sample file - watermark.wargamevault.com · to pat jim, joe, and tim, for counuess hours of mayhem...

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Sam

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To Pat Jim, Joe, and Tim, for counUess hours of mayhem

And to Jenny, for putting up with it

CRfDITS Design: Lester W. Smith Development: Frank Chadwick and Loren K. Wiseman Additional Development and Typesetting: Julia Martin Front Cover Illustration: Larry Elmore Back Cover Illustration: Dell Harris

Cover Design: Steve Bryant, Amy Doubet, and Julia Martin Interior Illustrations: Janet Aulisio, Timothy Bradstreet, Steve Bryant, Paul Daly, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Amy Doubet,

Larry Elmore, LaMont Fullerton, Earl Geier, Dell Harris, Rick Harris, April Lee, David Martin, Ellisa Martin, Timothy Truman, and Kirk Wescom

Colors: Steve Bryant , LaMont Fullerton, Mark Fullerton, Grant Goleash, and Kirk Wescom Art Direction: Steve Bryant

Graphic Design and Production: LaMont Fullerton, Keith Ganske, and Usa Deckers Copyediting and Additional Input: Stephen Olle and Eric W. Haddock

Primary Playtesters: Dan Beckwith, Joe Hideg, Mike Horn, John Langford, and Kevin Wickart Additional Playtesters: Kelly C. Davis, Ralph Faraday, Eric W. Haddock, Trevor Hoffman, Chuck Kallenbach, Ted

Kocot, H. Michael "Dain" Lybarger, Julia Martin and Loren K. Wiseman

Dark Conspiracy

Copyright© 1991 GDW, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. Made in U.S.A. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher.

ISBN 1-55878-076-9

Permission: Any purchaser of this book may photocopy or reproduce for personal use the forms and data cards in this

book in order to play Dark Conspiracy. In fact, photocopying for that purpose is encouraged and is the reason that the information included in those forms was published in that fashion.

Dark Conspiracyn.t is GDW's trademark for its game of unearthly horror in a modern world.

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C-D\f G A M E S

P.O. Box 1646 Bloomington. IL 61702-1646

DARK CONSPIRACY

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PLAYfRS .........................................•. 6 Nomenklatura (Idle Rich) ............... .45 Direct Fire Hit Procedure ..................... 83 INTROOOCING DARK C ONSPIRACY .................... 8 Paramedic ....................................... 45 Automatic Fire ................................ 86

The Horror Begins ................................. 9 Paraphysicist .................................. 46 Movement 11nd Fire .............................. 87 How to Use This Book ......................... 1 0 Poli tician ......................................... 46 Ammunition ........................................ 87 If You're New to Roleplaying ................ 11

CHARACTER GENERATION ............................... 12 Prisoner .......................................... 46 Private Investigator ......................... 47

Special Ceses ...................................... 88 Direct Fire Deviation ............................ 88

Charecter Generation Overview ........... 13 Professor ......................................... 4 7 Indirect Fire ......................................... 88 Background ......................................... 13 Attributes ............................................. 15

Prole (Corporate Welfare Recipient) ..... 4 7 Psychietrist ..................................... 48

Thrown Weapons ................................. 90 Hand G ren11des .................................... 90

Initial Experience ................................. 16 Psychic Test Subject ...................... .48 Chemical Grenades and Rounds .......... 90 Skills ................................................... 17 Secondary Activities ............................ 18 Military Rank ....................................... 19 Reserves .............................................. 19 Contacts .............................................. 19

Public Employee ............................. 48 State/Local Law Enforcement ........ .48 Truck Driver ................................... 49

Military Occupations ............................ 49 United States Army ......................... 49

Shotguns ............................................. 91 Explosives tmd Demolitions ................. 92

Frequently Used Burst Diagrams ..... 93 Demage ............................................... 94

Gunshot Wounds ............................ 94 Generic Contacts ............................ 19 Regular Forces ............................ 49 Human/ Animal Hit Location Chart ... 95 Solid Contacts ................................ 21 Enlisted .................................... 49 Bums .............................................. 97

Initiative ............................................... 23 Age ..................................................... 24 Skill and Attribute Derived Values ........ 25

Officer ...................................... 50 Elite Forces ................................. 50

Enlisted .................................... 50

Explosions ................... ................... 98 F11lls .............................................. lOO Poison ........................................... 101

