The set-up for Chromatic Transference is simple. In fact, Chromatic Transference is so simple that it is all set-up and no scenario. What it actually does is describe a location, the top secret Ukweli-4 research facility (‘ukweli’ meaning truth in Swahili). The facility was built inside an asteroid far from civilisation to study a strange meteorite, which contained a colour never before seen by human eyes. Unfortunately, as is the way of these things, there was an accident, the original researchers were killed, and the tiny base has been long since abandoned and forgotten. What Chromatic Transference details are the base and its environs, what can be found inside, and the threat at the heart of the set-up. The Ukweli-4 research facility is built into a large asteroid with a landing pad on the surface and a single entrance to the facility. From there a single tunnel bores into the asteroid with areas off the main tunnel for the facility’s quarters, mess, then research lab, and finally engines (or should that be power plant? Chromatic Transference does not say if the asteroid is capable of movement or not). Outside the base, there are signs that a vessel has left in a hurry and inside, at least initially, signs of men and women going about their ordinary lives. The research lab contains the meteorite and the unknown Colour previously being studied, plus three bodies.
In terms of support, there is a cross section given of the Ukweli-4 research facility, two quite small and far from easy-to-read handouts, and the stats for the Colour. There are notes too of what will happen if the Player Characters do nothing and what they can do to solve the situation.
All of which is fine, except the fact that Chromatic Transference has no plot and it has no hooks to get the Player Characters to the location of Ukweli-4. There is simply no reason for the Player Characters to go to Ukweli-4 given. Yet despite this lack of either hook or plot, Chromatic Transference is described and sold as “A fully playable, ready-to-run one shot to drop in to any sci-fi RPG campaign.” Which is absolutely not the case. If it was ready to run, it would have a hook or a plot that the Warden can use straight to the table without the need for her to develop one of her own, whether that is to work it into her own campaign or provide impetus for the Player Characters in a one-shot or convention play. There is mention that powerful people are looking for it, but is that sufficient enough a hook?
Further, there are elements of Chromatic Transference simply left dangling and unaddressed by the author. The Ukweli-4 research facility has a staff of six, but only three bodies are found, so where are they? The base’s shuttlecraft is missing, so where is that? Arguably finding both the missing staff and shuttlecraft would be the perfect hook for the Player Characters to get involved in Chromatic Transference, have them trace the shuttlecraft’s flightpath back to Ukweli-4 and go from there. This is so obvious it should have been included in Chromatic Transference rather than being spelled out here. One counterpoint might be that the pamphlet format of these scenarios makes the inclusion of every detail or idea difficult, and that is a legitimate point as far as the format goes. However, it cannot and cannot apply to Chromatic Transference, which has sufficient space for this content were it not the fact that one whole page is taken up with the cross section of the Ukweli-4 research facility that imparts an incredible minimum of information. Half that cross section—and yes, the cross section might have been slightly cramped—and the author would have had the luxury of half a page to give the plot and hook ideas instead of leaving the Warden to do the job that he should have done.
Physically, Chromatic Transference consists mostly of text, primarily because of the limited amount of space in which the author has to play with. However, the big blob of a map dominates the pamphlet and is an intrusive presence.
In terms of its horror, Chromatic Transference is Alien meets H.P. Lovecraft’s ‘The Colour Out of Space’. It is a Lovecraftian horror scenario set in haunted house in space. Which is a decent combination and there is a palpable sense of the unknowable and the weird to the whole affair. The players may have an idea of what it might be, but their characters will not and leaning into the unknowable and the weird will part of the pleasure of playing Chromatic Transference.
Doubtless, some Wardens will be happy with Chromatic Transference as is and will pick it up and do what they want with it. That is very much fine. Yet Chromatic Transference as is, is not a scenario, is not a one-shot, is not fully playable, is not ready-to-run, and is not complete. All it needs is a plot or hook, and Chromatic Transference is then all of those things and thus complete as intended. It is a shame that one big map has to deny the author the opportunity to complete his intended scenario.
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