Conspiracy X
Encyclopedia
Conspiracy X is a role-playing game
(RPG) published by Eden Studios, Inc.
The current version is based on the Unisystem
, but previous versions have used GURPS
and its own system. All feature the same central story.
detailing government involvement with three different alien races (the Greys, the Atlanteans
and the Saurians), dating back to 1949, as well as tying together supernatural and paranormal phenomenon. Player characters take the role of operatives for AEGIS, a secret organization dedicated to investigating extraterrestrial and paranormal
threats, and responding where necessary. Players generally take the role of disaffected government agents. They may be employed by real-world organizations such as the FBI
or ATF
or an organization created for the game, such as the Defense Tactical Information Center or Project Rasputin. The game also touches on many modern popular conspiracy theories
including the CIA involvement with psychics
and the alien cover up from MKULTRA
. The game can also be run to focus on paranormal happenings such as ghost sightings or ESP
.
This edition features an original rules system, where actions are resolved with one of only four probabilities:
Easy (100%) - Automatic Success (if your skill exceeds the difficulty level)
Medium (58.3%) - Success on rolling 7 or lower on 2d6 (if your skill is equal to the difficulty level)
Hard (16.7%) - Success on rolling 4 or lower on 2d6 (if your skill is a single point lower than the difficulty level)
Impossible (0%) - Automatic Failure (if your skill is more than a single point lower than the difficulty level)
There are also resolution systems for non-skill actions, competitive actions, extended actions such as research, and use of specific powers and abilities using the core resolution system as a base. Difficulties range from 1 to 5, and sometimes higher for very difficult actions.
. In addition to GURPS rules it provided conversion guidelines for players of the first Conspiracy X.
Best RPG for 2007. The GURPS variant is part of the 1st Edition line and features the same cover art. Like the GURPS version, Conspiracy X 2.0 presented conversion guidelines for players of the 1st Edition of the game. No GURPS conversions were provided. The first supplement, Extraterrestrials Sourcebook, was released as a PDF in May 2010.
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
(RPG) published by Eden Studios, Inc.
Eden Studios, Inc.
Eden Studios, Inc. is an award-winning American role-playing game publisher founded in 1996 by George Vasilakos, M. Alexander Jurkat, and Ed Healy. Currently run by Mr...
The current version is based on the Unisystem
Unisystem
Unisystem is a generic role-playing game system produced by Eden Studios, Inc. It is used in All Flesh Must Be Eaten, the Buffyverse role-playing games, CJ Carella's WitchCraft, Conspiracy X , and several other games. Games designed using Unisystem have been nominated for, and won, Origins...
, but previous versions have used GURPS
GURPS
The Generic Universal RolePlaying System, or GURPS, is a tabletop role-playing game system designed to allow for play in any game setting...
and its own system. All feature the same central story.
Setting
The game has a long and involved metaplotMetaplot
The metaplot is the overarching storyline that binds together events in a role-playing game. Major story events that change the world, or simply move important non-player characters from one place to another, are part of the metaplot for a game. For example, White Wolf Game Studio's World of...
detailing government involvement with three different alien races (the Greys, the Atlanteans
Nordic aliens
Nordic aliens are said by self-described contactees and some UFOlogists to be a group of humanoid extraterrestrials who resemble European racial images, or more specifically Nordic-Scandinavians....
and the Saurians), dating back to 1949, as well as tying together supernatural and paranormal phenomenon. Player characters take the role of operatives for AEGIS, a secret organization dedicated to investigating extraterrestrial and paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
threats, and responding where necessary. Players generally take the role of disaffected government agents. They may be employed by real-world organizations such as the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
or ATF
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a federal law enforcement organization within the United States Department of Justice...
or an organization created for the game, such as the Defense Tactical Information Center or Project Rasputin. The game also touches on many modern popular conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theory
A conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
including the CIA involvement with psychics
Remote viewing
Remote viewing is the practice of seeking impressions about a distant or unseen target using paranormal means, in particular, extra-sensory perception or "sensing with mind"...
and the alien cover up from MKULTRA
Project MKULTRA
Project MKULTRA, or MK-ULTRA, was the code name for a covert, illegal CIA human experimentation program, run by the CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence. This official U.S. government program began in the early 1950s, continued at least through the late 1960s, and used U.S...
