Are there any spy games left today? There used to be plenty, even a James bond one that was crippled by the studio keeping it's thumb on the game writers constantly. TSR had top secret, don't know if they still do. I qiit following tsr a long time agO.
I know there were others, but are there any today? The Daniel Craig James bond reboot (EXCLUDING THAT LAST ONE! ) seemed like it could inspire a fresh wave of spy games but I never saw it.
Old spy games are still playable.
The only one in my collection was Ninjas and Superspies by Palladium books. However, I mostly treated this book as a sourcebook for Heroes Unlimited.
I'm a lifelong 007 fanatic, so I have a lot of espionage games.
The newest version of Top Secret is Top Secret: New World Order. I have been playing in a campaign online that has been one of the greatest campaigns I've ever been involved in. https://www.amazon.com/Top-Secret-New-World-Order/dp/1945332042#:~:text=Top%20Secret%3A%20New%20World%20Order%20is%20a%20tabletop%20role%2Dplaying,120%20page%20core%20rulebook (https://www.amazon.com/Top-Secret-New-World-Order/dp/1945332042#:~:text=Top%20Secret%3A%20New%20World%20Order%20is%20a%20tabletop%20role%2Dplaying,120%20page%20core%20rulebook)
The Spy Game is a new RPG that I backed on Kickstarter that uses the modern D20 system and is the real successor to Spycraft in my eyes. It is quite nice. https://www.modiphius.net/en-us/products/spygame_corerulebook (https://www.modiphius.net/en-us/products/spygame_corerulebook)
Covert Ops by DWD Studios is a rules-lite d100 lite system that is super robust and includes tools for making super villains, henchmen, villain organizations, etc. It is awesome. https://dwdstudios.com/covertops (https://dwdstudios.com/covertops) https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/123056/Covert-Ops-Role-Playing-Game (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/123056/Covert-Ops-Role-Playing-Game)
DWD Studios also makes a similar espionage rules-lite game called White Lies that uses the old school D&D mechanics, if that is your thing: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/164226/White-Lies (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/164226/White-Lies)
Night's Black Agents contains lots of amazing info on modern espionage and such and uses the Gumshoe system. It is described as Jason Bourne vs. vampires. The default premise of the game is that the players are agents taking on a vast vampire global conspiracy. You can easily strip out the vampires and run it as mundane espionage if you wish. https://pelgranepress.com/nights-black-agents/ (https://pelgranepress.com/nights-black-agents/)
Wow, when you answer a question you do the job. Thanks.
With all these series about 'supercops/agents' (CSI, NCIS, criminal minds, FBI, ad infinitum) I wouldn't be surprised if these games came back in vogue.
I second Covert Ops! Great game!
There is a clone of the old 007 game called "Classified" that you can get as POD or PDF. I believe it is on DTRPG. Don't have the original to compare it too, but it appears to have filed off a lot of the serial numbers and updated the gadgets a little to fit better when it was done.
Cold Shadows is pretty good. It's a bit more on the narrative/storygame side of things but it works really well. There is a good amount of focus on not just your characters, but also building the agency they work for. The mechanics also support the trust and betrayal aspects of spy life. Combat can be pretty lethal but if you plan well and/or are willing to burn some assets you'll probably be ok.
It's got 2 supplement books that I know of.
Cities in Shadow gives 15 cities around 4-5 pages each. They get a brief history, a modern perspective and some plot hooks, notable locations and organizations. Beijing, Cairo, London, Manila, Seoul and Tel Aviv are some of the included cities, so it's a decent mix of typical and not often thought about locations.
The Black Book is more of a "monster manual" for the game. It is a catalogue of agents, agencies, and headquarters from around the world.
Quote from: Steven Mitchell on June 07, 2022, 07:30:57 AM
There is a clone of the old 007 game called "Classified" that you can get as POD or PDF. I believe it is on DTRPG. Don't have the original to compare it too, but it appears to have filed off a lot of the serial numbers and updated the gadgets a little to fit better when it was done.
If you can get used copies of the original James Bond 007, it is much better than the retroclone. It has great support for doing classic James Bond action, with tons of direct material. I used it in the 2000s to run a spy game set in the 1980s. The retroclone only has a few token updates to modern adventures, and a lot of material that wasn't cut still seem dated.