Starting Money and Initial Equipment .. 26 Skill Improvement ............................... 28

Officer ...................................... 50 United States Marine Corps ............. 51

WOUNDS & HEAUNG ................................... 102 Wounds ............................................. 102

Character Generation Examples .......... 30 United States Navy ......................... 51 Knockdown ................................... 103 Dara Schwartz ................................ 30 Enlisted Sellman ......................... 51 Stun .............................................. 103 Herbert Vahn ................................... 32

CAREERS ........................................................... 34 Education ............................................ 34

N11val Officer ............................... 51 Nav11l Aviator .............................. 52 Enlisted SEAL (Sell Air Land) ..... 52

Wound Severity ............................ 103

He~: ~s~ Ai·d·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~ g: Undergraduate University ................ 34 Graduate University ........................ 35 Law School ..................................... 35 Medical School ............................... 35

SEAL Officer ............................... 52 United St11tes Air Force ................... 52

Enlisted Airman ........................... 53 Pilot (Officer) ............................... 53

Stabilizing Critical Wounds ............ 105 Basic Healing Rate ........................ 105 Recovery From Scratch Wounds ... 105 Medic11l C11re ................................. 105

National Military Academy .............. 35 Technical School ............................ 35

Civilian Occupations ............................ 36 Astronaut ......... .. .......................... ... 36

Career UsL. ...................................... 53 T ASK R ESOLUTION & SKILLS ........................ 54

Emp11thic Success ............................... 55 Power Level Table ........................... 56

Treating Poison Wounds ............... 106 Adequate Diet and Shelter ............ 106 Surgery ......................................... 106

W HEELS OF FIRE: Athlete ............................................ 36 Emp11thic Difficulty Levels ................... 56 V EHICLE TRAVEL & C OMBAT ................. 107 Attorney ......................................... 36 Skill Descriptions ................................. 56 Travel and Encounters ....................... 108 Bodyguard ...................................... 37 Bounty Hunter ................................ 37

Skill Ust.. ........................................ 57 DARK TIMES ..................................................... 65

Vehicle Movement Rates ............... 108 Terrain and Travel ........................ 108

Civil Engineer ................................. 37 Clergy ............................................. 37

The State of the Union ......................... 66 Future Dark Earth America ............. 66

Operating Aircraft .............................. 109 Vehicle Combat ................................. 109

Commercial Pilot ............................ 38 Onset Of The D11rk Times ............... 66 Combat Movement ....................... 109 Computer Operator/Programmer .... 38 Construction Worker ....................... 38 Criminal .......................................... 38 Cyborg Escapee ............................. 39 Drifter ............................................. 39

The Decline Of Government ............ 67 Urban Sprawl ....................................... 67

Ufe In The City ............................... 67 "Are You Anybody?" ....................... 69

"God Shed His Gr11ce on Thee .. ." ......... 70

Firing at Vehicles and Vessels ....... 112 Firing at Aircraft ............................ 113

Vehicle Damage ................................ 114 Vehicle Hit LocaUons Chart ......... 114 Vehicle Damage Resolution Chart ... 114

Entertainer ...................................... 40 "Don't Drink The Water; Hit Locations ................................. 114 Environmentalist ............................. 40 Factory Worker ............................... 40 Farmer ............................................ 40

Don't Breathe The Air" ................ 70 "You're Not From Arrund Here, Are You?" .... 71

The Dark ............................................. 72

Damage Resolution ....................... 115 Turreted Vehicle Damage Chart ...... 115 Standard Vehicle Damage Chart .... 115

Federal Law Enforcement .............. .41 Gambler .......................................... 41 Gonger ............................................ 41 Government Agent .......................... 42 Homeless ......................... ...... ......... 42 Journalist ........................................ 42

The Dark Minions ............................ 72 Demonground ................................. 72

COMBAT & D AMAGE ....................................... 73 Comb11t Movement .............................. 74 The Grid System .................................. 74 The Combat Tum ................................ 75

Cre..v-/rl-Hu/1 Vehicle Damage Chart ..... 116 Damage lmplement11tion ............... \16

Boat Damage Chart ................... 117 Aerospace Oaf/. Damage Chart ...... 11 8

Collision Damage .............................. 118 SPACE TRAVEL .............................................. 120

Manager ................................. , ....... 43 Martial Artist .................................. .43 Mechanic ........................................ 43

