| Spycraft |
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| d20 system | |
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Spycraft is a D20 -based Role-playing Game dealing with superspies and modern action. It is published by the Alderac Entertainment Group . After the release of the core book (subsequently referred to as the "Spycraft Espionage Handbook") in 2002, multiple supplements were released in the following years. A new edition of the rules, Spycraft 2.0, was released in August 2005. Early in 2006, a new company announced it would be acquiring the Spycraft line from AEG. This company, Crafty Games, was founded by the authors of ''Spycraft 2.0'' Alex Flagg, Scott Gearin and Patrick Kapera (who also co-authored ''Spycraft 1.0''). SYSTEM Spycraft 1.0 Spycraft 1.0 is based on the d20 system, incorporating a few changes to give more of a modern-day feel.
Spycraft 2.0 Spycraft 2.0 took these changes a step further and removed the game far enough from its d20 origins that it was able to serve as a stand-alone book. A copy of the Players Handbook, or similar sourcebooks, is not required to play Spycraft 2.0. There were also numerous changes from Spycraft 1.0, such as:
CAMPAIGN SETTINGS Shadowforce Archer The first of all the Spycraft campaign settings. The world of Shadowforce Archer (SFA) is an Earth where mystical and psionic powers are real. A series of supplemental books that were released to support the SFA worldbook. Each book details one of the international Chambers of world. Each book has a different theme and includes new rules and agent options appropriate to the theme. The setting was discontinued at the beginning of 2005 due to lagging sales of the books. Spycraft 2.0 contains many classes and feats that first appeared in the SFA line. The Shadowforce Archer World Book has recently been re-released in PDF fomat by Crafty Games. The rest of the SFA line will also be made available in PDF format throughout the rest of the year (and possibly into the next). Dark Inheritance Released in 2004 by Mythic Dreams Studios, Dark Inheritance (DI) was originally a D20 Modern campaign setting but converted across to the ''Powered by Spycraft'' banner using the Spycraft 1.0 rules. It describes an Earth that has been ravaged by ancient mystical powers, allowing Demons and other foul beasts access to this dimension. The setting book contains new rules that allow agents to play as Titans (powerful descendants of antediluvian demi-gods), worship the demonic forces and gain access to mystic powers (reprinted from the SFA world book). There are a number of supplements planned for DI, similar in fashion to those for SFA. There is no release date as yet for any of these supplements. World On Fire ''World On Fire'' is the title for a world book that will be covering the setting detailed in the Spycraft CCG. Agents will be able to fight the forces of evil alongside such groups as the Shadow Patriots and Banshee.Net. No release date has been announced as yet, but it is said to be sometime this year. The book will feature even more character options (in the form of new origins, base and expert classes, and new master classes for higher level characters). This will also be used as the campaign setting for Living Spycraft. Update: Due to an issue with Mongoose Publishing, the release date for this book has been pushed back to Summer 2007. 10,000 Bullets Long teased on the Spycraft forums under the name 'Project X', ''10,000 Bullets'' is a gritty crime setting that brings Spycraft down to street level. New rules will allow players to become police, gangsters and everything in between. It has been mentioned on the official forums that Ten Thousand Bullets will be released in time for GenCon Indy in August this year. LIVING SPYCRAFT Spycraft can also be played as part of the Living Spycraft campaign. As a Living Campaign , judges download official modules created by volunteers and run the modules according to the "MRD" rules document. Players track character progression on a log sheet. The latest version of all files can be found on the Home Office site. Originally a part of the Role Playing Game Association's network of Living Campaign settings, the RPGA has offered varying support for Living Spycraft. Modules could be ordered via the RPGA system, and games were held at conventions such as GenCon . In 2007 there was no support for Spycraft at the D&D Experience gaming convention (previously named Winter Fantasy). Shortly afterwards, in February 2007, the RPGA announced that it has stopped supporting campaigns not based on Wizards of the Coast products, including Living Spycraft.http://livingspycraft.com/x/dpage/RPGA-Spycraft Adventure modules are now being provided via the LivingSpycraft.com website, and support is provided directly from the campaign staff. The Living Spycraft campaign has featured several story arcs over the years. In 2006, the World on Fire story arc began, offering dramatic changes to the campaign. Per the MRD and announcements by Crafty Games, players can now have several primary characters, each in a different campaign (of which World on Fire is one) and each one will advance in level at the same time. In addition, each primary character can have backup characters that level automatically. Each backup character is 6 levels lower than the first. Thus, a 15th level primary would have 9th and 3rd level backups. These two changes from the standard RPGA Living system increase the chances that tables can be formed. One final change is the creation of adaptable adventures, where a framework is provided and authors can create multiple adventures based on the framework. All approved adventures are playable. This facilitates authoring. These changes are seen as attempts to increase the player base for the living campaign. REFERENCES Supplements Spycraft 1.0
Crafty Games has started re-releasing the first edition books in PDF format. Where possible, each books comes with a Conversion Document that allows owners use the material with Spycraft 2.0. Spycraft 2.0 There are currently only six supplements available for the new version of Spycraft, all of which are in PDF format and available for purchase through their publishers' official sites.
There are a number of other supplements currently in production for Spycraft 2.0. Release dates for many of these products have not been announced, as Crafty Games prefers not to do this until they are sure of a release date.
Online sources
SEE ALSO The Spycraft system was used in the Stargate SG-1 Role-playing Game . This has often been referred to as Spycraft 1.5 due to some small changes that were made to the Spycraft 1.0 rules. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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