The Alien RPG Colonial Marines: A Fictional Universe of Horror and Adventure The Alien franchise has captivated audiences for decades with its terrifying depiction of extraterrestrial life and the human characters who dare to confront it. One of the most intriguing aspects of this universe is the role-playing game (RPG) concept of Colonial Marines, a fictional organization that has become synonymous with the Alien franchise. In this article, we'll explore the concept of Colonial Marines, their role in the Alien universe, and the various games, comics, and other media that have expanded on this rich and immersive fictional world. What are Colonial Marines? Colonial Marines are a fictional military organization in the Alien universe, tasked with dealing with the threats posed by the deadly Xenomorph aliens. They are a branch of the United Systems' military, operating under the umbrella of the Earth's space defense system. The Colonial Marines are a specialized force, trained to engage and eliminate the Xenomorph threat, often in hostile and remote environments. The concept of Colonial Marines was first introduced in the 1986 film "Aliens," directed by James Cameron. The film follows a group of marines who are sent to the planet LV-426 to investigate the disappearance of an entire terraforming colony. Upon arrival, they discover that the colony has been overrun by Xenomorphs, and they must fight for survival. The Role of Colonial Marines in the Alien Universe In the Alien universe, Colonial Marines play a vital role in protecting humanity from the Xenomorph threat. They are often deployed to remote planets and space stations to investigate anomalies, secure colonies, and eliminate Xenomorph infestations. The marines are equipped with advanced firepower, body armor, and training to handle the extreme dangers posed by the aliens. The Colonial Marines are also responsible for enforcing the United Systems' interests in space, often acting as a rapid response force to neutralize threats to human settlements and colonies. They operate under a strict chain of command, with a clear hierarchy of officers and enlisted personnel. Alien RPG Colonial Marines: Games and Comics The concept of Colonial Marines has been explored in various games, comics, and other media, offering fans a deeper look into the Alien universe. Some notable examples include:
Aliens: The Board Game (1981): This classic board game was one of the first to introduce the concept of Colonial Marines, pitting players against a deadly Xenomorph infestation on a remote planet. Aliens: The Roleplaying Game (1989): This tabletop RPG allowed players to take on the roles of Colonial Marines, navigating the dangers of the Alien universe and battling Xenomorphs. Aliens: Colonial Marines (2013): This first-person shooter video game was developed by Gearbox Software and published by Sega. The game follows a group of Colonial Marines as they investigate a Xenomorph infestation on a remote planet. Aliens: Colonial Marines - The Animated Series (2017): This animated series, produced by Genndy Tartakovsky, explores the early days of the Colonial Marines and their battles against the Xenomorphs.
The Colonial Marines in Comics and Novels The Colonial Marines have also appeared in various comics and novels, offering a deeper look into their history and operations. Some notable examples include:
Aliens: The Illustrated Story (1987): This comic book series, published by Dark Horse Comics, explores the early days of the Colonial Marines and their battles against the Xenomorphs. Aliens: Havoc (1997): This comic book series, published by Dark Horse Comics, follows a group of Colonial Marines as they battle Xenomorphs on a remote planet. Aliens: The Lost Colony (2005): This novel, written by Robert Silverberg, explores the history of the Colonial Marines and their role in protecting human colonies. alien rpg colonial marines
The Cultural Impact of Colonial Marines The concept of Colonial Marines has had a significant impact on popular culture, inspiring countless fans with their bravery and sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds. The iconic power loader exosuit, worn by the marines in the 1986 film "Aliens," has become a symbol of the franchise, and the Colonial Marines' gritty, no-nonsense attitude has influenced countless other sci-fi films and games. Conclusion The Alien RPG Colonial Marines offer a rich and immersive fictional universe, full of horror, adventure, and excitement. From their introduction in the 1986 film "Aliens" to their appearance in various games, comics, and other media, the Colonial Marines have become an integral part of the Alien franchise. Their bravery and sacrifice in the face of the Xenomorph threat have inspired countless fans, and their legend continues to grow through new stories and media. Whether you're a seasoned fan of the Alien franchise or just discovering the world of Colonial Marines, there's never been a better time to explore this vast and terrifying universe. So gear up, grab your flamethrower, and join the fight against the Xenomorphs – as a Colonial Marine.
