Osprey Games - Stargrave: Dead or Alive review Solo gaming is nothing new, and certainly not new to Joseph McCullough’s systems, but a full book devoted to it is something fresh and welcome. This new Stargrave supplement puts its full focus on intriguing solo scenarios that will challenge bold players by sending them off to hunt bounties across the Ravaged Galaxy on their lonesome. Chapter one presents guidelines for modifying the standard Stargrave rules to go solo. Usually, we’d question a ruleset making suggestions, rather than being explicit, but in this case, with just yourself to play against, guidelines feel like the sensible approach. Ideas are like the game’s original (online) solo rules, which were also called Dead or Alive, but with a load of extras. The major change to play is that a Gang Phase, where the ‘Mark’ (the enemy you’re after) activates comes directly after the Captain Phase, meaning your opponent will provide a more immediate threat, acting (along with their gang) before your First Mate and Soldiers. Offsetting the increased difficulty is the fact that the Mark doesn’t have the same intelligence as an actual player (hopefully!), and operates, along with their gang, by following simple AI sequences of actions. As with many Stargrave expansions, Dead or Alive provides a set of options that players can use to sketch out their world-building. There’s a Settings section - chapter two - that includes 20 possibilities and scenario suggestions for how to use each. Some are relatively standard, such as a Cavern, Farmstead, or Frontier Town, but eclectic options such as Underwater, Volcanic Plateaux, and the Stomach of a Space Whale bring more weirdness! In the latter, you’ll have to avoid the vast creature’s own internal protection cells and watch out for the dangerous tummy-rumbling of the beast. Great stuff! Chapter three adds in bounty hunting Complications - things that can go wrong while you hunt for your Mark. Once again, there are 20, and each adds a gameplay impediment along with some background. Maybe there’s a Body Double in the gang, making it tougher to find the target. Perhaps your enemy is a group of networked robots, or the fight is in an area that has herds of creatures. It could be that a Trophy Hunter Alien (think Predator) spots an opportunity to collect some skulls and joins the battle. Complement these varied options with 20 pre-designed Marks, representing a wild array of possibilities, and you’re in for a lot of fun! The descriptions and rules for this rogues’ gallery of the Galaxy’s baddies take up a third of the book, and they’re pages well spent. Each Mark has a weird name, unique style and set of weapons
