So, if you shoot, you try to roll under your shooting ability, or something. But if you're trying to remote view something, you tell the GM what Zener card you're thinking about and if that's the card that's pulled, you succeed. So dumb, but flavorful. Now, this is a book from the 90s, so there's some 90s game design and layout issues, which I will address here: some of the black-and-white art is effective, some is generic X-Files and even just generic generic, and some looks like sketches.
Maybe people are still doing this today, but it also strikes me as very 90s in a "wow look at this style" sort of way. I'm just not sure how to use this book -- do I photocopy pages for the players?
Do the players promise not to read on into the GM material? Anyway, those are all, in a way, minor issues, because my big issue with an omnibus conspiracy game is the same as my issue with the X-Files: does it have to be everything? Gray aliens who come to investigate humanity because our psychic residue is interfering with their reproduction which leads to them creating both human-alien hybrids and dolphin-alien hybrids?
Sure, that's cool. Secret lizardmen masters who once ruled the earth and who almost wiped themselves out in a religious war, so that the remaining Saurians don't have the same agenda?
Oh, we need that. Prehuman immortals with magical nanotech and also here's another chapter all about their secret history and culture? Well, I'm not sure how I'd bring that into my game. Secret magical sasquatch who helped humanity overthrew their alien overlords?
Uh, what? Oh, and what about demons, supernatural seepage, human failing to become the incarnate forms of monsters but becoming something else? No, what, no? Maybe this smorgasbord approach is good because it lets people tailor their games so that you could play a romp of a monster-hunt game and then play a "is it an alien or a vampire? In a way, this is what makes Delta Green really work: everything weird from the 90s can be included, but it all goes back to something Lovecraftian. Yes, yes, yes, yes -- and also no, because it's all Hastur and the Mi-Go and everything else.
There's several interesting ideas here in the weeds I really am amused by the idea of the Grey-dolphin hybrids, especially since they call themselves the Blue; and the idea that the Saurians don't all have the same agenda is a good reminder , but I'm really not sure I would ever play this game so much as steal some of the ideas here. Also, I think the "shades of gray" aspect might be very hard to play in a conspiracy game: when you already don't know who you can trust to support you in your agenda, it's nice to have a clear idea of what that agenda is.
Like, the last book in the series takes the standard bad guys -- humans working with aliens -- and offers a different take, which is interesting, but again, what the heck are players supposed to do with this information? Honestly, maybe there's a good premise there for a game: you are part of the good conspiracy and your job isn't to stop the bad conspiracy, but to convert as many of them as possible.
Another reason to use these books as choppable for parts is that there's so much that's just not playable. Like, yes, one of the joys of conspiracy fiction is to uproot the secret history of "what's really going on" but there's so much background here that the players won't ever be able to uproot outside of a "hey, we found this Atlantean diary" -- and even if they did, it wouldn't really change the game.
One final note before I run out of words: The last three books in the list above are from the digest-sized book series that was supposed to come out regularly with new rules and adventures. This series was badly titled "Bodyguard of Lies," and you can tell it's a bad title because they always prominently included the Churchill quote that the phrase comes from.
E-mail required. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Happy Halloween! As is fitting a conspiratorial organization, John officially started as of January 1, but word is just getting out now.
So check out previews of Chapter 1 and the first few pages of Chapter 3 of the book. With over , words and more than pieces of art placed inside this page tome. We finally finished the proofs and editing this weekend. All that is left now is to find a printer. If we can find a print window this week, we hope to have this long awaited book out to you by the end of March.
Yup, we got the blueline proofs back from the printer today. Book looks great and production is moving fast on it. The printer will hope to have use this book shipping by end of the month. Ask your local retailer for it or order it from us. September 13, — This is not a hoax… so it must be a conspiracy — For over 2 years gamers have talked about a sourcebook for Conspiracy X that details the inner workings of the Black Book… those strange men in black who have been given the role of villian and traitors.
Now, after a long period of silence — the truth is told. Arriving in our warehouse on Monday to begin shipping to distributors is the Black Book sourcebook entitled, The Hand Unseen.
March 28, — Conspiracy X 2. The conspiracy is back or did it ever really go away? Why do certain people become famous overnight? What really happened in New Mexico in ? Why are some places steeped in superstition and folklore? Sometimes you cannot see what defines your world. This is the nature of conspiracies. This is the nature of Conspiracy X. Conspiracy X is a roleplaying game set in a world of dark secrets and hidden agendas-the president may not be human, and the rumors of CIA mind-control satellites may very well be right.
