Space exploration video game Elite: Dangerous is getting a spin-off RPG

From Dark Souls to Mortal Kombat, the last few years have seen video games of all shapes and sizes come to the tabletop as board game spin-offs and adaptations. Now, the latest entry in long-running sci-fi series Elite is joining the gang, but there’s something a little different about it: it’s an RPG.

The Elite: Dangerous Role Playing Game is an officially licensed version of Frontier Developments’ sandbox space exploration title, designed by Oliver Hulme of Spidermind Games.

EDRPG is built around a D10 system, with players rolling against challenges and boosting their results with skill bonuses. As you’d expect, you can upgrade equipment, ships and weapons, eventually affording completely new vessels with which to traverse the galaxy.

There’s also a karma system, as well as in-built ‘partner’ relationships. Players can even hire crewmembers for their ship, which can be randomly generated, in line with the computer game’s use of procedural content creation.

The format of the game follows that of Elite: Dangerous, with characters starting off in a spaceship and set free to explore the universe. According to the game’s Kickstarter page, the Random Generation System is used to help the GM create missions and star systems on the go – although how exactly the system works remains unclear.

Players can battle in head-to-head dogfights in space, or land on a planet and drive around using surface vehicles. There’s apparently three different combat arenas included in the initial release.

There are three arenas of combat, each with their own set of rules. As well as spaceship combat players can engage in personal combat and do battle in a myriad of surface vehicles.

Spidermind is looking for £45,000 to crowdfund the core sourcebook, with stretch goals including guides to spaceships, opponents, equipment and specific factions such as the Empire, Federation and Alliance, written by some of the video game’s developers.

The core book starts at £20 for a PDF, with a hardback version on offer for an extra tenner (plus £4.50 for postage to the UK). The campaign ends on February 15th, and there’s a playtest adventure available if you're curious.