Delta Green: Apocalypse

Game Master Darian Graey

So, I've played in a few games, I've run a game or two, I've designed a few scenarios, I've even brainstormed outlines for the evils yet to come. Now, I'm thinking about attempting a pbp Delta Green game for a few agents, current timeline, leading up to the end of times, or at least what some call 2012.

I'm thinking about 4-6 agents or friendlies; brave souls that have realized things man was not meant to know really do exist, and most of them don't seem to like us very much, unless of course it's with a side of fava beans and a nice Chiante.

Right now I'm gauging interest, full blown character sheets are not necessary. What I'd like to see is a short writeup of a character bio, including their professions, covers, and involvement with Delta Green and A Cell.

The setting will begin in and around Washington DC/Northern Virginia, in mig January 2012. Government or military backgrounds are preferred for agents, other careers will be considered for friendlies. Exceptions are of course possible, depending upon the hook and concept.

I'd be keen to give it a go...never played with the CoC system though I've been meaning to. Grabbing me some pdfs to muse over now.

I love Call of Cthulhu but never played Delta Green. I only have the Rules for the CoC core and I'm probably a version behind there.

I'm currently using CoC version 6. I don't think there is much difference to be concerned about.

I had thought about using d20 Delta Green, but for now I am leaning towards the CoC ruleset. I've had experience with Gumshow and Trail of Cthulhu as well, but most are familiar with the base rules so it seemed likely to go with that.

I will say character generation will be a little more "heroic", similar to as in Pathfinder, just to lend a little more survivability to the game. I'll explain more as it comes closer to the time of character creation.

I love me some Delta Green...just not sure I have time for another PbP. I'll give some thought, and see if a character concept jumps out at me.

so tempting,

I will say this is not a published adventure, but an amalgamation of thoughts and ideas I've had over the past few years.

The Mythos has been interfering with and directing political policies. Where the MiGo may support the Republicans, the Old Ones may support the Democrats, keeping the "shee-ple" occupied while they divvy up the spoils that are mankind.

Mind-numbed cultists have been infiltrating the ranks of many public programs and organizations, from police and fire to the peace corp and national guard.

The few humans that are in the know are learning they are knowing perhaps just a little too late. War is coming, and everyone had better get prepared.

And naturally, the usual BBG DG suspects will be involved, obliviously content that in the end, they will ride out the chaos and rule in the world yet to come.

I might be interested since basically almost all pbp I was one died out lol, but will just make interest since I have only played the d100 version of CoC and way WAY long time ago, so I will ask around some friends to see about delta green.

Edit: Is this DG - Targets of Opportunity?

Delta Green is Call of Cthulhu set in a modern age. I will be using the percentile system of CoC, 6th edition. I assume that is what you meant by d100.

In Delta Green, the players are government or private sector employees, spread across potentially any agency, that have knowledge that the Cthulhu Mythos is real, is active, and seeks to end life as we know it. They work together as a secret cell, as part of a secret government organization known as Delta Green. They battle mythos events, creatures, and groups, hoping to stave off the end times for one more day.

Typically, the players are FBI, military, CIA, or any other alphabet types, so as to have "official" sanction to do some of the things players in the 20's setting could more easily get away with, using bribes, coercion, or simply high-tailing it out of town. Fingerprints, DNA, and state/nationwide BOLO's are a beeyotch to deal with if you are not already part of the great cog-works that is civilization.

Oh, and yes, Targets is part of the DG setting, and a few bits and pieces may be referenced in the game, but I had not planned on it being needed to play in this campaign. Knowledge of the setting is not absolutely needed to play either, as real life knowledge is sufficient to keep players up on the concepts in the game.

I was just wondering if targets was the main supplement for DG since I don't really know anything about except for the few novels I have read.

Well will start reading through something and probably play a military character.

Interested! Love me some CoC and DG.

I wish I had the time and knowledge base for a game like this.

The Delta Green sourcebook is the primer, laying out the main adversaries of Delta Green, while Targets adds to the threat list and incorporates some additional data.

Billzabub, when I started with CoC, I had never read HP Lovecraft and knew nothing of the Mythos. All I needed to know, like many new agents or investigators, was that there is right, there is wrong, and there is some really big, scary stuff out there that wants to ruin everyone's morning cup of joe. Someone has to try to stop it, and as bad luck would have it, seems right now might as well be me.

