The Firefly RPG Nobody Remembers Is Still Worth Playing
It's been over 20 years since the Firefly series ended, and since then, there have been countless requests for revivals, adaptations, or more ways to experience its unique sci-fi western setting. While we've had plenty of comic and novel adaptations, and even an upcoming animated show featuring the original cast returning once again, nothing has been able to scratch the same itch left behind by Firefly's memorable characters and unique premise.
Thankfully, although we'll have to wait and see what the future of the Firefly franchise has in store for its dedicated fanbase, there's one incredibly overlooked game that not only offers the closest experience to the show but can also help you live out what a true sequel to Firefly would look like.
Fox via MovieStillsDBAlthough many fans of the series may have never even heard of it before, Firefly has its very own RPG in the form of the Firefly Role Playing Game, which lets players live out their own adventures from the ever-popular TV series. While a used physical edition will set you back well over a hundred dollars, you can still find plenty of digital versions of the role-playing games' rulebooks and various expansions entirely for free to get started.
Not to be confused with the Serenity roleplaying game that was based specifically on the movie, the Firefly Roleplaying Game is based on Joss Whedon's original version of the universe seen throughout the show, which uses the simplified Cortex Action system to encourage more customization in your actions while still being friendly to new players.
Being a tabletop game, there isn't a set storyline or missions to follow as you might expect from a traditional gaming adaptation, but instead it places you in the role of either the singular game master running things behind the scenes, or taking control of your own playable character as a member of your ship's crew, letting you live out your very own fully customized adventure in the universe of the Fireflyshow.
If you're not sure where to get started with the Firefly Roleplaying Game but already have a few friends you can grab for the experience, the tabletop game also has several expansions, pre-written campaigns, and assets from the beloved space western to take advantage of, with a total of 15 adventures to choose from that will help you gain more experience to create your own unique stories.
Rather than just a reskin of tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, the Firefly Roleplaying Game has several unique mechanics to set itself apart from other entries in the genre.
Utilizing a currency called Plot Points that you can gain by intentionally putting yourself at a disadvantage by being given flaws by the GM, you can spend them to re-roll certain actions later, letting your character choose where you want to risk failure or have a higher chance of success to create a more engaging storyline for your party to follow.
The rulebook for the Firefly Roleplaying Game has an abundance of pages that have examples and episode retellings from the show, which can make it hard to learn alone unless you're supplementing it with online tutorials.
If you're one of the many fans like myself who are still patiently waiting for an official sequel to Firefly after the events of the TV show and film's conclusion, the relatively forgotten Firefly Roleplaying Game is the perfect way to revisit the unique sci-fi universe from an entirely unique perspective, and one that can offer an even more immersive experience than the show, so long as you have a group of players willing to engage with the tabletop format.