. The game can also be run to focus on paranormal happenings such as ghost sightings or ESP
Extra-sensory perception
Extrasensory perception involves reception of information not gained through the recognized physical senses but sensed with the mind. The term was coined by Frederic Myers, and adopted by Duke University psychologist J. B. Rhine to denote psychic abilities such as telepathy, clairaudience, and...
.
First Edition
The first edition was acquired from New Millennium Entertainment and was Eden's first RPG, and used a system unique to the game. The first version went through several printings, with the Third Printing — Revised carrying a copyright date of 1997. The system included rules for purchasing equipment and connections for the player characters' cell, and a psychic ability system that involved Zener cards. Many supplemental books were produced for this line including books detailing alien technologies and races, books for dealing with the supernatural (as it is defined in the Conspiracy X world) and books on the governmental agencies featured in the core book (AEGIS and Black Book, also called the NDD), as well as a book on how to create conspiracies and the Bodyguard of Lies series, three books with miscellaneous additions to the world and rules as well as missions to roleplay.This edition features an original rules system, where actions are resolved with one of only four probabilities:
Easy (100%) - Automatic Success (if your skill exceeds the difficulty level)
Medium (58.3%) - Success on rolling 7 or lower on 2d6 (if your skill is equal to the difficulty level)
Hard (16.7%) - Success on rolling 4 or lower on 2d6 (if your skill is a single point lower than the difficulty level)
Impossible (0%) - Automatic Failure (if your skill is more than a single point lower than the difficulty level)
There are also resolution systems for non-skill actions, competitive actions, extended actions such as research, and use of specific powers and abilities using the core resolution system as a base. Difficulties range from 1 to 5, and sometimes higher for very difficult actions.
Supplements
The first edition was very well supported, with a number of supplements:- The Aegis Handbook - Player's Guide to Aegis.
- The Hand Unseen - Player's Guide to the NDD, or Black Book.
- Nemesis - Grey sourcebook.
- Atlantis Rising - Atlantean sourcebook.
- Exodus - Saurian sourcebook.
- Forsaken Rites - Supernatural sourcebook.
- Shadows of the Mind - Psi sourcebook.
- Cryptozoology - Dossier of the Unexplained.
- Sub Rosa - Conspiracy Creation sourcebook.
- Gamemaster Screen - with adventure module included.
- Bodyguard of Lies series:
- Psi Wars
- Mokole
- Synergy
GURPS Edition
Another version was published in 2002 using the GURPS rules-set. This was the second Powered by GURPS licensed game to be produced outside of Steve Jackson GamesSteve Jackson Games
Steve Jackson Games is a game company, founded in 1980 by Steve Jackson, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games, and the gaming magazine Pyramid.-History:...
. In addition to GURPS rules it provided conversion guidelines for players of the first Conspiracy X.
Second Edition
The latest version, published in 2006, features the Unisystem rules and was nominated for an ENnie AwardENnies
The Annual Gen Con EN World RPG Awards are annual, fan-based awards for role-playing game products and publishers hosted at Gen Con in Indianapolis, Indiana...
Best RPG for 2007. The GURPS variant is part of the 1st Edition line and features the same cover art. Like the GURPS version, Conspiracy X 2.0 presented conversion guidelines for players of the 1st Edition of the game. No GURPS conversions were provided. The first supplement, Extraterrestrials Sourcebook, was released as a PDF in May 2010.
External links
- Official 2nd Edition page
- Official page for GURPS Conspiracy X
- GURPS Conspiracy X page at Steve Jackson Games