So, it looks like there is enough interest in a PbP, so I'll give it through Monday, then post info for character creation and some history specifics to outline the current sitrep for your DG cell. I'll end up choosing 4 to 6 players, depending upon how the characters look to mesh together into a unit.

This is an example of the cases Delta Green will investigate and potentially cover-up. Ahh, the Karotechia and their ghoulish cohorts.

Zombie Attack in Miami

I have some CoC experience and the rules, but I've never played/read Delta Green. I'm assuming it's in the same vein as Warehouse 13 and the SCP Foundation, but (from what you said) agent cells aggregated from different branches/services based on 'contact and experience' with the supernatural?

Would an NSA surveillance expert/technician be a useful role? Or would that be 'too removed' from the usual 'hands-on' detective sort of thing?

I'm assuming it's in the same vein as Warehouse 13 and the SCP Foundation, but (from what you said) agent cells aggregated from different branches/services based on 'contact and experience' with the supernatural?

An amalgumation of the TV shows Warehouse 13, Friday the 13th - the series, and Supernatural would be a good comparison. The players are government agents/hunters working in secret to keep the public safe from the mythos, and are at times at odds with their own agencies and government, the majority of which do not know, nor can ever know, of their affiliation with Delta Green.

The NSA tech would be a good fit for most groups, providing for computer research, electronic surveillance, and other assorted techno-affiliated resources.

I would probably do a guy with military background, some sort of guy that has been into some combat, probably recon.

Below is a rough guide for character creation. Please look this over and decide what kind of character you wish to create. I'd like to see characters created here, on the boards, if possible. I understand if this may not be feasible for some people, and will take that into consideration. I'd like to leave the character creation process open until Saturday June 2nd, at say 3PM EST.

Also, include a brief description of your character and concept, detailing his agency, background, and experience if any with the Mythos.
You may include as little or as much as is reasonable.

I am including a small history on the campaign info page, to give you a summary of events that have proceeded the current campaign start date, March 3rd, 2012.

So I'm thinking about rolling up some kind of CIA agent with flavourful ties to the mkultra project. But I have a few questions...

First, the Delta Green pdf I downloaded says to just pick a template from the rulebook and add conceal, lockpick, and photography to the skill list...exactly which book are they talking about? The CoC rulebook? Or the 1990s handbook?

Second, if we don't like the templates associated with an agency, can we just come up with our own? For example, I'm hoping to kinda cherry pick skills from the three CIA templates...or are we basically 'limited' to the templates available?

The DG book references templates from the CoC rulebook. You can choose your skills, within reason, I have no problem with that. A desk jockey computer hacker that can drive tanks and pilot nuclear submarines, not likely to happen. Let common sense prevail. For an agent, it refers to the fact that as a "spy", your skill set mimics that of a different career, hence the alternate template, with a few skill replacements.

MKUltra would put your character in his fifties, even if he was in the program at the end. Plus MKUltra seems more in line with Majestic-12 operations and their work with the Grays. Still, I could see some loose connection to the program, I'll wait to see how your background fleshes out.

Is there established CoC lore regarding MKUltra? I honestly don't know...like I said, never played in the 'verse. I googled it, but found nothing as of yet. And I've too much reading to do for class atm to thoroughly read every bit of CoC lore out there.

If not, then just another one of those secret government type programs that they claim 'doesn't exist' when, in fact, it really does. Seems like a perfect stepping stone to the CoC universe, tbh.

Now as to why CIA and not MJ12...bit of realism on my part. CIA actually ran MKUltra IRL and that amuses me greatly.

I've got all the Delta Green Books. I'll work up a concept tonight.

Billzabub, when I started with CoC, I had never read HP Lovecraft and knew nothing of the Mythos.

Oh, I'm plenty familiar with HPL and his writings. The CoC game mechanics is what I was referring to when I said I had a lack of a knowledge base. I've read stuff about the game, including about Delta Green, but just don't know the rules. Besides, like I said, time is an issue. I'm already in two pbps and I'm trying not to go beyond that.

I don't recall any DG info on MKUltra. I have no problem with a mention of the project, or a connection to it. CIA is fine, just don't get caught by MJ-12, they may want to "inspect" you.

I will roll here I suppose.

Stat rolls

Fate roll:
3d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 5) = 11

Changes

History:

@ Deiros, looks good, sounds good. Really good rolls.

