Section 9/Spycraft OOC Thread

[Codename: GhostFox]

1. Mirthcard, thanks for responding to the questionnaire. Glad to see there is some interest here. We'll see how the other prospective players respond. Make sure you read through the guidelines.

2. For the players with only the basic rule book, that's not a problem at all since the basic rule book has most of the things you need for the game.

3. I hope it's not a problem if the game will be over at the alderac forums.

 

[Byrons_Ghost]

1. Have you ever played in an espionage roleplaying game campaign?

No

2. How familiar are you with the D20 system?

I've been running one d20 game or another since it came out.

3. What's your favorite spy movie or book?

Movies: Sneakers, Bourne Identity

Book: Only one I've really read is "Declare" by Tim Powers

Oh, and does the Prisoner count? I've seen most of those episodes...

4. What sort of character would you likely play in a Spycraft game if you had no limitations? Is there an established character in the genre that appeals to you that you might use as a basis?

Since I haven't played Spycraft yet I can only base my choices on the basic classes. I'd prefer to play a Faceman, Pointman, or Snoop, in no particular order. I don't have any fictional characters in mind to base things off, but in general I prefer the subtle, undercover type spies to the flashy, action movie type stuff.

Morality: 3

Realism: 3

Outlook: 2

Seriousness: 4

Continuity: 3

While the spy genre is traditionally set in the modern day and a world obstensibly like our own, there are other options available. Pick one of the following as your favorite potential setting for our Spycraft season. If you don't see one that appeals to you, or have an idea for one, please list and describe it.

Cold War


Importance: 2

Starting Level 3

Points For Abilities: 3

Character Training: 3

Character Connections: 3

Character Origin: 4

Agency Types: 4

Offices and Distribution: 4

Sponsorship: 5

Administrative Control: 3

Agency Credentials: 3

 

[Festy_Dog]

Ah, kewl idea, I'll post it here :

=== PLAYER ===

1. Have you ever played in an espionage roleplaying game campaign? If so, describe it - what you thought about it that worked and what you thought didn't work. Your response is especially important if you have participated in the previous Section 9 play-by-post.

Right now I'm playing a freestyle mercenary campaign, its on hold though because the GM isn't feeling quite well and he may be ill for a while yet. It seems to be a good game though we have only had it going for a little while.

2. How familiar are you with the D20 system?

Very. I'm currently playing over ten d20 games on the Enworld boards.

3. What's your favorite spy movie or book?

Movie: Ronin, without a doubt (dunno whether it'd be considered a spy movie, its close enough for me).
Book: Gorky Park, Polar Star, that series (forgot the exact details, trying to find the third book in the series).

4. What sort of character would you likely play in a Spycraft game if you had no limitations? Is there an established character in the genre that appeals to you that you might use as a basis?

Hmm, a Fixer, but the character would be ex-special forces. Nothing really fancy, a smart/agile guy with a bunch of useful skills, enjoys working with a team. Very loyal to his comrades, friends first, self second. Strong sense of honour, does what he believes is right, but wouldn't let personal opinion get in the way of his job unless it was extreme circumstances.

=== TONE ===

Morality: 1/2/3/4/5

5: Morality is always in shade of gray

Realism: 1/2/3/4/5

2: Cinematic

Outlook: 1/2/3/4/5

4: Successes are rare

Seriousness: 1/2/3/4/5

5: Almost entirely serious

Continuity: 1/2/3/4/5

3: Some long stories and some episodic ones

=== SETTING ===

* Modern Day: The world outside our window with some minor alterations for the sake of the game.

=== CHARACTERS ===

Importance: 1/2/3/4/5

3: Agents occasionally have an effect on world affairs

Starting Level 1/2/3/4/5

4: Beginning Agents: 2nd - 4th Level

Points For Abilities: 1/2/3/4/5

3: Average Campaign: Average Ability Score of 13

Character Training: 1/2/3/4/5

3: Agents come from both Agency training and outside organizations

Character Connections: 1/2/3/4/5

3: Some of the Agents know one another

Character Origin: 1/2/3/4/5

4: Agent backgrounds are mostly rooted in the mundane

=== AGENCY ===

Agency Types: 1/2/3/4/5

2: Mercenary Company: The organization is a respected affiliation of soldiers-of-fortune who work for the highest bidder. They often end up entangled in brush fire wars and doing work that no government agency can (or wants to) do.

