Dark Conspiracy

[Gadrin]

Just curious does anyone here play Dark Conspiracy ?

I got an email a few weeks back for the Dark Consipracy
cd-rom pair

(for those who didn't)
http://www.farfuture.net/dc.html

But before that, I've never heard of it. I'll have to search
my Dragon Mag cds to see what was made of it.

>

 

[jappel]

I never did, though Dark Conspiracy remains the only RPG that I've heard a radio commercial for - they played on various stations in Baltimore right around Origins '91, which was held here.

 

[Hemdian]

Just curious does anyone here play Dark Conspiracy ?

Never played it, but I do own a few of the 1st edition books (ie. those published by GDW): the core rule book, Proto-Dimensions, DarkTek, and the first Stackpole novel ("A Gathering Evil").

IIRC (it's all in storage crates at the moment) it used the GDW house system and production values where comparable to other GDW products of the time (TNE, T2K2, etc). It's set in a dystopic near-future US.

 

[spinwardpirate]

I never did, though Dark Conspiracy remains the only RPG that I've heard a radio commercial for - they played on various stations in Baltimore right around Origins '91, which was held here.

Weird. Do you remember which stations?

I've never played it, but I was supposed to. A friend of mine asked, "if I buy this, will you play it?" My answer was yes, but we never did get around to it.

 

[Qstor2]

I ran a campaign for a number of months. I like the setting. The novels are pretty interesting, good background material in them and the module set partly in NYC.

My friends liked it. But then it got too power gamey cause they had access to LMG and anti tank weapons so it felt apart.

Mike

 

[mbrinkhues]

All based on V1/GDW Version:


System is T2K V2.0 based (The D10 variant, not the later V2.2 D20 Variant) but an upgrade-package was part of the GM screen

Basic setting was

Spoiler:

The universe consists of a number of Dimensions (The game was written when Hawkin was quite popular) that are somewhat interlinked. Numbers of dimensions are grouped in "Domains" with a similar "Aspekt" and ruled by "Dark Master" that has a matching aspect (or vice-versa) with Aspect being "Creator", "Death", "Salvager",...

Earth is it's own, neutral aspected domain without a master and the walls between Earth and other dimensions can't be crossed by most masters

Some governments had contact with "little grey man" (Humanoid aliens) for quite some time, resonably positive one. When an alien expedition opened an extra-dimensional portal, they unleash "evil" powers that take over the alien group (they are highly psionic) and start invading earth with their minions hoping to find a way to enter Earth Domain

The game is set "5 minutes into the future" with an earth that has gone most of the way to hell, a cross-breed between 1930s Financial Crisis, Multiple Brushfire Wars and a Collapsing World economic on one side and "Corporate Luxury-enclaves" on the other. A lot of the modern tech is "out of financial reach" for the masses but what exists can be quite impressive

The Minions (who have been active on earth before) appear as historical monsters (Suckers, Doggies etc) with some new add-ons thrown in. Some minions have "psionic" powers (called Empathy in-game) and some humans can have that power too

The game systems supplements where produced in parallel to the evolution of the T2K System from D10->D20 and it's not always clear what system the stats are based on. Supplements have the usual GDW quality of that time (better than 80+ percent of the modern stuff IMHO) and the system got some nice support in Challenge.

The three novels form a trilogy and give some interesting concepts of the world. It's a Stackpole (Heroic Heros, Fiendish Fiends, Voyager-level detailing) but readabel (And without a Dwarfen Prince!)

It's a game system for players who like to find out "how many HP has a Vampire" and "Can I use a 120mm APFSDS instead of wooden stacks". Those who like Buffy (The TV show, not the game) will like it

 

[aramis]

Later printings had the T2K2.2 compatible 1d20 mechanics. It didn't change much.

Note that T2K2.x has lots of military career crunch, while DC has lots of civilians, and both can be combined seamlessly.

 

[Gadrin]

The three novels form a trilogy and give some interesting concepts of the world. It's a Stackpole (Heroic Heros, Fiendish Fiends, Voyager-level detailing)

Okay, I"ll bite, what's Voyager-level detailing)

>

 

[jappel]

Weird. Do you remember which stations?

Not with any certainty, 18 years later. Best guess would be 98 Rock and what was then "Mix 106.5".

I distinctly remember hearing the ad playing as I was driving into town for the convention.

 

[mbrinkhues]

Okay, I"ll bite, what's Voyager-level detailing)

>

Take a photograph of a Voyager character. Apply to a cardboard. Use Cardboard to replace actor

With most characters (7of9 might be an exception) none will recognise the change

 

[mbrinkhues]

Later printings had the T2K2.2 compatible 1d20 mechanics. It didn't change much.

Note that T2K2.x has lots of military career crunch, while DC has lots of civilians, and both can be combined seamlessly.

Not to mention that you can add the careers and some Tech from TNE. Note that the DC "Future Tech" seems to use the "Numbers from thin air" construction system rather than FFS but that doesn't matter that much

 

[kafka47]

Loved the idea but never could run it...as the Dark Minions did not conspire to get a gaming group together once I had purchased everything...

Seriously, I think DC is a game that people may love to hate or hate to love. It has a serious vibe and resonance with all Cthulhu players but then degenerates somewhat to akin to Chill. I remember the pullout intro from Challenge truly terrified me but the game and the subsequent offerings in Challenge turned me off the game. I have used bits and pieces of it. But never could I find a way to completely endorse it. Having said that, it is a far more interesting game and premise than Delta Green but not as suctile as a good Cthulhu Now or Unknown Armies game.

 

[Colin]

I used the biological bits of tech for my TNE-based 2300 game. Actually, a lot of stuff from this game was useful for 2300AD. As was a whole bunch of Twilight Stuff, especially the Nautical and Aviation Handbook, and Twilight Nightmares.