It may be a game, but the background seems all too real. This second edition of Conspiracy X marks the 10th anniversary of Eden Studios, bringing new life to the game that launched the company in Conspiracy X has long been the premiere conspiracy RPG.
The books had the air of insider knowledge and uncovered truths, including what had really happened since Roswell. Revising and updating the game for the second edition was a huge task, but the truth must be told. The core rulebook will be followed by a number of sourcebooks, each addressing a different area-from the Extraterrestrials themselves, to the Paranormal psychic phenomena, hauntings, the supernatural , and Conspiracies.
THEY are among us, and have been for some time. Although sightings of UFOs have increased since that fateful crash in Roswell, aliens have been on Earth for longer than we could have imagined. Those perfect humanoids, dubbed the Atlanteans, use advanced technology to wield near godlike powers and manipulate humanity from behind the scenes. Humanity has long considered itself the dominant species on Earth.
This ability allows the epic warcaster to start a battle bonded to any warjack in his battlegroup see Bonding above. These bonds and their effects are listed on the epic warcasters card. Do not make an additional roll for the effects of this bond since they are described on the epic warcasters card. The controlling player must designate the warjack to which the warcaster is bonded before a battle in which the epic warcaster is used.
A warcaster may be bonded to more than one warjack, and this bond is in addition to any other bonds the epic warcaster has formed during play. A warjack can only be bonded once however. If an epic warcasters Warjack Bond ability is applied to a warjack already bonded to the epic warcaster, the effects of the previous.
Do not make a bond check for a warjack affected by the Warjack Bond ability after the battle. The warjack is considered to be bonded to the warcaster during the battle, so no roll is made. Some epic warcasters have a great deal of influence over the military forces of their factions and may handpick their own troops.
If an epic warcaster possesses an Elite Cadre, all units of the particular type dictated by the warcasters card included in an army with the warcaster gain the benefits of the Elite Cadre. Unique warjacks are character warjacks representing the pinnacle of each factions mechanikal development.
Unique warjacks are the result of dangerous or laborious efforts that would be difficult if not impossible to recreate. Due to their unprecedented raw power, these warjacks exist in a class all their own. Harnessing the power of these machines is no simple matter. Each is driven by a mechanikal consciousness far more complex than those required by simpler warjacks. The Deathjack, for example, is possessed by the malignant spirit of the Skulls of Hate. The Avatar is a vessel for Menoths will and is not even equipped with a cortex.
Due to their experimental or unpredictable natures, unique warjacks cannot bond. Likewise, unique warjacks cannot begin a game under the control of a jack marshal. Though the scale of this conflict may seem daunting at first, it is ideally suited for play with epic warcasters and unique warjacks.
As warfare ravages across the Iron Kingdoms, escalating hostilities rage unchecked and out of control. Whether through devastating arcane research or advanced technological development, each faction races to bring its most potent weapons of war to the battlefield to ensure total victory. Everywhere men march to battle in armies of unprecedented power commanded by individual warcasters. As its combat action, a warjack with two functional open fists may spend a focus point to pick up and throw a model with an equal- or smaller-sized base.
Make a melee attack roll against the target. If the attack hits, the defender rolls a d6 and adds its STR. The attacker rolls 2d6 and adds its STR. If the defenders total is greater, it breaks free without taking any damage and avoids being thrown. If the attackers total equals or exceeds the defenders, the defender gets thrown. After a successful double-hand throw attack, the attacker throws its opponent any direction within its front arc.
Measure a distance from the thrown model equal to half the attackers STR in inches. A heavy warjack throwing a model with a small base adds 1 to this distance. If the target model is within the range thrown, the attacker makes a ranged attack roll against the target model. If the attack succeeds the thrown model moves directly from its current location in a straight line to the target model, ends its movement in base-to-base contact with the target, and collides with the target if the movement is not stopped by an obstruction or another model.
If the attack roll fails, determine the thrown models point of impact by rolling deviation from the target model. If the target model is beyond the range thrown, determine deviation from a point on the line to the target equal to the maximum distance thrown. Referencing the deviation diagram, roll a d6 for the direction and a d3 for distance in inches. The thrown model moves directly from its current location in a straight line to the determined point of impact and ends its movement centered on that point.
When a thrown model collides with another model with an equal- or largersized base, that model is knocked down and suffers an unboostable collateral damage roll equal to the attackers current STR. A model with a largersized base than the thrown model does not take collateral damage. After making a double-hand throw attack, a warjack may spend focus to make additional melee attacks against models in melee range.