Offices and Distribution: 1/2/3/4/5

3: National: The Agency has offices and Agents in only one country. Officers are in every major city of that country, with Agents in every medium-sized community.

Sponsorship: 1/2/3/4/5

2: Military: The Agency is run by a unit of the military that is specifically concerned with military goals. Spying on enemy armies, stealing military secrets, and national security are always top priorities.

Administrative Control: 1/2/3/4/5

2: Loose Laws: Agents can get away with minor violations but must avoid committing any serious offenses.

Agency Credentials: 1/2/3/4/5

3: Faceless: The group is regarded as just another bunch of government employees sponging off the taxpayers. Cooperation from authorities, particular police, will be slow and reluctant.

 

[Sen Udo-Mal]

I am totally interested GhostFox, but today is really busy. I will post my stuff tomorrow or Monday if that is cool. Sorry about the delay (work, wife, work taking all my time )

 

[Hammerhead]

1. Have you ever played in an espionage roleplaying game campaign?

I have played in two online online games, Operation Blood Money and Section Nine. Groups often wasted too much time planning minute details, in my opinion, but once the action started it was okay. I particularily enjoyed Operation Blood Money's use of maps and diagrams.

2. How familiar are you with the D20 system?

Very. I've played D&D and other D20 games since before the core rulebooks came out.

3. What's your favorite spy movie or book?

Any James Bond film, along with Spy Game and Mission Impossible constitute my favorite spy movie. My Favorite spy books are Tom Clancy technothrillers.

4. What sort of character would you likely play in a Spycraft game if you had no limitations? Is there an established character in the genre that appeals to you that you might use as a basis?

I would like to play either a wild, uncontrollable Wheelman or a cold and cautious Fixer. In addition, I enjoy martial arts and would like to play a character with some knowledge of unarmed or melee attacks.

=== TONE ===

Morality:
2: Good vs. Bad is mostly clear cut

Realism:
2: Cinematic

Outlook:
2: Almost everything works out

Seriousness:
4: More serious than light-hearted

Continuity:
2: Mostly episodic with some continuing stories

Setting:
World War II, Cold War, Modern Universe

Importance:
2: Agents regularly effect world affairs

Starting Level:
2: Veteran Agents: 11th - 15th Level

Points For Abilities:
2: High Powered: Average Ability Score of 13-14

Character Training:
3: Agents come from both Agency training and outside organizations

Character Connections:
3: Some of the Agents know one another

Character Origin:
4: Agent backgrounds are mostly rooted in the mundane

Agency Types:
4: International Espionage Agency: This group is the traditional, modern intelligence agency, fixated on gathering intelligence on other nations on behalf of a country or league of countries. It may be a real world intelligence agency such as MI-5 or the CIA or one created by the players and Game Control.

Offices and Distribution:
3: National: The Agency has offices and Agents in only one country. Officers are in every major city of that country, with Agents in every medium-sized community.

Sponsorship:
4: Government: This kind of Agency is sponsored by an official government and is covered by the government's legal framework. The group's emphasis can range from fighting crime to internal security, to external investigation.

Administrative Control:
4: Agency Protection: The Agents will be protected by the Agency at all costs, shielded from any legal suits or prosecution.

Agency Credentials:
3: Faceless: The group is regarded as just another bunch of government employees sponging off the taxpayers. Cooperation from authorities, particular police, will be slow and reluctant.

 

[Mirth]

1. Mirthcard, thanks for responding to the questionnaire. Glad to see there is some interest here. We'll see how the other prospective players respond. Make sure you read through the guidelines.

