The Strain : Alien Pastoral

Description

David Blandy's new tabletop role-playing game, Alien Pastoral

Commissioned by Serpentine Gallery as part of the Infinite Ecologies Marathon.

Collaboratively draw, design and bring to life a biological research station where scientists engineer the new strain of a plant species to solve a global crisis. Use the cards to develop the story and experience the gameworld evolving into a weird new reality. Includes a solo-play version.

Alien Pastoral centres on a biological research station, run by an Authority, as the scientists try to engineer a new strain to solve an existential problem. An adaptation of Blandy’s previous work Gathering Storm, this game explores the strange and often blurred spaces between agriculture, technology and capitalism. Players collaboratively design a research station complete with seedbeds, orchards and laboratories to experience how relationships change with their environments in this open worlding game experience. A solo play version is also included.

Alien Pastoral: The Strain involves complex themes, narratives and storytelling; including material around body horror, isolation, loss of autonomy and trauma.

Curated by Lucia Pietroiusti, Head of Ecologies, and Daisy Gould, Assistant Curator, Live Programmes. Produced by Isobel Peyton-Jones, Producer.  

Product details

Language: English
Dimensions: 140 x 80 x 45 mm
Publisher: Serpentine Ecologies

The game requires: 
1-6 players
A tumbling tower block
A coin
A six-sided dice
Paper & pens

*NB - The card deck does not come with a tumbling tower, a coin, a six sided dice, or paper and pens