As its combat action, a heavy warjack may spend a focus point to trample over small-based models in its path. Trample combines the models movement and combat action. A heavy warjack denied its full movement for any reason cannot make a trample power attack. Declare a trample attack at the beginning of the warjacks normal. After declaring a trample attack, the model may turn to face any direction. The warjack may immediately perform a melee attack against each smallbased model through which it moves during this movement.
Models hit by a trample attack cannot perform free strikes against the trampling warjack and suffer a damage roll of 2d6 plus the trampling warjacks current STR. During a trample attack, a warjack cannot move over terrain across which it could not also charge.
After making a trample attack, a warjack may spend focus to make additional melee attacks against models in melee range. Rough terrain and obstacles do not affect this movement, but the thrown model stops if it collides with an obstruction or a model with an equal- or larger-sized base. A thrown model cannot be targeted by free strikes during this movement. A thrown model moves over a model with a smaller base. If its impact point ends up on top of a smaller model, push the smaller model back to make room for the thrown model.
After resolving where the thrown model lands, it suffers a damage roll equal to the attackers current STR. Add an additional die to the damage roll if the model collides with an obstruction or a model with an equalor larger-sized base. Throw damage may be boosted. The thrown model is knocked down. He awaited the commander who had responded at once to his summons. It had been three days since the warcasters heated outburst to his king, and the time had come for his lords judgment.
Arrayed in battle armor, Commander Stryker crossed the threshold of the map chamber and passed through its vaulted archway. He met the stares of the high chancellors of the Cygnaran Royal Assembly, a congregation of Letos inner circle, as he strode among them. Every man, stately and strong in his own fashion, looked back at him with a grim countenance.
The members of the Assembly knew the repercussions of this gathering but gave away nothing from their expressions. When King Leto spoke, his voice held an undeniable gravity. Your words to me three days ago were like the slap of water from a great wave, and I will not deny it was startling. Yet it did wake me, where I found myself adrift at sea, and near to drowning while I slept.
The king looked down for a moment. When Khador invaded Llael, our sister and ally, they provoked my righteous anger. We have. Vengeance is a fickle ally C engaged in war with Khador to the north as honor demands. This blood between our nations is long overdue. It is born of ancient strife and the contested will of two rightful sovereigns. He looked up now directly at Commander Stryker, and his expression was grim.
Yet only now is my full wrath aroused, for I face treachery. Nothing stings worse than an enemy who comes from within, once shielded and protected, toward whom every measure of compassion has been offered and refused.
Stryker blinked and his face became red. It was clear he thought the king spoke of him, and the words stung him to the quick. He did not twist long before King Leto clarified. It was Commander Stryker who awakened my wrath and gave it direction.
We have been on the defensive too long, too hesitant to do what must be done. The Protectorate of Menoth has been counted as part of Cygnar since the civil war. We follow Morrows path and always seek to turn darkness into light. We have tried to avoid bloodshed. For a hundred years we tolerated blatant violations of law, attempted to encourage trade, and found a way to prosper in harmony.
No more. His voice had been soft, but it rose in volume. They have broken every agreement which ended the civil war a century and twenty one years ago. They declare holy war upon us. They have struck our bridges and brought engines against the walls of Caspia itself.
Today I revoke our protection. There is no Protectorate of Menoth! From this day forward none who swear fealty to Hierarch Garrick Voyle will be counted citizens of Cygnar. They are traitors one and all. We do not deal with them as we.
Nor shall we allow Voyle to strike when and where he chooses. Step forward, Commander, spoke the King. Stryker did so and dropped to one knee before his sovereign. Leto unrolled the scroll he held. I bestow the Kings Marque whereupon this day I grant you, Coleman Stryker, the full authority to command and charge His Majestys forces upon your own governance when and where you.
Lord Commander Coleman Stryker, do you accept this charge? Stryker replied without wavering. I do, my king. There was a new and terrible light in his eyes. Leto beckoned for Stryker to come to his feet. From this day forward, you will answer only to me.
None shall order you save I alone. What say you? I answer only to you, King Leto Raelthorne. No one present so much as whispered. Nevertheless, Warmaster Turpin, Letos general of the Crown, had a countenance darker than usual.
The muscles of his jaws clenched and clamped shut lest an ill-advised utterance escape his lips. Leto lowered the scroll and his gaze met Strykers. I give unto your command the greater part of that renowned legion in which you formerly served with noble honor, the Stormblades.
Further, you will be placed in command of a great portion of the garrisons of Caspia itself as well as much of the southern army including forces at Eastwall as required for the battles I will set upon your shoulders. All of the genius and ingenuity of the Cygnaran Armory and Strategic Academy will be directed to provide you with our finest weapons and machines of war.