The Colonial Marines Operations Manual is the definitive expansion for the Alien RPG by Free League Publishing, shifting the focus from desperate survival as "space truckers" to high-octane military horror. This 352-page sourcebook provides the essential framework for running full-scale military campaigns in a galaxy on the brink of war. Core Features of the Operations Manual The manual serves as both a deep-dive lore book and a mechanical expansion. Key contents include: Military Character Creation: Introduces "Military Occupational Specialties" (MOS) and new talents like Hug the Dirt and Bypass to differentiate your squad. Massive Arsenal: Detailed stats and illustrations for iconic gear, including the M41A Pulse Rifle, heavy tanks, APCs, and even aerospace fighters. The Frontier War: Lore detailing the conflict between the United Americas (UA) and the Union of Progressive Peoples (UPP) . Seven Playable Missions: A linked campaign where the first six missions can be played in any order, culminating in an epic "Endgame". Gameplay Mechanics: The Year Zero Engine The supplement builds on the core Year Zero Engine, which uses a pool of six-sided dice (d6) where a "6" is a success. ALIEN RPG Colonial Marines Operations Manual - Page 2
The ALIEN RPG Colonial Marines Operations Manual is the primary guide for running military-themed campaigns in the official ALIEN tabletop roleplaying game. This 352-page sourcebook provides the rules, lore, and missions necessary to play as members of the United States Colonial Marine Corps (USCMC). Core Guide Components The manual is structured to support both players and Game Masters in a full open-world campaign: History & Organization: An in-depth look at the USCMC's origins, structure, and its role in the frontier. Creating Marines: Expanded character creation rules, providing specific options for different types of "grunts" and military roles. Weapons & Vehicles: A detailed catalog of gear, ranging from iconic pulse rifles to heavy vehicles, all featuring new illustrations. The Frontier War: Backstory and a campaign framework focused on the escalating conflict in the Outer Rim. Factions: Detailed information on the various powers and corporations (including Weyland-Yutani) and their hidden agendas. Marine Missions: Six interconnected, high-stakes missions that can be played in any order, leading to a final endgame showdown. Required Materials To use this guide, you must already own the ALIEN RPG Core Rulebook , as the Operations Manual is a supplement and does not contain the base game rules. Where to Buy You can find the physical book and digital PDF through various retailers: Modiphius: Purchase directly from the Modiphius online store , which often includes a PDF with the hardcover. Amazon: Available for shipping via Amazon.com . DriveThruRPG: Offers digital versions and community reviews at DriveThruRPG . ALIEN RPG Colonial Marines Operations Manual The Alien RPG Colonial Marines: A Fictional Universe
The Ultimate Guide to the Alien RPG: Colonial Marines From Bug Hunts to Bad Dreams: Living on the Frontline In the grim darkness of the Alien universe, there are no heroes. There are only survivors. And standing between the cold, infinite void of space and the screaming civilian colonies of the Outer Veil are the United States Colonial Marine Corps (USCMC). With the release of Free League Publishing’s award-winning Alien RPG , players have finally been given the tools to experience the unique terror of being a "grunt." While the core rulebook focuses on cinematic one-shots (like the legendary Chariot of the Gods ), the Colonial Marines Operations Manual elevates the game from survival horror to military science-fiction terror . This article serves as a comprehensive deep dive into the Alien RPG: Colonial Marines . We will cover the lore of the Corps, the new character classes, the horror of military machinery, and how a Game Mother (GM) can run a campaign that balances pulse rifle action with chest-bursting dread.
Part 1: The Lore – Who Are the Colonial Marines? To play the game right, you must understand the joke: The Colonial Marines are underfunded, overconfident, and always the first to die. In the timeline of the Alien RPG (circa 2183), the USCMC is not a galactic empire. They are the security force for the Three World Empire (TWE) and the United Americas (UA). Unlike the sleek, professional droids of Aliens , the marines of the RPG are often conscripts, criminals given a second chance, or idealists who haven't seen real combat. The "Bug Hunt" Mentality In the lore, Xenomorphs (or "Xenos") are classified as a "Class-1 pathogen vector." Most marines believe they are myths. Standard briefing rooms treat "Alien" sightings like UFO conspiracy theories. This is why, when the scout party goes silent, the smart-ass corporal still says, "It's probably just a bug hunt." The Colonial Marines Operations Manual expands on this by introducing the Border Bombers (a Vietnam-style jungle warfare unit) and the Falkland’s Angels (zero-G boarding specialists). These units have distinct cultures, rivalries, and battlefield doctrines.
Part 2: The New Toys – Equipment & Vehicles The kinetic energy of the Alien RPG changes when you introduce military hardware. The core game has civilians trying to hide; the Colonial Marines game has soldiers trying to fight back. However, the game warns against power fantasy. Key Equipment: What are Colonial Marines
M41A Pulse Rifle: The king of the battlefield. 10x24mm caseless with an under-barrel 30mm grenade launcher. In gameplay terms, it uses Fast, Heavy, or Full-Auto firing modes. But remember: every shot alerts the hive. M56 Smartgun: Requires the Sensory Assistance Harness. It grants bonuses to hit fast-moving targets (like a Xenomorph charging down a hallway). The downside? The bulky harness slows you down. M240 Incinerator: Napalm. Excellent for clearing eggs. Terrible for not setting off the ship’s reactor. UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropship: This is a mobile home for marines. It provides fire support, extraction, and heavy artillery. In the RPG, a Cheyenne with a skilled pilot is the difference between a Total Party Kill (TPK) and a desperate escape.
The Horror of Logistics The manual introduces strict ammo tracking. A Marine can carry four spare magazines for a Pulse Rifle. An ammo dice check (a special mechanic in the game) might blow through a mag in seconds. Running out of ammo while a Drone is in striking distance is the peak of Alien RPG tension.
strongSwan's NetworkManager plugin is available as binary package for several distributions (e.g. network-manager-strongswan on Debian/Ubuntu). For an introduction and how-to see our docs.
Version: 1.6.5
2026-04-22, size 355'492 bytes, pgp-signature,
md5: 0048080f1a9f544ff709adccfe88dda8
This version supports GTK 4 (in addition to GTK 3), but doesn't support compiling against libnm-glib anymore.
2020-05-19, size 300'735 bytes, pgp-signature,
md5: 164afb79d1c9447c3abefa3faa7fc7f1
This version requires strongSwan 5.8.3 or newer, it's not compatible with older releases.
Releases of the NetworkManager Plugin are signed with the PGP key with keyid 765FE26C6B467584.
Older releases can be found on our download server:
The strongSwan Android app can be installed from App stores, or manually by downloading the APK from our download server.
Version: 2.6.2
Android APKs are signed with the PGP key with keyid 765FE26C6B467584.
Older releases can be found on our download server: