Close Encounters of the Wurst Kind: 2300AD Invasion Part II - Campaign

In 2295, a research station at Arcturus made contact with an unknown starfaring species who departed after a few days of fruitless communication attempts. One year later, they returned.

Spoiler: they did have the cards.

The second installment of Mongoose Publishing's epic Invasion campaign for 2300AD has arrived - 179 pages of interstellar warfare where a group of dirt farming colonists are forced to adapt as their humble agricultural lifestyle is turned upside down and they embark on a journey that might just turn them into symbols of resistance across the French Arm. This is the meat of the invasion campaign, five key adventures and twelve ‘interludes’ that can be woven throughout your travels.

The Kaefers (German: Käfer for beetle) are humanoids with mandibles, insectoid integument, a hard dorsal shell, a fairly weird reproductive cycle and, if rumours are to be believed - a penchant for human flesh. They hold up an uncomfortable mirror to humanity's own aggressive and expansionist tendencies but we don’t smell so bad so there is that. But with a tech level on a par with humanity this could spell the beginning of the end.

The campaign arc takes you from defending your homestead (one of our favourite classic set-ups) and eventually participating in the famous Battle of Beowulf. It's designed as an introduction to 2300AD for newcomers.

In 2300AD, the Kaefer can hear you scream. They're just not particularly interested in your philosophical objections.

Since its 1986 debut as a ‘Games Designers Workshop’ title, the 2300AD setting has occupied an interesting niche with hard science fiction - realistic orbital mechanics, hostile planets, chemically propelled rounds and the cold mathematics of orbital transfers alongside stutter-drives and aliens here and there although this is still humans in metal contraptions hurtling between colony worlds whilst worrying about fuel consumption and re-entry angles. If that's still too close to fiction, checkout Pioneer which is hard sci-fi for scientists.

Whether you're a veteran of the original GDW version or a newcomer to humanity's skyward expansion, Invasion Part II offers a structured path through one of tabletop RPG's more open-ended alien conflicts.

Available now at mongoosepublishing.com or DriveThruRPG.

Images and text courtesy of Mongoose Publishing.