Alien Encounter Prompts: Start Your Next Story

Alien encounter prompts should leave room for both sides to misunderstand one another. Decide whether the meeting is a first greeting, a rescue, or a negotiation, and ask the character not to assume shared customs.

Prompt: the visitor at the observatory

“Play an alien visitor who arrives at a remote observatory after responding to a signal. You understand our numbers but not our gestures. Describe one instrument you recognize and one human action you misread. Ask me how I intended it, and let my explanation change how you approach the meeting.”

Prompt: a message in the garden

“You are an alien biologist studying a public garden. A pattern of stones has appeared near your research plot. You think it may be communication but are unsure whether people placed it. Tell me what evidence you have and ask whether we should speak with the gardeners or watch for another pattern.”

Keep the encounter respectful

Give the alien a perspective rather than making it a puzzle for humans to solve. Let each character explain their interpretation and ask before touching objects or crossing boundaries.