two weeks to solve the case. They investigate the murder by traveling around the map and following up leads to discover evidence that they can use to convict the suspect who they believe is guilty. In addition, they attempt to uncover the conspiracy behind the murder and deal with problems that spring up in their personal lives.”

This gives you a party structure for the campaign (I probably wouldn’t use the characters, just the roles), plus if you have a copy of the game, or can get one there are cards etc within the game that can be used for ideas for the victim, suspects etc.

Mainframe

The abstract game Mainframe is all about hacking/running during a particular event in the Android universe. The implications were explored in the card game in the Flash Point cycle.

“For twenty-three seconds, the world’s largest bank and backer of the world’s most important currency goes dark. Trillions of credits are lost, stolen, or simply erased. Each corp blames the others. Economies, industries, lives collapse. And that’s just the beginning.”

Until the source book becomes available, with I’m assuming it’s enhanced hacking/running rules, I’m not sure how viable a scenario of a group of runners hacking a server is. So the twenty-three seconds event may or may not be a viable setting.

However the Flash Point cycle could make a great back drop to a campaign. I’d like the flavour sheets from the data packs for this to help flesh it out. But also the FFG webpages for the data cycle could help out on this front.

New Angeles

This is too high level. “New Angeles is a political game in which four to six players assume the roles of the megacorporations of the Android universe. The players cut deals and forge temporary alliances to gain leverage and financial superiority over their corporate rivals, all while trying to maintain order and profitability in their home city of New Angeles.”

I think the only take away from this game is you could have the players part of a corporate team going on missions to protect and advance their employers.

One thing all these games have in their rule books is a nice introductory bit of flavour text that can be read to the party at the start of the scenario/campaign to help set the scene.

In the second part of this post I’ll look at the Netrunner cycles and deluxe expansions.