Actions ................................................ 75 lniti11tive ............................................... 76 Tum Sequence .................................... 76

Spacecraft Characteristics ................. 120 Spacecraft Size Chart .................... 120 Launch CharacterisUcs Table ........ 121

Medical Doctor ............................... 44 Mercenary ....................................... 44 Merchant Marine ............................. 44 Mystic ............................................. 45

Panic ................................................... 77 Unarmed Melee Comb11t ...................... 78 Armed Melee Combat .......................... 80 Fire Combat ........................................ 82

Reentry Table ................................ 121 In-Space Transfer Table ................. 122

Space Missions .................................. 122 Launches ...................................... 122

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Landing ........................................ 123 Maneuvering in Space:

Avoidance and Intercepts .......... 123

Beat Cops ..................................... 173 Bikers ........................................... 173 Cultists ......................................... 173

Weapons ........................................... 277 Vehicles and Robots .......................... 300

Dl{flculty of Intercept (Based on Travel DtrecUon) .... 123

Derelicts ....................................... 173 Dobies and Gidgets ....................... 174

R EFERENCE CHARTS ..................................... 316 Language Table ................................. 31 6

Maneuver Times Chart ............... 124 Eco-Warriors ................................ 174 Nationality/ Native Language Chart .... 316 Intercept and Avoidance Times ..... 124 Gangers ........................................ 174 Soviet Nationalities ............................ 316 Launch Vehicles In Orbit ............... 124 Gizmoids ....................................... 175 US Enlisted and NCO Ranks .............. 317 Attaining Higher Orbits ................. 1 24 Good Samaritans .......................... 175 US Commissioned Officer Ranks ....... 317

Spacecraft ......................................... 125 R osoTs ••..••.••••••...•.••.•••••••••••.....••••...•..•.•••..•.•• 128

Government Agents ...................... 175 lgors ............................................. 176

Career Ust ......................................... 317 Skill Ust. ............................................ 317

Robot Behavior .................................. 1 28 Mother Earthers ............................ 176 Character Generatico Worksheet Part 1 .. 318 Combat ............•................................ 129

Melee Combat. .............................. 129 Security Guards ............................ 176

BEAS11ES ...•....••••..........•.•........•........•...•.....•..• 177 Background Skills Chart ................. 318 Secondary Activities Chart ............. 318

Fire Combat. ................................. 129 Be a sty Combat .................................. 186 Character Generatico Worksheet Part 2 .. 319 Battle Damage

(Nonvehicular Robots) ............... 130 Beasty Movement ......................... 186 Mounts in Combat. ........................ 186

Effects of Age Table ....................... 319 Character Sheet ................................. 320

Battle Damage (Vehicular Robots) .... 130 Bum Damage ............................... 131

Baa sty Attacks .............................. 186 Beasty Morale ............................... 186

Tasks Chart .................................. 321 Power Level Table ......................... 321

Typical Drudgebots ........................... 131

Rff f Rf fS .•.•.•••..•.•...••••....•............ 132

Beasty Listings .................................. 187 Designing Your Own Beasties ............ 200

D ARK R ACES ····•·······••··•··•·· ••·········•······•· ••····· 201

Body Armor Protection ...................... 322 Human/Animal Hit Location Chart ..... 322 Combat Sequence ............................. 322

R EFEREEING DARK CONSPIRACY •..••..•.••.••.• 134 Darkling Attributes ............................ 209 Scatter Diagram ................................ 322 The World .......................................... 134 Physical Attributes ........................ 209 Bum Damage .................................... 322 The Story ........................................... 135 Mental Attributes ........................... 209 Melee Weapons ................ ................. 323 The Rules .......................................... 135 Soul Attributes .............................. 209 Bows ................................................. 323 The Host ............................................ 136 Darkling Skills ................................... 209 Revolvers and Single-Shot Pistols ...... 323

Conversion Notes .......................... 136 New Empathic Skills ..................... 209 Automatic Pistols ............................... 323

D ARK EARni ······•·•·•••••••··•·•••••···················•··· 137 Dark Minions and Human Emotions .. 211 Submachineguns ............................... 323 We Are Not Alone .............................. 138 Dark Races Ustings ........................... 212 Sporting Rifles ................................... 323 The Door to Hell ................................ 140 The Cities .......................................... 142

Designing Your Own Dark Minions ..... 232 D ARKT EK •••....•••••..•.•••••...••••....•••••.•.....•••••..•... 233

