Props are one of the things that set apart tabletop role-playing games apart from other entertainments. I truly enjoy seeing a players face light up when I hand them a prop to study rather than describe an item they’ve found. Call of Cthulhu is the master in this area thanks to all the newspaper clippings and mad diary rambling that lead investigators from the real world into the supernatural. Free League Publishing’s Blade Runner RPG also casts itself as an investigative experience. Players are cast in the role of the titular investigators on the trail of wayward androids and the technology that made them. The company sent along a review copy of Blade Runner Starter Set as an illustration of how they’ve structured their mysteries. Does the mystery pass the test? Let’s play to find out.
Free League boxed sets are stuffed to the seams and this one is no different. In addition to a shortened rulebook and the case file book, there are four Blade Runners (two human, two Replicant), a time sheet for recording shifts that’s vital to the timing of the game, a poster sized map of future Los Angeles, a deck of cards covering initiative and chases, a set of dice and a big folder chock full of props for the case. I highly recommend getting the physical release for anyone interested because the props for “Electric Dreams” range from newspapers to mugshots and more. These props reminded me of the “murder by mail” experiences where people subscribe to get a bunch of clues that tell a story through a variety of media.
“Electric Dreams”, written by lead designer Tomas Harenstam focuses on a Replicant Blade Runner that’s gone rogue. I’m going to avoid any major spoilers but I will say that the case visits some iconic Blade Runner locations and ties back into the storyline of the films. The philosophy on the investigation focuses on the countdown and multiple ways for the players to get their hands on clues. I like the redundancies built into the clue loop as well as the countdown structure. The case illustrates how Blade Runners need to use their time wisely or else what could be an easy solution could turn into a bloody shootout in a public area. It makes sense to hand out as many of the props as possible. They are very neat to hold and there’s always the chance that players might get frustrated if they don’t collect the set.
Herein lies my main issue with the set. The props are very well done and the investigation hints at a larger storyline called “The Immortal Game” that has some interesting ideas about how Replicant technology might be used. There’s no part 2 announced, though I suspect we’ll see one this year. Even so, I can see how Game Runners might feel the pressure to suddenly have to learn how to make cool props for every case they put together. It can be done but I would love to see some guidance in an upcoming book on how to make your own mugshots and documents. Perhaps a digital product like the old H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society Props and Fonts discs. There are some resources for this on the web and hopefully, folks that make their own props for futuristic games will share their tips and tricks below.
Blade Runner Starter Set offers a glimpse into the neo noir world of the RPG though it might set the standards a little too high for follow up investigations for new GMs.
