You remember Exodus, right? It’s the upcoming sci-fi RPG from former BioWare developers that could easily be mistaken for Mass Effect. No really — The premise in its initial trailer is just Mass Effect Andromeda without the N7 armor. Matthew McConaughey showed up to announce it during the 2023 Game Awards and narrated a series of videos about its world. And today, developer Archetype has launched an actual play set in its universe, sadly sans McConaughey.
Star Heist: An Exodus Story is the only way you’re going to learn more about the world of whatever Exodus the video game ends up being for a while. Co-founder and executive creator director James Ohlen, who worked on Baldur’s Gate and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, is the dungeon master for the series. He’s joined by a cast of actors from film and games, including Cassidy Cummings, Elizabeth Maxwell, Brian Villalobos, and Chynna Walker.
The whole thing is using the tabletop rules from the Exodus Traveler’s Handbook, which was released last year to people who signed up for the Exodus “founders” email list. Episode 1 centers on a dig team exploring ruins for ancient artifacts left behind by — you guessed it — a precursor race who had advanced technology.
“Throughout the series, we’ll unveil exciting elements from the game world,” Ohlen said in a news release, “and I can’t wait for fans to explore the far reaches of this innovative sci-fi world with us.”
Focusing on the tabletop role-playing game while details remain rather thin on the video game isn’t surprising for a studio owned by Dungeons & Dragons publisher Wizards of the Coast. Actual play series, like Critical Role, continue to be huge, and the format lends itself well to introducing the world of RPGs before you even play them.
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