Planet exploration RPG

Core Concept

In the distant future, humanity has begun colonizing inhospitable exoplanets using Expendables—cloned workers who perform the most dangerous tasks. Each time an Expendable dies, they are regenerated from a cloning vat, carrying most of their previous memories. However, glitches, memory corruption, and a growing sense of detachment from their past selves are an ever-present risk.

Your team is stationed on Perdition-6, a hostile ice planet rich in a rare mineral necessary for interstellar travel. The colony, run by the Frontier Initiative, is barely holding together due to extreme conditions, political intrigue, and growing tensions between humans, clones, and the alien lifeforms that lurk beneath the ice.

Character Creation

Players can take on roles within the colony, such as: • Expendables – Cloned workers who handle the most dangerous tasks (e.g., construction, scouting, mining). Each death results in a new version, but how much memory remains? • Colonial Officers – Human administrators overseeing logistics, security, and maintaining order. • Scientists – Researchers studying the planet, cloning technology, and potential alien artifacts found in the ice. • Rebels/Underground Faction – A group questioning the morality of cloning and the Frontier Initiative’s true motives. • Native Sympathizers – Those who suspect the planet’s life forms are more intelligent than believed.

Each player must choose a Personal Directive, a hidden goal (e.g., uncover the truth behind the cloning program, escape the colony, start a revolution, etc.).

Mechanics

1. Cloning & Memory Degradation – Expendable characters regenerate upon death, but memory retention varies. Players roll a die to determine:	•	Perfect Transfer (High Roll) – Memories are intact.	•	Partial Transfer (Mid Roll) – Key memories lost, skills reduced.	•	Glitched Clone (Low Roll) – Unintended mutations, hallucinations, or paranoia sets in.
2. Planetary Hazards – Perdition-6 is a frozen wasteland where the real danger isn’t just the cold but what lies beneath the ice. Players must manage:	•	Extreme temperatures (-100°C)	•	Icequakes and unstable structures	•	Encounters with subterranean creatures	•	Limited oxygen, rations, and power supply
3. Moral Dilemmas & Factions – Who do you trust?	•	Frontier Initiative: Keeps secrets from the workers. Are they hiding something about the cloning process?	•	The Rebels: Seek to sabotage cloning operations and liberate Expendables.	•	The Hidden Threat: The planet may have been inhabited long before humans arrived…