Spycraft Question

[buzzard]

OK, I'm thinking of running a Spycraft homegame in my area, but I'm not sure I'm willing to cook everything I need from scratch. Thus I will be needing some premade stuff since I'm inherently lazy.

So far I have the base book, modern arms, and Soldier/wheelman. I am trying to decide if I should pick up Shadowforce Archer or not to use as the campaign setting. I bought Hand of Glory used, but after giving it something of a read through, I get the impression that it is far removed from normal espionage. I'm rather more inclined towards a more standard fare myself (you know, Bond movie like or so). Since Hand of Glory is a Shadowforce Archer supplement, I am led to believe that the basic setting must be related. Thus I am hesitant to cough up the dough for that back. Luckily I have the local EN World denizens to inform me as to what's what.

So this results in two questions:

A) Should a person seeking a reasonably normal espionage campaign pick up Shadowforce Archer?

B)If the answer to A is "no", then what should I purchase? Or will I have to start creating stuff myself?


buzzard

 

[Enforcer]

So this results in two questions:

A) Should a person seeking a reasonably normal espionage campaign pick up Shadowforce Archer?

B)If the answer to A is "no", then what should I purchase? Or will I have to start creating stuff myself?

Assuming that magic and psionics don't agree with your idea of a "reasonably normal" espionage campaign, then no, you don't want Shadowforce Archer. As for what you can purchase, AEG is coming out with decade books, that will allow you to have a game set in the 60s (early James Bond), 40s (WWII), etc. I don't believe they're out yet, however.

What I do is simple--I steal everything I can. A good plotline from Alias? Yoink. Same applies to Tom Clancy, computer games (Deus Ex), and everything else. Chances are your players won't have read or seen all the books and movies that you've read and seen. Use that to your advantage.

 

[Psion]

Well, I certainly think you will get less mileage out of SFA. SFA is made to have a variety of genre feels, but it is generally unafraid to do things that are a little on the fantastic end of the superspy pool. There are a variety of less fantastic mechanical bits, but you'd be getting less use out of it.

There are two more class books, the upcoming decade books, and gentleman's agreement is an non-SFA adventure, and coming out soon is some third-party products like combat missions.

 

[Morgenstern]

Hi ,

Glad to hear you're checking out Spycraft. For standard espionage fare, the SFA worldbook would give you a survey of real world organizanizations around the globe, a number of new threats, a selection of gadgets and the first Spycraft prestige classes (Cat burglar, Counter-terrorist, Hacker, & Sniper). It's a good read even just for ideas on setting up a campaign, but maybe not your best bet for a first choice. The silver-covered books are the core espionage stuff, so in order, I'd recomend the Faceman/Snoop Class Guide (should be out now) - losts of basic tradecraft and a huge section on running investigations, then the Fixer / Pointman Class Guide - covers indirect tactics like harrasment, brainwashing, interrogation, and street deals along with an expanded system for creating adventures. Both include a slew of new prestige classes, skill uses (no new skills - just new ways to apply what you know), feats, departments, etc.

After that I'd head over to the web-site (www.spycraftRPG.com) and download the various free adventures there.

THEN I'd look into the black covers based on the sort of game you want to play. The Shadowforce Archer books build up a single world, they are also stand alone genre books~
The Archer Foundation - X-files style slightly off-kilter mystery.
Hand of Glory - Indiana Jones style pulp action.
Pan-Asian Collective - Hong Kong Martial Arts action with some anime goodness.
European Commonwealth - Old School Illuminati style conspiracy with a look into the glittering world of celebrity.
African Alliance (out soon) - Bond. James Bond. Gentlemen superspies, death traps, and on the fly competence.

The 1960's Decadebook should be along shortly, and while it's a guide to the era for spies, it is filled with new tools for modern agents, including a detailed look at the CIA and KGB for PC agents. It's a silver cover and should be right up your alley .

Hope this helps,

 

[buzzard]

Cool,
Thanks for all the info everyone. I'll probably go with the classbooks for now and skip Shadowforce Archer. I'll also take a look at the stuff on the web site. I may just try to cook up my own plotline with an anti-terrorist bent. There's certainly enough stuff in the world right now to make for plots.

buzzard