Fiery Angels
Fiery Angels is a case file for the neo-noir Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game, written by Tomas Härenstam and Joe LeFavi and published by Free League Publishing.
By Aaron T. Huss
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Fiery Angels is a fairly straightforward investigation case for Blade Runner that throws the players directly into parts of the canon and lets them loose into the setting. It includes some many beautiful handouts and maps to facilitate gameplay and allow players to really get the detective-style of game design. It is also presented in a detective-style whereas the PCs start with a reason for their investigation and have to go hunt down the clues that lead them to their final destination and confrontation.
Fiery Angels confirms for me that Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game is really just Law & Order: Blade Runner as the case file is completely structured in the same way an episode of Law & Order plays out. This appears to be intentional such that the game handles detective work well and provides the players with a bunch of cool handouts to feel like they are running down the details of their investigation. The problem is that the game focuses heavily on the detective side of the setting and doesn’t really get into the more psychological aspects of the setting. But then, this is a game that is meant to focus on action and investigation as part of the LAPD Rep-Detect. So I will say again this feels intentional and keeps to the theme of the core rulebook.
Since my original reviews, I’ve come to learn a bit more about the Blade Runner canon and its lack of consistency. The novels adhere to their own series of canon while the movies adhere to a slightly different set. The second novel feeds off the first movie, but it completely takes a different route. Also, the novels focus much more on the psychological aspects of the setting and the underground movement of replicant sympathizers. I have learned that the movies create more of a cinematic setting and the RPG fits in nicely to the timeline and canon explored in the movies. This is apparently also true about the comic books. But then I’m still consuming the available media.
That said, I am wondering how much of the setting is Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game going to really delve into or is it going to remain on the surface and focus more on the locations within the case files. So far, the various game releases stick to overarching themes and prominently place the LAPD on the side of the good guys. The novels don’t do that and go much deeper into the subconscious and ethos of what it means to live in these lands. Fiery Angels does start to touch on some of these seedier areas of LA as depicted in Blade Runner, but doesn’t dive in feet first. Maybe it’s going to be a slow build-up. I also have noted that the game has, so far, stuck to the simpler side of the cinematic canon without creating its own “world within a world” that introduces original factions and original personnel within the setting. Again, maybe that will come later.
As such, Fiery Angels sticks to the themes presented in the core rulebook and starter set, but it doesn’t push the envelope of what could be created given nothing more than the setting as a sandbox filled with opportunities. This should make the case file easier to run with newer players and Game Runners who are still tickling the surface of the setting. Those who are much more familiar with the setting and very comfortable with getting deep into it might be looking for a deeper connection between the investigators and what has become of LA. At the very least, there are some great handouts that can be used to create your own case files by simply reusing the pictures and names for your own means. This creates a secondary value to the product as a utility rather than a straightforward case file.
No matter how you use it, it’s well written with beautiful artwork and some great investigative opportunities to be had!