You have my gratitude, my king. I will lead our soldiers in defense of our people. Strykers voice was heavy with emotion at this unexpected vindication. Leto placed the parchment in a black leather tube sealed with a gold clasp and handed it to the warcaster. Though this parchment is important, whats contained herein is a formality at best. These men are witness to what has come to pass, and couriers will be dispatched within the hour to carry the news of your charge to every general and commander in the kingdom.
I would not insult your resolve by wasting you in defense. You will be my vengeful arm. I will send you against each of our enemies in turn. First against the hierarch, for Voyle expects us to cower behind our walls. There will be no rest for you, Lord Stryker. Control or be controlled I am well pleased and ready to serve, Your Majesty, Stryker instantly replied.
His voice was infused with a mix of anticipation and determination. So much blood had been spilled already: the blood of innocents, children, women, the infirm, and the elderly. Unarmed men who offered no opposition and thousands of soldiers were all of them dead, harvested like stalks under the scythe. Yet it troubles me to be sent to battle abroad when agents of our enemy walk our soil protected by our laws.
When the king locked eyes with him, it was as though he could read the pain and hate which fueled this warcaster. As I have decreed, none who swear loyalty to foreign powers are to be counted citizens of Cygnar.
This is not done in the name of religious persecution, which I loath. It is a question of loyalty to the crown. You have permission to question and judge any suspected of allegiance to our enemies, whether they be born on this side of the Black River or the other.
Thank you, Your Majesty. Stryker paused and posed his suggestion carefully. We would be best served if I were given command of men already skilled in the arts of rooting out treachery. We have such hard-hearted and experienced individuals; some are imprisoned and others act as wards of the Church. I would ask they be pardoned on my parole. Warmaster Turpin was incredulous. Are you speaking of the former inquisitors?
No, that is not an option! The room went silent. All were shocked by this suggestion. In his efforts to stave off the destruction wrought by the enemies of Cygnar, Stryker had witnessed so much wanton devastation and life-taking that his very soul had.
The transgressors could make no atonement short of their unwilling deaths. Now that he bore the Kings Marque, his retaliation would be swift and unyielding. Even King Leto did not guess the full extent of this bitter resolve.
Stryker addressed the heads of the Assembly, five in all. I will wield these men who once sowed terror among the innocent as a weapon against the enemy. King Leto had grown even paler at this comment but did not dismiss it outright.
It was clear he intended to hold true to his promise to honor the weight of his Marque. The king locked eyes with Scout General Rebald who was also brooding and calculating.
Rebald gave his king a single slight nod. The aged but stately Primarch Arius who had stood quietly to the rear of the assembly spoke in a low tone, yet his voice carried to all ears. Forgiveness is divine. King Leto turned back to the warcaster.
There was something of regret in the kings eyes, and clearly the topic pained him. If this is what you require to conduct this grim business, Lord Stryker, it is granted. Responsibility for their actions will be subject to your parole. General Turpin took a deep breath, and his expression was dark. I would know why you insist on releasing the Elders bloodhounds pardon me, my liege, for referring to that villainbut these men are guilty of heinous crimes against the Crown and its people.
I, for one, Scout General Bolden Rebald noted, believe it is time to see if these men can demonstrate some form of rehabilitation. We are talking about service and clemency, Warmaster. King Leto asked him, Do you doubt Lord Strykers ability to control them?
Stryker volunteered, I assure you these men will be on a short leash, Warmaster. Turpin faced those who disagreed with him with an expression of disbelief. That isnt the point! King Letos expression was dour. This matter is not up for debate. I have spoken. Leto paused and placed his right hand on Strykers arm.
In somber tones he said to the warcaster, If it were any other man, I would not do this. I trust in you, Lord Commander. You are doing only what is right, Your Majesty, and I thank you for it. The warmaster general was clearly still in disagreement but had pushed Letos tolerance far enough and fell silent.
King Leto walked to where the men stood around the great conference table with its inlaid map of western Immoren. It is done. Lord Commander Stryker has my Marque. Caspias strength and army is his. Not one of us here is deluded into thinking the times ahead will be easy. These are dark days for Cygnar, but this is also our only chance to attain lasting victory. All our enemies come against us. Perhaps we will fail and fall to ruin, yet if this is to be our time, so be it.
We will fight to the last man. I have placed my trust in Lord Commander Stryker. All of you must learn to do so as well. Trust in his courage, and trust in his wrath.
