Night's Black Agents Redacted.pdf

NIGHT’SBLCKGENTS

A Vampire Spy Thriller Game by Kenneth Hite

Based on the GUMSHOE System by Robin D. Laws

REDACTED EDITION

Includes material from: Ashen Stars, Esoterrorists, Esoterror Fact Book, and Mutant City Blues by Robin Laws,

Trail of Cthulhu and Bookhounds of London by Kenneth Hite, and The Zalozhniy Quartet by Gareth Hanrahan

Cover Art: George Cotronis

Interior Layout: Simon Rogers

Cover Layout: Beth Lewis

Alpha Playtesters: Shari Felty, Trey Felty, Zachary Johnson, Joshua Knorr, Craig Neumeier

Beta Playtesters: Chad Bowser, Andi Newton, Shane Jackson, Ami Jackson, Chris Norman, Dan Johnson, Ken

Trench, Jordan Trench, Sarah Trench, Craig Trench, Emma Sharp, Ashleigh Christie, William Lee, Joe, Charles, Ben,

Ian Kirby, Peter Coutts, Robert Brumbelow, "Doctor Morbius", Stephanie Tyll, Brian Paul, Danielle Rosvally, Gavin

Fishman, Sean Colleran, Daniel Bayn, Jeremy Keller, Mark Dipasquale, Colleen Riley, Ville Halonen, Mika-Petri

Lauronen, Risto Penttinen, Outi Sippo, Mauricio Pinheiro, Mauro Lúcio Campos Amado, "Bruno Soares, Davi and

Leonardo Bopp Dieterich, Eduardo Caetano, Livia Von Sucro, Júlio Cesar, Kairam Hamdan, Stuart N. Bonham, Robin

Bonham, Mike Cubbins, Alun Roberts, Rich Canino, Honey Holverson, Diane Lee, Mitchell Chauncy, Clay Jackson,

Damon Dorsey, Mark Kiel, Shawn Blisset, Jim Becker, Clifford A. Anderson, Derek Swoyer, Matthew J. Miller, Meri

Aust, Mike Thompson, Allan P. Samuelson, Umeå Role-Playing Association, Francis Li, Carolina McGrenery, Tom

McGrenery, Edward Alexander, Tim Pounds-Cornish, Mike Drew, Patrick Lewinson, Gunnar Ekmark, Anders Thelin,

Javier Dorta, Néstor Ramos, Miriam Alonso, Cripzy Romero, Jorge Andrés Martínez, Pablo Valcárcel, Nast Marrero,

Ana Estruch, Alejandro Reyes, Adal Alemán, Nathaniel Dozier, Sean Robinson, Ada Robinson, Eric Pizur, Craig Sisco,

David Thrush, Loretta Thrush, Jerry Grayson, Renee Grayson, Matthew Tarplee, Jessica Booth, Jon Prosser, Dana

Schiffer, Joshua Woodard, Luis M. Rebollar, David M. Cabal, Rubén Velasco, Jorge Etchegoyen, Miriam Ruiz, Brian

Curley, Lori A. Curley, Brian Stewart, Paul Wiesner, Roberta Wiesner, Mike 'Beard' Hough ,Mike Riddle, Steve

Burge, Kev Hickman, Eric Lytle, Wes Kobernick, James Leszuk, Christian Lindke, Jeb Boyt, Thomas M. Reid, Bob

Roeh, Michael Fina, Samantha Fina, Allen Gibson, Michael Goodman, Christine Rambo, Matt Rambo.

Good things of day begin to droop and drowse,

Whilnight’sblackagntstothirprydorous

– Macbeth, Act III, Scene ii

NIGHT’S BLACK AGENTS

Contents

CONTENTS ................................................ 2

INTRODUCTION......................................... 4

Tells ....................................................... 4

From Structure to Story......................... 4

Chapters ................................................ 5

Modes ................................................... 5

Burn ........................................... 5

Dust.......................................... 6

Mirror.......................................... 6

Stakes .......................................... 6

DVD Commentary..................... 6

CHARACTERS............................................. 7

Choose a Background ............................ 7

Background List ..................................... 7

Choose Your Investigative Abilities........ 7

Investigative Ability Ratings: How Good

is Great? ................................................ 8

So Which Investigative Abilities Should I

Buy?....................................................... 8

Investigative Ability List......................... 9

Trading Points .................................... 9

Choose Your General Abilities............ 9

General Ability Ratings: How Good Is

Awesome?........................................... 10

So Which General Abilities Should I Buy?