2. For the players with only the basic rule book, that's not a problem at all since the basic rule book has most of the things you need for the game.

3. I hope it's not a problem if the game will be over at the alderac forums.

Hey Elrick!

1. Guidelines said 4th level, but you hadn't clarified that yet so that's why I asked

2. Cool.

3. I'm afraid I may have to bow out of a game if it's on another board. Nothing against AEG, just like to keep all of my games in one place. If I might ask (and please don't take this as an attack), why did you recruit for this game on ENWorld if you want to run it at AEG? Why not recruit there? Just seems odd to me...

 

[Codename: GhostFox]

Some of you may be curious at what my preferences are.

TONE
Morality: 2: Good vs. Bad is mostly clear cut
Realism: 2: Cinematic
Outlook: 3: Successes balanced by failures
Seriousness: 4: More serious than light-hearted
Continuity: 2: Mostly episodic with some continuing stories

SETTING
Modern Day (Alternate Universe), Shadowforce Archer, Modern Day

CHARACTERS
Importance: 3: Agents occasionally have an effect on world affairs
Starting Level 4: Beginning Agents: 4th Level
Points For Abilities: 2: High Powered: Average Ability Score of 13-14
Character Training: 4: Agents are mostly Agency trained
Character Connections: 3: Some of the Agents know one another
Character Origin: 3: Agents have a balance of the outlandish and the mundane in their background

AGENCY
Agency Types: 4: International Espionage Agency
Offices and Distribution: 4: International
Sponsorship: 4: Government
Administrative Control: 3: Free Hand
Agency Credentials: 2: Unknown

 

[Codename: GhostFox]

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The player characters are Operatives of the Department of Central Intelligence & Security. The DCIS is the primary national intelligence outfit of a major western republic.

More specifically, the team members are part of Section 9. Unlike the more mundane areas of the DCIS that are involved the day-to-day tasks of collection, analysis and production of intelligence, Section 9 is the special unit that conducts covert action operations. Slick spy-action, "special activities" and "dirty tricks" - these are the bread and butter of Section 9.

Section 9 Operatives are drawn from a wide-variety of backgrounds: each agent possesses a unique suite of talents, skills and abilities that help the team achieve its mission objectives.

Teams must be ready to handle a broad range of Section 9 assignments. While the last mission involved preventing advanced technology from falling into the hands of terrorist groups, the next mission might be to ensure the successful defection of a valuable asset, or infiltrating a high-security facility to investigate links between crime syndicates and mega-corporations, or perhaps help with counter-intelligence and foil the activities of enemy agents.

SERIES TONE
The whole vibe I'm going for is along the lines of Alias and La Femme Nikita with a good measure of Bond and a healthy dose of Danger Girl and Indiana Jones. Elements from Shadowforce Archer and Delta Green are likely to rear their ugly heads. And if it does come to that, the flavour would be more of pulp Cthulhu action as oppossed to the steady erosion of sanity in stock Call of Cthulhu.

 

[Codename: GhostFox]

3. I'm afraid I may have to bow out of a game if it's on another board. Nothing against AEG, just like to keep all of my games in one place. If I might ask (and please don't take this as an attack), why did you recruit for this game on ENWorld if you want to run it at AEG? Why not recruit there? Just seems odd to me...

I'm recruiting in both the AEG and Enworld forums - don't see any reason not to. Sorry to see you go, if you have to bow out.

 

[Codename: GhostFox]

Thanks for responding to the questionnaire.

Here's what I have gathered regarding your character class preferences:

Mirthcard: Prototypical British Spy
Byron's Ghost: Faceman or Pointman or Snoop
Festy Dog: Ex-Special Forces Fixer
Hammerhead: Wild and Wheelman/Cold & Cautious Fixer
Hurricain (from the AEG Forums): To be determined
Seno Udo Mal: To be determined

We'll see how great the response is on the AEG forums. If it's weaker than I expected (and it seems to be going that way) I may consider running the game on these forums.

I hope to get this bird off the ground by the middle of next week so let me know if you have any other questions.