I have posted the updated history for the timeline on the campaign info page. If anyone wants to, take a look and let me know what you think, but please know I don't mean to offend anyone, I merely tried to use real life persons within a fictionalized rewrite of historical events. No insult to persons living or dead was intended.

I'm really trying to find the time to come up with a character...Maybe tonight.

Well good, will go along and looking at skills points from education and the other skills you get from intelligence.

In the end so far the character looks something like this:

Primary

Secondary

Skills

Stats

I'll go through my books tonight for an idea.

I will probably post something here late Friday night.

Loosely, character will be a CIA agent of some kind...skills likely going to be handguns, computers, lockpicks, spot, sneak, conceal...probably drive...I dunno exactly, but more of a stealth/burglarizer kind of character.

Actually, on second thought, I'm going to have to pull myself out of this campaign. Best of luck to ya though.

Majestic, sorry to see you go. I will leave the recruitment thread open through the weekend, cutting off Monday evening in case anyone else is still on the fence, and needs one more little push to join the resistance.

Well, we seem to have no new takers. I'll leave it up to those that began the character creation process to decide if they want to continue with the pbp. I'm happy to run with just these few, using DG friendlies to fill gaps as needed. Let me know what you guys think.

I really want to play, but am going through Internet transition, and time constraints. Maybe you could get started, then I'll finish my character when I have time...hopefully this week.

I'd be interested in playing. I'll roll up a Character shortly

Strength 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 1, 4) + 2 = 12
Constitution 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2, 6) + 2 = 12
Dexterity 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4, 4) + 2 = 13
Size 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (2, 4) + 7 = 13
Intelligence 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (1, 1) + 8 = 10
Power 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 3, 5) + 2 = 16
Appearance 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 5, 5) + 2 = 17
Education 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 3, 6) + 2 = 16

Fate 3d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 5) = 11

Adjusted Stats:

STR 12
Con 12
Dex 13
SIZ 13
INT 14(10) (replacing 1 with a 5)
Pow 18(16) Replacing 3 with a 5)
App 17
EDU 16

This all look ok? I'll do a background shortly, What are your thoughts on starting with Mythos KN, / some spells?

Secondary Attributes

Idea 70
Knowledge 80
Luck 90
Damage Bonus +1d4
Magic Points 18
Hit Points 12
Sanity 90

Skill Points 320
personal Intrest points: 140

Only just spotted this Kalizar. I would totally interested if their are still places.

Which branch of government would fit best with the campaign your planning?

Are character established cell agents? or is this their first night at the opera?

As I am seeing the campaign, A Cell has been slowly turning to a more lethal stand regarding the forces working with the Mythos against humanity, from time to time sanctioning the elimination of targets too important to let live. This has in part brought about the latest witch hunt against DG, and now MJ-12 to boot.

The investigators will be members of active cells, or should I say, formerly active cells, as the purge has resulted in some retirements, sabbaticals, and unfortunate "accidents" in the field. A last minute reorganization will put the "team" together, investigating an MIA agent, and the information he had collected for A Cell.

Any agency can be made to work in this setting, as interagency cooperation in this time of domestic turmoil and insurgent terrorism sees some strange bedfellows. Add to it that many agencies now offer opportunities to cross train assets in Special Operations Groups with other departments, and a hodge-podge can be explained away, at least for a short time.

Let me know how you each see your investigator fitting into the unit, whether you want to know each other, of each other, or a more "and just who are you again?" approach.

So far the field is open, with a few characters in production. I believe we have a military character, and a potential investigator with some knowledge of the Mythos, with others still under development. All good starts.

I see my investigator more as a "black ops" in his FBI job and in the cell I would probably represent the muscle behind it and the "experienced fighter"

Cool Deiros, that works well. The FBI works well with the marines, makes regular contributions to the National Security team, and has affiliated with many SOG's both here and abroad.

Josh Shrader, I think I can allow a sort of lending library access to one book out of the CoC rulebook. SAN penalties apply, Mythos Lore can be added, and one spell may be learned. Others spells may be learned over the course of the game, and other books added, but access will be dictated partly by campaign events and overall story needs.

Zombieneighbours, jump on in the waters are dark and murky, smell faintly of fish, and that thing bumping your leg, well, just swim faster and it'll be ok. No, really, swim faster.

Much of the info in the campaign timeline is known to investigators as whispered rumor, inneundo, and speculation. Only A Cell knows for sure, and they never seem to be very forthcoming.