............................................................ 10

Love Your MOS ....................... 10

General Ability List .............................. 11

Get Personal .................................... 11

Backgrounds: The Old Life ................... 11

Sample Backgrounds........................ 11

Making Your Own Background ............ 14

Abilities................................................ 15

Investigative Abilities ....................... 16

Why No Lying Ability?.......................... 17

Getting Interrogated ........................... 22

General Abilities............................... 25

Higher Cherry Branches....................... 26

Athletics Adds Life .................. 26

A Little Help From Your Friends

............................................................ 32

Personality and Dossier ....................... 35

A Drive By Any Other Name.... 35

Sources of Stability.... 35

Drives........................................ 37

Personal Arcs....................................... 37

Changing Drives................................... 40

Secret Drives................................ 40

Trust and Betrayal .................... 40

Maps and Legends ........................... 41

First Blood ........................................... 43

RULES...................................................... 44

Clues and Spends ................................ 44

Tip For Players: Containing Speculation

............................................................ 44

Spit Straight............................ 44

Gathering Clues ............................... 45

Simple Searches .................................. 45

Spends and Benefits ........................ 46

An Empty Pool Only Makes You

Mostly Badass ..................................... 47

Example Benefits................................. 48

Who Finds It? ...................................... 49

Tests .................................................... 49

Die Rolls .............................................. 49

Simple Tests..................................... 49

Difficulty Numbers and Story Pacing ... 50

Option: You Never Fail ........................ 50

Continuing Challenges......................... 51

Contests .............................................. 51

Player-Facing Contests..................... 52

Full Contests .................................... 53

Darkness.............................................. 53

Thriller Chases ................................. 54

ThrillsrEvrybody’sBusinss ...... 55

Collision is Drama, Not Physics............ 59

Combat................................................ 61

Mooks ................................................. 61

Tasers and Stun guns........................... 63

That Said, Tasers Are Pretty Cool

............................................................ 63

Non-Lethal Damage............................. 63

GRAPPLING.......................................... 64

Guns Kill.................................... 64

No, Really, Guns Kill................ 64

Death and Consequences ............ 65

Player-Facing Combat ......................... 65

Free-For-All Combat ........................ 66

Standard Combat Considerations .... 66

Too Many Modifiers? .......................... 66

One Gun, Two Combatants ................. 67

Opposing Forces .............................. 69

Thriller Combat Rules ...................... 71

Hittr’sFrind ........................ 73

Natural 20 On A Six-Sider ....... 74

Killer App For the Killer Elite... 76

Other Dangers ..................................... 79

Hazards ............................................ 79

Shock and Awe ................................ 81

Required Disclaimer ............................ 82

Experience and Stability ...................... 83

OptionalRulIt’sColdInsid ............. 83

Psychological Triage ............................ 84

Head Games........................................ 84

Withdrawal ......................................... 85

Heat ................................................. 88

Hot Spots............................................. 89

Unofficial Heat .................................... 89

Extended Chases.............................. 91

The Stress of Pursuit ........................... 92

Recovery and Improvement................ 92

Regaining Pool Points ...................... 92

Opposition Pools ................................. 93

What Do Pool Points Represent? ........ 93

Improving Your Character................ 94

TOOLS ..................................................... 95

Acquisition....................................... 95

No Go the Bagman .............................. 96

Spytech ............................................... 97

Communications.............................. 97

Explosive Devices............................. 98

Booby Traps ........................................ 98

Infiltration........................................ 99

Surveillance ..................................... 99

Bugs and Bug Detection .................... 100

Vehicles............................................. 101

Special Weapons ............................... 103

Shooting ........................................ 103

Very Special Weapons ................... 105

Pray and Slay ........................ 107

Special Tactics ................................... 108

Tactical Fact-Finding ...................... 108

Tag-Team Tactical Benefits ............ 111

Tradecraft ...................................... 112

The Yojimbo Option .......................... 116

Getting Captured .............................. 116

Advice to Players............................... 117

The Bucharest Rules ...................... 117