I dont care how torn up she is! I built that warjack with my own hands and by Morrows arse Ill not have her slagged! Shell be ready to gun by the end of the day! Captain Darius. Edward Dominic Darius is a daredevil mechanikal terror on the battlefield who strides into combat in his bulky suit of steam-powered armor. He stands among his warjacks like a man made into steel and steam, and his footsteps pound a deadly rhythm between the.
Known as the Mechanik in military circles, the Cygnaran warcaster earned his moniker not only for his skill at repair, but also for the precision and efficiency with which he decimates the adversaries in his path. The fact he was practically born with a wrench in his hand is a simple advantage, for he is just as comfortable taking apart enemy warjacks as he is repairing his own.
The history of Darius rise in the Cygnaran military is a rapid-fire track of a typical warcasters evolution. After only two months of trial service as a field mechanik, it was deemed he was destined for greater responsibilities.
There was no exultation in the midst of combat or any birth of talent during some frenzy of. Almost immediately after the recognition of his abilities, he began training as a warcaster. Since then Captain Darius has been a lynchpin in the defense of Cygnars northern frontier. The grease-stained, hard-hitting mechanik is a no nonsense commander and an adept tactician.
His vast military experience stems from his frequent clashes with various Khadoran legions and the warcasters assigned to its patrols. He developed most of his dirty tactics against heavy warjacks out of the need to crack Khadoran armor.
Darius is the warjack expert of Cygnar. No other warcaster in the service of the crown has logged more time elbow deep in chassis and conduits cleaning, repairing, and readying warjacks for battle. The wonders the man can work with steam, steel, and cortex are supernatural.
Darius is exceptional in that he alone has demonstrated the ability single handedly to keep his machines running as well as get them into battle with speed and agility.
Though most warcasters rely on a stable of well trained mechaniks to keep their jacks ready for war, Darius diligently insists on maintaining and repairing his own warjacks. Instead of allowing scrapped warjacks to rust away, Darius has transformed several ruined wrecks into fully functioning engines of devastation, displaying his talent for breathing life into even the most dilapidated and burned out hulks. That the man has lovingly restored almost every single warjack in his service not only states his commitment to seeing them safely through battle, but it also demonstrates the deep connection he feels with his machines.
Darius and each of the Halfjacks in his battlegroup currently in his control area and in base-to-base contact with a friendly Cygnaran warjack or wreck marker, disabled or totaled, may completely repair the warjack. Remove all damage from the warjack. The warjack may activate normally this turn.
Detonate - During his controllers Maintenance Phase, Darius may detonate one or more Halfjack mine markers anywhere on the table.
Center a 4 AOE template over the mine. Remove the mine marker from the table. Dism antle - After a successful melee attack targeting a warjack, Darius rolls an additional damage die. Slow Moving - Darius cannot run but may charge normally. Pressure Cooker - When Darius misses a target with the Steam Cannon, determine point of impact normally and mark it.
Do not place an AOE template at this time. Activate Halfjack - Darius may place one Halfjack in play during his controllers Control Phase if there are less than three Halfjacks in play in his battlegroup.
Place the Halfjack within 3 of Darius. There must be room for its base. Crane - Darius may help up any knocked down friendly model within 2 during his activation after movement. The model stands up and may activate normally this turn. Additionally, during his activation after moving, Darius may pick up and move one friendly model within 2 of Darius. Place the model anywhere within 2 of Darius. There must be room for the models base.
If the slammed model collides with another model, that model suffers a collateral damage roll equal to Darius current STR. Compare the result to the DEF of every model within 2.
These models are knocked down if the total equals or exceeds their DEF. This effect causes no damage and cannot be boosted. A Tremor special attack cannot be made after a charge. The target model and any friendly model in base-to-base contact with it cannot be knocked down or moved for any reason other than by its controller. Jack Hammer 2 6 - - X If target friendly Cygnaran warjack damages a model with a melee attack, it may immediately make an additional melee attack with the same weapon.
Attacks gained from this spell cannot generate further additional attacks from this spell. Separate attack and damage rolls are required for each additional Jack Hammer attack.
Completely resolve each attack individually and apply the targets special rules immediately as each attack is resolved. Manual Control 2 6 - Target warjack in Darius battlegroup may immediately make one attack with any melee weapon.
The warjack may spend focus points to boost the attack and damage roll. This attack does not affect the warjacks next activation. Meltdown 3 8 - 14 X Target warjack suffers damage to its internal systems. Damage is applied from the bottom of the column up. If Meltdown disables or wrecks the warjack or destroys a Halfjack, it explodes. Models within 2 of the exploding warjack suffer an unboostable POW 14 damage roll.
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