There's also the D20 games Spycraft that had a lot of support in the 2000s. I never played it, and it obviously depends on how one feels about the D20 system as a core, but it's the most recent successful spy game, I think - in the sense of having over a dozen supplements come out for it. It had a lot of D20 extensions that were used in other games like FantasyCraft.
https://www.crafty-games.com/product-category/rpgs/spycraft-2-0/
James Bond is well and good, but I'd rather do "Burn Notice." What's the best game for that?
Quote from: Steven Mitchell on June 07, 2022, 07:30:57 AM
There is a clone of the old 007 game called "Classified" that you can get as POD or PDF. I believe it is on DTRPG. Don't have the original to compare it too, but it appears to have filed off a lot of the serial numbers and updated the gadgets a little to fit better when it was done.
I cannot believe I forgot about this one! I have 2 copies of the retroclone and 2 copies of the original James Bond 007 RPG. The Retroclone is quite good, IMHO, and updates the JB 007 equipment to modern day. It also simplifies parts of the system. Here is a review: https://www.modus-operandi.co.uk/classified/classified-review/ (https://www.modus-operandi.co.uk/classified/classified-review/)
I think this game and all the ones I mentioned in my original post are the top espionage games out there.
Quote from: jhkim on June 07, 2022, 01:03:47 PM
Quote from: Steven Mitchell on June 07, 2022, 07:30:57 AM
There is a clone of the old 007 game called "Classified" that you can get as POD or PDF. I believe it is on DTRPG. Don't have the original to compare it too, but it appears to have filed off a lot of the serial numbers and updated the gadgets a little to fit better when it was done.
There's also the D20 games Spycraft that had a lot of support in the 2000s. I never played it, and it obviously depends on how one feels about the D20 system as a core, but it's the most recent successful spy game, I think - in the sense of having over a dozen supplements come out for it. It had a lot of D20 extensions that were used in other games like FantasyCraft.
https://www.crafty-games.com/product-category/rpgs/spycraft-2-0/
The new game called The Spy Game is a much better Spycraft IMHO and brand new.
I ran an adventure session of 'Mercenaries, Spies & Private Eyes' which was re-released in 2019 by Flying Buffalo.
The game system is loosely based on Tunnels & Trolls. Quirky but fun.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/2238/Flying-Buffalo/subcategory/28861/Mercenaries-Spies--Private-Eyes
I ran a campaign using Agents of Oblivion which is a third party Savage Worlds supplement.
Characters in my setting were all FBI agents investigating traditional criminal and foreign spy rings.
Savage Worlds is very much suited to running rules-lite modern campaigns.
Quote from: DocJones on June 07, 2022, 02:18:35 PM
I ran an adventure session of 'Mercenaries, Spies & Private Eyes' which was re-released in 2019 by Flying Buffalo.
The game system is loosely based on Tunnels & Trolls. Quirky but fun.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/2238/Flying-Buffalo/subcategory/28861/Mercenaries-Spies--Private-Eyes
I ran a campaign using Agents of Oblivion which is a third party Savage Worlds supplement.
Characters in my setting were all FBI agents investigating traditional criminal and foreign spy rings.
Savage Worlds is very much suited to running rules-lite modern campaigns.
MS&PI was also I believe the core of the original Fallout games. Its a pretty solid system too. At least two modues from their Blade era are also compatible with a spy RPG called Espionage! From Hero Games.
Obscure, But way back Hero Games put out a spy game called Danger International which was compatible with Champions and Hero Games.
Quote from: Mishihari on June 07, 2022, 01:36:43 PM
James Bond is well and good, but I'd rather do "Burn Notice." What's the best game for that?
I played the Leverage RPG, which I had a good time with and I think would be a good fit for Burn Notice too. It had some sort of structure for operations, but I can't remember quite how it worked. It's based on Cortex Prime.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leverage:_The_Roleplaying_Game
Quote from: Batjon on June 07, 2022, 02:15:27 PM
Quote from: jhkim on June 07, 2022, 01:03:47 PM
There's also the D20 games Spycraft that had a lot of support in the 2000s. I never played it, and it obviously depends on how one feels about the D20 system as a core, but it's the most recent successful spy game, I think - in the sense of having over a dozen supplements come out for it. It had a lot of D20 extensions that were used in other games like FantasyCraft.
https://www.crafty-games.com/product-category/rpgs/spycraft-2-0/
The new game called The Spy Game is a much better Spycraft IMHO and brand new.