Scranford, I understand all too well how RL has a way of limiting our leisure funtime, so by all means, do what you need to do. If you want to hold your position I'd be happy to do so. I can intro a friendly as a placeholder if needed, or the team may run a man shy while your investigator undergoes "R&R" for that encounter in the Canadian Rockies with that white furry man-badger that ate those three teen hikers. So it took crashing it and your governement issued Ford Explorer into a deep ravine to do it, but at least that's one less badger to have to contend with. As they say, we don't need no stinking badgers.

Sorry, it's late and I had a long day

Strength 3d6+2 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2, 6) + 2 = 12
Constitution 3d6+2 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1, 3) + 2 = 7
Dexterity 3d6+2 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2, 5) + 2 = 10
Size 2d6+7 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (2, 3) + 7 = 12
Intelligence 2d6+8 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 5) + 8 = 16
Power 3d6+2 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 3, 1) + 2 = 12
Appearance 3d6+2 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 3, 1) + 2 = 12
Education 3d6+2 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 4, 6) + 2 = 18

Fate1d6 ⇒ 41d6 ⇒ 61d6 ⇒ 3

Strength 3d6+2 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2, 6) + 2 = 12
Constitution 3d6+2 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1, 3) + 2 = 7
Dexterity 3d6+2 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2, 5) + 2 = 10
Size 2d6+7 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (2, 3) + 7 = 12
Intelligence 2d6+8 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 5) + 8 = 16
Power 3d6+2 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 3, 1) + 2 = 12
Appearance 3d6+2 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 3, 1) + 2 = 12
Education 3d6+2 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 4, 6) + 2 = 18

Fate1d6 ⇒ 4 1d6 ⇒ 6 1d6 ⇒ 3

Adjusted Stats:

Strength (2, 2, 6) + 2 = 12
Constitution (4, 1, 3) + 2 = 10
Dexterity (3, 2, 5) + 2 = 12
Size (2, 3) + 7 = 12
Intelligence (3, 5) + 8 = 16
Power (6, 3, 6) + 2 = 17
Appearance (6, 3, 1) + 2 = 12
Education (6, 4, 6) + 2 = 18

Secondary Attributes

Idea: 80
Knowledge: 90
Luck: 85
Damage Bonus: none
Magic Points 18
Hit Points 11
Sanity 90

Skill Points 360
personal Intrest points: 160

Name:Thomas Angleton
Occupation FRD Researcher

Strength 12
Constitution 10
Dexterity 12
Size 12
Intelligence 16
Power 17
Appearance 12
Education 18

Idea: 80
Knowledge: 90
Luck: 85
Damage Bonus: none
Magic Points: 18
Hit Points: 11
Sanity: 90

Skills
History 65
Library Use 70
Other Language [Latin] 90
Spot Hidden 70
Craft (Book Preservation)50
Occult 50
Cryptography45
Bargain 45
Anthropology 45
Swim 50
Climb 50
Other Language [German] 30
Dodge 34
Own Language (English) 90

That is a sweet researcher man, and nice fate rolls to help you balance it. I wish I could have gotten at least a bit higher educations >< would have been very helpful with more skill points.

That is a sweet researcher man, and nice fate rolls to help you balance it. I wish I could have gotten at least a bit higher educations >< would have been very helpful with more skill points.

It was the roll of sorcerer wasn't it!

Ted Marks - EPA (Computer Specialist researcher)

Former Hacker who the EPA got tired of hacking into their organized activities, and decided to hire him instead. High school dropout, who happens to know a little bit about a lot of things...technology wise, and a lot about computers.

Looking good so far, just waiting I think for Deiros and Josh to settle on names and the little particulars.

I waited til now to have everyone roll for income levels. That will be 1d10+1 please, though be advised 10 will be the max level, and likely under the control of a trust or board of governors.

Aunt Petunia died and left you everything, the mansion, the country house, the rolls, but held back on releasing the bulk of the estate until such time as you settle down, stopped all that silly ghost business, and married a good catholic girl. The yearly stipend is still a pretty penny though, and the places are there when you need them.

Also, if anyone is interested in aging their character for extra skill points, etc., let me know.

I think I had all the particular unless I'm missing something (besides the money roll that I don't know how it's going to be) and the name is Aidan Rhune.

This is how it's done right?
Income 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5