VAMPIRES............................................. 120

Choose and Perish............................. 120

Parameters........................................ 120

Campaign Modes and Vampire Types121

Sanguinary Considerations ............ 121

Building a Vampire ............................ 124

Basic Abilities................................. 124

Vampire Agents................................. 127

Vampiric Powers............................ 127

Some of Your Blood .......................... 128

Vampire Forensics............................. 129

Once Bitten, Twice Shy......... 130

The Two-Way Mirror......................... 131

Feats of Strength ........................... 137

Vampiric Weaknesses .................... 138

True Faith .......................................... 141

Sense Trouble ................................... 142

INTRODUCTION

Vampiric DEATH AND Resurrection ... 142

Sample Vampires ........................... 143

The Superhuman Crew ...................... 147

Vampiric Forms and Familiars........ 154

Conspiracies ...................................... 155

Conspiratorial Considerations........ 155

Enemies ................................ 157

Campaign Modes and conspiracy design

.......................................................... 157

The Conspyramid ........................... 158

Other Conspiracy Structures ............. 161

Conspiratorial Components ........... 161

CITIES .................................................... 164

Deep Background .............................. 164

Backstage Europe........................... 164

International Organizations............... 167

Interpol.............................................. 167

Underground Europe ..................... 167

Prepping a City .................................. 169

Quick and Dirty City Building.......... 169

Low and Slow City Development.... 171

Three Cities: Quick and Dirty ............. 173

Bucharest ....................................... 173

London ........................................... 174

Tunis .............................................. 175

Marseille: Low and Slow.................... 176

Cities and Abilities ............................. 176

The Lay of the Land........................ 176

Four Factions ................................. 177

Faction Map: Marseille .................. 179

Marseille Stories ............................ 180

STORIES................................................. 181

The Thriller in Play............................. 181

Rhythm and Improvisation ............ 181

AVOIDING THE RAILROAD ................. 182

The Operation ................................... 184

The Spine ....................................... 184

Leveraged Clues ................................ 184

The Thriller Skeleton...................... 185

The Perils of Competence ................. 187

Active Operations .......................... 187

Your Mission, Jim, Should You Choose to

Accept It ............................................ 188

Reactive Operations....................... 189

Spy a la Mode.................................... 190

The Vampyramid ........................... 190

Down to Your Last Pint ......... 192

The Campaign Story .......................... 195

The Opening .................................. 195

Midgame........................................ 195

Bringing In New Characters ............... 196

Endgame ........................................ 196

Alternate Versions............................. 196

Martini, Straight Up ....................... 196

The Dunwich Sanction ................... 197

Special Assets................................. 198

(S)ENTRIES ............................................ 201

Eyes Only Briefing.............................. 201

The Spine ....................................... 201

In an Ongoing Campaign ................... 201

The Job .............................................. 201

Meeting Rudek .............................. 201

Questions....................................... 202

The Lift .............................................. 203

Heisting the Laptop........................ 203

The Escape..................................... 204

The Meet........................................... 204

The Double Cross........................... 205

nton’sCrw..................................... 205

The End? ........................................ 206

The Renfield Option .......................... 207

The Trail ............................................ 207

Tracking the Paymaster ................. 207

Tracking Anton............................... 209

Belgrade: Quick and Dirty ................. 209

The Payoff ......................................... 209

The Leads .......................................... 210

SOURCES............................................... 211

Vampires........................................ 211

Spies .............................................. 211

Thrillers.......................................... 212

ADDENDA ............................................. 213

Dsignr’sNots ............................... 213

Dirctor’sgntTrackingSht .... 214

Hit Threshold Modifier Sheet ........ 215

Thriller Chase Summary Sheet....... 216

Thriller Chase Lead Track ............... 216

Special Thriller Chase Rules Sheet . 217

Thriller Combat Options Sheet ...... 218

Blank Conspyramid Sheet .............. 220

The Vampyramid ........................... 221

Character Sheet ............................. 222

Academic Abilities ......................... 222

Interpersonal Abilities ................... 222

General Abilities ............................ 222

Technical Abilities .......................... 222

NIGHT’S BLACK AGENTS

INTRODUCTION

The Cold War? Over. The War on Terror? Over for

you.

