Joseph A. McCullough - Deathship One review We review the new mixed history vs aliens survival game from the creator of Frostgrave, Stargrave, and The Silver Bayonet. Deathship One is a game that was originally published in Blaster volume 4 (a game anthology ‘fanzine’ created by Joe and other notable game designers) and, in this new PDF/print and play version, the game is spruced up with new art and some extra content. It’s another adventure into solo and cooperative gaming from Joe, this time set in a mysterious alien deathtrap made up of kill rooms. The idea is simple, and the background is minimal - a group of combatants, plucked from a historical period of your choosing, finds itself in this deadly alien ship and must battle for freedom. In their desperate escape attempt your figures must conquer five lethal (randomly generated) rooms that bring all manner of doom and horror with them, thanks to the alien menaces and other specific details that lurk within. The game design, sparse background, and stylistic art give a pulpy and dangerous feel to the game, mixing classic sci-fi horror tropes to present players with a deadly sandbox of survival gaming. Squad up! The inclusion of various squad types is, we suspect, going to be the first point of appeal to any historical gamers. No matter what period you play, you can snag figures from it and involve them in Deathship One. The game emphasises minimal miniature and terrain requirements, making it accessible to those with limited resources or time but the simplicity does not mean there’s no depth. You have plenty of options in how to assemble your squads before they navigate the deadly rooms. Low-tech squads can include anything up to, and including, the Medieval period, so this is your chance to see how Romans or Vikings might fare against alien technology! These squads are ten-strong groups of at least three shooters and three fighters, along with a maximum of one leader, healer, and seer. They tend to focus more on melee combat and can get their numbers whittled down quite quickly. Middle-tech squads are smaller - just six figures - with a focus on shooting. If you fancy taking the Old Guard for a spin in a very different environment, or some WWII commandos on a different infiltration mission, there are soldier, officer, medic, and specialist roles to build out your squad. Finally, the four-figure, high-tech, futuristic soldiers come with power armour and boosted stats, able to pump out a lot of damage and take plenty too. Once picked, your squad draws three asset cards from a choice of 15. These provide various aids, improvements, rerolls, tactical advantages, and more, bringing