Sniper Rifles ...................................... 323 Assault Rifles ..................................... 323

The Countryside ................................ 144 Technical Imagery ............................. 234 Battle Rifles ....................................... 324 Technology ....................................... 146 Dimension Walk Device ..................... 234 Automatic Rifles ................................ 324 The Dark Ones .................................. 148 Proto-Dimensional Topology ......... 235 Shotguns ........................................... 324 Demonground ................................... 150 Empathy ........................................... 151

R UNNING A DVENTURES & CAMPAIGNS ••..• 152

Dimension Walk and Other Dimensions ............... 235

PCs and Dimensional Travel ......... 236

Machineguns ..................................... 324 Heavy Machineguns ........................... 324 Grenade Launchers ............................ 324

Beginning a Campaign ...................... 152 Running an Adventure ....................... 152

Biocomputers .................................... 237 Computer Empathy

Rocket Launchers .............................. 324 Antitank Missile Launchers ................ 324

Making Rolepfllying a Community Effort .... 152 and Darkling Computers ............ 238 Mortars .............................................. 324 Setting the Scene ............................... 153 Animator Generators ......................... 240 Flamethrowers ................................... 325 Heightening Horror ............................ 153 Cyborgs ............................................. 241 Surface-to-Air Missiles ....................... 325 Maintaining Mystery ........................... 153 UFOs ................................................. 242 Hand Grenades ....................... ........... 325 Promoting Paranoia ........................... 154 Preparing Adventures ....................... 154

Death Rays ........................................ 243 A DVENTURES .•.......•..•••...•.......................... ..... 244

Rifle Grenades ....................... ............ 325 Cyber Hands ...................................... 325

A Detail o{ CorrupUon ................... 155 Ravening Wolves ............................... 245 Fragmentation Attack ............. ........... 325 Time and Money ................................ 155 Other Adventures .............................. 254 Demolition ......................................... 325 Rewards and Experience ................... 156

ENCO<JNTERS .••••••••...••...•••.••..•••.•••••..•••..•••....•• 157 In the City .......................................... 158

f QUIPMfNT & RfffRf NCf CHARTS .. 258 EQUIPMENT ··•·•···•··•····•·········•·····••··•·•·············· 260

Armor Values of Cover ....................... 325 Armor Equivalent .............. ................ 325 Explosive Penetration Formulas ......... 325

Travel by Highway ............................. 160 Documents ........................................ 260 Frequently Used Burst Diagrams ....... 326 Countryside ....................................... 160 Fuel ................................................... 260 Belt Ammo Record Forms ................. 326 Anywhere .......................................... 162 Tripods .............................................. 260 Ammo Record Forms ........................ 327

HuMAN NPCs ............................................... 163 NPCs in Combat ................................ 166

Ammunition .............................. ........ 260 Hand Grenades .................................. 263

Turreted Vehicle Damage Chart ......... 328 Vehicle Damage Resolution Chart ...... 328

NPC Stats Chart ............................ 166 Types o( Rounds ........................... 263 Crew-In-Hull Vehicle Damage Chart ... 328 Other NPC Skills ................................ 167 Explosives ......................................... 264 Vehicle Hit Locations Chart ................ 328 NPC Motivations ................................ 167 Tools ................................................. 265 Boat Damage Chart ........................... 329

Spades: Ambition ......................... 168 Electronics ........................................ 266 Standard Vehicle Damage Chart ........ 329 Hearts: Sociability ......................... 168 Clubs: Violence ............................. 169

Vision Devices ................................... 270 NBC Equipment ................................ 270

Aerospace Craft Damage Chart ......... 329 Terrain Effects on Movement Chart .... 330

Diamonds: Greed .......................... 169 Body Armor ....................................... 270 Combat Move Table ........................... 330 NPC Appearance ............................... 170 Medical Supplies ................................ 271 Cruise Speed Table ............................ 330 Stock NPCs ....................................... 170 Other Equipment ............................... 272 NPC Stats Chart ................... .. ............ 331 MajorNPCs ........................................ 171 Personal Gear .................................... 273 NPC Motivation Table ........................ 331 Contacts ............................................ 171 Cyber Hands ...................................... 274 NPC Record Forms ............................ 331 Sample Stock NPCs ........................... 172 Cyber Hands Table ....................... 27 4 INDEX .............................................................. 332

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