Review of Blue Planet: A Guide for Moderators in Unplugged Games
In the year 2199, humanity's ambitions reach new depths with the Blue Planet Roleplaying Game, set on the colonised oceanic world of Poseidon. This exoplanet, home to settlements like Haven, Dyfedd, and Simushir, offers a rich ecological and cultural backdrop that is both fascinating and believable.
The Blue Planet Roleplaying Game, published by Biohazard Games (Fantasy Flight Games), provides a detailed exploration of this alien world. The Blue Planet Player's Guide, priced at $27.95, offers a total of 255 pages, complete with an ISBN of 1-887911-05-4. However, it's important to note that the Blue Planet Player's Guide is no longer available at RPGNet.
The game's narrative revolves around human exploration and colonisation of Poseidon, a world marked by conflict between natives and Incorporate City-States, and struggles for independence from the GEO. The ecology and technological landscape of Poseidon are meticulously justified and used to their utmost, creating an immersive gaming experience.
The Blue Planet Player's Guide has been well-received, with Games Unplugged awarding it an A- grade. It's praised for its rich, evocative setting and detail, sparking adventure ideas. However, some critics find the table of contents inadequate for the book's scope and depth.
The game's background story is steeped in intrigue. Earth is still recovering from the long years of the Blight, and the discovery of Poseidon leads to a colonisation mission, but is later abandoned due to a global famine caused by the Fischer Virus. The Fischer Virus causes massive social and political upheaval, leading to the replacement of the UN by the GEO and the rise of multinational corporations as nation-states.
Beneath the waves of Poseidon lie mysteries that may hold the key to understanding the universe and humanity. Humanity's rapid technological progress continues into the next century, including discoveries like a wormhole to Poseidon. Mankind returns to Poseidon in 2165, discovering that the colonists have developed unique cultures of their own.
One of the most significant discoveries on Poseidon is Long John, a xenosilicate unique to the planet. This discovery leads to a latter-day gold rush, transforming Poseidon into a hotbed of competing interests.
The Blue Planet Roleplaying Game emphasises a realistic sci-fi setting with a strong emphasis on ecological and sociopolitical complexity rather than purely combat-focused adventure. The game's authors include Jeffrey Barber, Greg Benage, Allan Grohe, John Snead, and Jason Werner. For those seeking more details about the world of Poseidon, the Blue Planet Moderator's Guide delves deeper into the planet's geography, native flora and fauna, human settlements, and socio-political dynamics, providing a vivid and immersive setting for gameplay.
In the game, the Blue Planet Moderator's Guide offers additional insights into the geography, lifestyle, and technology of the human settlements on Poseidon, including home-and-garden life and the use of gadgets. The wealth of discoveries on Poseidon, such as Long John, a unique xenosilicate, has transformed the planet into a battleground for competing interests, sparking a latter-day gold rush and offering players a rich and complex gaming environment.
