Spycraft before d20 ?
- Thread starter Selganor
- Start date
Shard O'Glase
First Post
ninjas and superspys by paladium games. Not a big paladium fan but it was fairly entertaining.
dpmcalister
Explorer
It depends on your meaning for "Spycraft". In the mid-80s there was a computer game called "Spycraft" which was reasonably good as well!
If you're talking about espionage role playing games, there have been a few:
Top Secret (1982) - TSR
James Bond 007 RPG (1986) - Victory Games
GURPS: Espionage (circa-1987-1990!) - Steve Jackson Games
Top Secret/S.I. (1987) - TSR
Spycraft (2002) - AEG
And that's not including all the different, modern-day, games that could be used for espionage role playing.
If you're looking for product listings for the above games (except GURPS: Espionage) you can get them from my site (which is in homage to the espionage role playing genre) - www.modus-operandi.co.uk (specifically, www.modus-operandi.co.uk/products/ )
If you're talking about espionage role playing games, there have been a few:
Top Secret (1982) - TSR
James Bond 007 RPG (1986) - Victory Games
GURPS: Espionage (circa-1987-1990!) - Steve Jackson Games
Top Secret/S.I. (1987) - TSR
Spycraft (2002) - AEG
And that's not including all the different, modern-day, games that could be used for espionage role playing.
If you're looking for product listings for the above games (except GURPS: Espionage) you can get them from my site (which is in homage to the espionage role playing genre) - www.modus-operandi.co.uk (specifically, www.modus-operandi.co.uk/products/ )
Selganor
Adventurer
I was just curious... He probably confused this with TSRs Top Secret...
The one who told me about a Spycraft BEFORE d20 also got some other comments like:
I think that he just got some things SERIOUSLY confused...
I'm still waiting for confirmation if he thought Top Secret to be the "non-d20" Spycraft...
The one who told me about a Spycraft BEFORE d20 also got some other comments like:
And as I told him that the d20-license is for free he replied:
I think that he just got some things SERIOUSLY confused...
I'm still waiting for confirmation if he thought Top Secret to be the "non-d20" Spycraft...
I think your friend is seriously confused. There was no d20 license before 3rd Ed., other than what was released to some game companies to get the ball rolling on producing supplements (which, as far as I know, wasn't much). There was certainly nothing published before 3rd Ed.
On the other hand, there was an incarnation of Spycraft that sort of existed before d20. It was called Series Archer, and I believe was being developed under AEG's Roll-n-Keep system. However, this project was scrapped in favor of a d20 system, and never actually saw the light of day. Only a few Kapera-worshippers like my wife ever found out about it. It had a REALLY cool website, though.
However, I really doubt that is what your friend was referring to. It sounds more like he's heard half of at least a dozen major rumours and stories of inside information. He's tried to piece them together in his head, and come out with a very muddled mess. If I were you, I'd ask him if he can come up with some kind of corroboration. Any product ever published will have at least some kind of web presence, if only a lonely fan site that hasn't been updated or taken down.
On the other hand, there was an incarnation of Spycraft that sort of existed before d20. It was called Series Archer, and I believe was being developed under AEG's Roll-n-Keep system. However, this project was scrapped in favor of a d20 system, and never actually saw the light of day. Only a few Kapera-worshippers like my wife ever found out about it. It had a REALLY cool website, though.
However, I really doubt that is what your friend was referring to. It sounds more like he's heard half of at least a dozen major rumours and stories of inside information. He's tried to piece them together in his head, and come out with a very muddled mess. If I were you, I'd ask him if he can come up with some kind of corroboration. Any product ever published will have at least some kind of web presence, if only a lonely fan site that hasn't been updated or taken down.
Ranger REG
Explorer
Actually, Series Archer was originally planned to be a standalone OGL-based product, not bearing the trademarked "d20 system" logo.
But somehow, they were convinced to take advantage of the d20 market. So it became a d20-based product, complete with the logo and full compliance of the d20STL.
Of course, they renamed it Shadowforce Archer due to a confusion with another trademark, and not willing to challenge it.
But all in all, Spycraft Espionage Handbook began showing up on the store shelves early Spring 2002. So yeah, it does have a bit of a headstart. By the time d20 Modern Core Rulebook debuted to the public, AEG managed to roll out Spycraft Game Control Screen, Modern Arms Guide, Soldier/Wheelman Guide, Shadowforce Archer Campaign Setting Book, The Archer Foundation Chamber Book, and Hands of Glory.
Since d20 Modern up until now, they released Gentlemen's Agreement Series Campaign and Pan-Asian Collective.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
But somehow, they were convinced to take advantage of the d20 market. So it became a d20-based product, complete with the logo and full compliance of the d20STL.
Of course, they renamed it Shadowforce Archer due to a confusion with another trademark, and not willing to challenge it.
But all in all, Spycraft Espionage Handbook began showing up on the store shelves early Spring 2002. So yeah, it does have a bit of a headstart. By the time d20 Modern Core Rulebook debuted to the public, AEG managed to roll out Spycraft Game Control Screen, Modern Arms Guide, Soldier/Wheelman Guide, Shadowforce Archer Campaign Setting Book, The Archer Foundation Chamber Book, and Hands of Glory.
Since d20 Modern up until now, they released Gentlemen's Agreement Series Campaign and Pan-Asian Collective.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