You used to uncover secrets, or maybe kill to keep

them. You used to serve your country in the shadows,

doing things — or stopping things — thatcouldn’tb

shown in daylight or on the evening news.

Then you stopped. Maybe you got tired, or maybe

you got burned, or maybe you got out while you

could.

Butyoudidn’tgointothdaylightNotjustytYou

staydinthshadowsinEurop’sdniabl

underground networks of crime and conflict, but you

did it on your terms. You did a few ops, and you

asked fewer questions. You worked for money in

scrtaccountsandforpoplyoudidn’tknow

Butthywrn’tpoplItturndoutthycouldn’t

be shown in daylight or on the evening news either.

Because they were vampires.

And now you know. And they know that you know.

Vampires exist. What can they do? Who do they

own? Where is safe? How much is legend, and what is

thtruth?Youdon’tknowthosanswrsytSo

you’dbttrstartaskingqustionsandpicking

targtsYouhavtotracthbloodsuckrs’

operations, penetrate their networks, follow their

trail, and target their weak points. Because if you

don’thuntthmthywillhuntyoundthywillkill

you.

Or worse.

You must mount your own shadow war, on a secret

terror that only you know exists. Stay alert, and stay

awakIt’sgoingto be a long night.

Tells

In poker, tells are those little gestures or changes of

xprssionthattllwhat’sinyourhandThisiswhr

Itllwhat’sinyourhands

This game, Night’sBlackgents, adapts the

GUMSHOE engine to the propulsive paranoia of the

spy thriller genre: not just James Bond, but also and

especially films like Ronin and the Bourne trilogy. You

build agents worthy of such films; tough, resourceful,

clever, deadly — in a word, badass. Then you send

them to kill vampires.

The Director (who plays the role usually called the

DM or the GM in other RPGs), begins by building the

vampires. In Night’sBlackgents, the vampires and

their conspiracy are modular, customizable. In one

Dirctor’sworldthymightfargarlicandcrosss—

in anothrDirctor’scampaignthymightbspidr-

like aliens who move through hyperspace. Or both.

Likewise, the Director builds the enemy network —

the people and groups the vampires have already

turned to their ends — to her own specifications.

Then the Director sends the vampires, and their own

agents, and their pawns and tools and ghouls and

monsters, to kill you. The goal — both yours and the

Dirctor’s— is action, and horror, and the special

thrills that only spy stories can deliver.

Throughout a typical Night’sBlackgents campaign,

the agents:

 Uncover the extent of the vampire

conspiracy, mapping its branches and

personnel

 Survive attacks by the vampires or their

minions and pawns

 Discovrthvampirs’waknsssandtru

nature

 Detect and prevent ongoing and ad hoc

vampire or conspiratorial operations

 Weaken the vampire conspiracy by striking

at its main branches or key personnel

 Finally, destroy the vampires at the heart of

the conspiracy

Any of these goals might provide the direction, the

spine, the through-line, of a scenario or adventure,

usuallyrfrrdtointhisgamasan“opration”

One operation may take many sessions of game play;

2 or 3 sessions per scenario is normal.

The Director, meanwhile, plots out the structure of

the vampire conspiracy, and plans both active and

reactive operations to test the agents and reveal the

plot“ctiv”oprationsarthonswhrth

agents are moving forward against the vampires:

investigating their conspiracy, thwarting its goals, and

attackingit“Ractiv”oprationsarthons

where the vampires are moving forward: attacking

some other group, infiltrating some new city, or

hunting the agents directly.

Either way, the Director maps out a structure for the

oprationWhatisthagnts’(oropposition’s)goal

andwhatisthadvntur’sspin?Whattipsth

agents off to an opportunity or a threat? What

information is available, and where or from whom

can the agents get it? What assets does the

opposition have in position? What is the end game —

what happens if the agents uncover the truth in

Venice, or if the vampires succeed in Helsinki?

From Structure to Story

ThDirctor’sstructurnotsarnotastoryTh

story occurs as you, the players, bring the structure to

life through the actions of your characters. The story

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