What is the setting all about?
     The baseline setting has the game set on an Earth in the 2010 to 2016 time frame. Due to the influences of an evil released in 1983, the world has degenerated into one of insensitive corporate domination, extreme separation of classes between the haves and the have-nots. High technology is reserved for use by the corporations, the evil invaders, or the rich. Average technology has gone retro in design and usability. Governments play a very limited role since they have been manipulated by the Dark Forces and greedy corporations.

How does this differ from say Shadowrun, or another dark future RPG?
     Dark Conspiracy is more of a cross between Cyberpunk and Call of Cthulu. There is slick technology and a bleak environment degenerating due to dark influences, and there are forces at work that can be overwhelming to characters in the game. The strongest weapon that characters have in the game is that the Dark forces will not usually come into the open. Due to the work of Dark Minions and Igors, dark dimensions impinge on the primary plane causing Demongrounds where monsters, aliens, demons, and unimaginable creatures feed off the evil they perform and the corruption that is spreading across the troubled globe.

Is there magic like Call of Cthulu?
     No. There are magic-like powers in the game that stem from the concurrent rise in empathic abilities. While humans are not usually as powerful as the Dark Masters, empathic abilities are naturally occurring in larger numbers around the planet.

What kind of technology can characters get into?
     There are some very high tech devices available to players, subject to a suitable contact. There is also some extreme and little understood DarkTek that comes from the Darklings or from their alien pawns.

What role do characters play?
     Characters usually play the role of Minion Hunter. Like awaking from a dream, the character has the choice of ignoring the evidence and going back to sleep, or picking up arms and confronting the Dark Masters, their Igors, and schemes.

Character generation?
     Players go through a detailed character generation, in which a player's character concept is translated into game statistics. The player chooses careers consistent with their character concept, and accumulates skills, contacts, and cash. Base attributes are rolled randomly or allocated from a fixed number of points. There are a wide number of careers to choose from and these are augmented with additions from the Dark Conspiracy community usually published in Demonground: Reflections of a Darker Future.

What are the game mechanics like?
     The system is based on GDW's attempt to unify their RPGs into a house system. The initial game was adapted to be compatible with Traveller: The New Era and Twilight 2000. Those familiar with these games will have no problem playing Dark Conspiracy. Other games using or close to the GDW house system are Cadillacs and Dinosaurs and Space 1889. The system is a task-based one using a target number made up of a character's base attribute plus a skill level. The player rolls for task resolution using a difficulty modification. The outcome is interpreted by the GM, who also sets the difficulty. The system is intuitive, clean, and plays well – meaning it does not get in the way of role playing.

Where can I get the game?
     2nd Edition was available from DPI. Check their web site to see if the books are still available. First edition is available from the better used-game hobby sellers, as are the rich supplements, adventures, and sourcebooks.

If DPI has stopped support for the game, where will new material come from?
     For very good fan-written material the one source is Demonground: Reflections of a Darker Future, a web-based fanzine of outstanding caliber. Most of the DC material that Demonground publishes is drawn from the DC community.

[by Norm Fenlason]

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