Can you elaborate on what makes it good/better? I see a quickstart here, but I don't see a detailed playtest review.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/278422/The-Spy-Game-Quickstart
What about ESPionage involving psychic powers? How many games supported that?
Quote from: BoxCrayonTales on June 07, 2022, 03:54:19 PM
What about ESPionage involving psychic powers? How many games supported that?
The two I listed above both have psychic power rules.
Classified is an excellent retroclone of the OG James Bond 007, which is an amazing, if dated, game. Double Zero is a game "inspired" by JB007, but that does deviate from it in ways I can't remember. I didn't care for Double Zero, YMMV. Classified would be my suggestion, for the updated equipment lists. It's a very faithful clone, with only the most minor of changes. But JB007 isn't really too expensive used. I've picked up sealed box sets for $35.
Quote from: Battlemaster on June 07, 2022, 01:17:09 AM
a James bond one that was crippled by the studio keeping it's thumb on the game writers constantly.
Not sure where you're getting this from, but this is inconsistent with any version of events I've ever heard, including my own discussions with the author.
Quote from: jhkim on June 07, 2022, 01:03:47 PM
Quote from: Steven Mitchell on June 07, 2022, 07:30:57 AM
There is a clone of the old 007 game called "Classified" that you can get as POD or PDF. I believe it is on DTRPG. Don't have the original to compare it too, but it appears to have filed off a lot of the serial numbers and updated the gadgets a little to fit better when it was done.
If you can get used copies of the original James Bond 007, it is much better than the retroclone. It has great support for doing classic James Bond action, with tons of direct material. I used it in the 2000s to run a spy game set in the 1980s. The retroclone only has a few token updates to modern adventures, and a lot of material that wasn't cut still seem dated.
There's also the D20 games Spycraft that had a lot of support in the 2000s. I never played it, and it obviously depends on how one feels about the D20 system as a core, but it's the most recent successful spy game, I think - in the sense of having over a dozen supplements come out for it. It had a lot of D20 extensions that were used in other games like FantasyCraft.
https://www.crafty-games.com/product-category/rpgs/spycraft-2-0/
Here are some links to check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr3JRBl-5wQ&ab_channel=AdamKoebel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr3JRBl-5wQ&ab_channel=AdamKoebel)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcj-xx16nnA&ab_channel=ReallyDicey (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcj-xx16nnA&ab_channel=ReallyDicey)
Quote from: Tubesock Army on June 07, 2022, 05:47:21 PM
Classified is an excellent retroclone of the OG James Bond 007, which is an amazing, if dated, game. Double Zero is a game "inspired" by JB007, but that does deviate from it in ways I can't remember. I didn't care for Double Zero, YMMV. Classified would be my suggestion, for the updated equipment lists. It's a very faithful clone, with only the most minor of changes. But JB007 isn't really too expensive used. I've picked up sealed box sets for $35.
When Avalon Hill went out of business in the early 2000s, I picked up a box set of JB007. Note that the boxed set did not include the Q manual, which I consider essential. At the time, it wasn't too hard to pick up separately, but it may be long OOP now.
JB007 was a game that was ahead of its time in terms of mechanics, but is over-complicated in places, IMHO. It also had a TON of premade adventures, equipment and setting info. A top-notch product all around.
Classified sounds very interesting.
I'm also a fan of Spycraft, though I have never actually played a spy game with it. I played the Stargate SG-1 incarnation of it, though, and am currently playing in a long-running FantasyCraft campaign. It's proved to be flexible and fun in play, though a little metagamey for my tastes.
Most spy games are essentially tactical in scope. Bond and his team receive their assignment, go into the field, have a fight on a train and a high speed chase in Dubai, invade an enemy stronghold, beat up the bad guys, steal the McGuffin, and come back victorious to heal up and go on to the next adventure.
Are there any games that are more strategic in scope? Your team starts out running covert ops in one location, but over the course of the game you build and operate a spy network, while attempting to dismantle enemy spy networks.
Basically, you start out as Bond, and finish up as M.
Quote from: BoxCrayonTales on June 07, 2022, 03:54:19 PM
What about ESPionage involving psychic powers? How many games supported that?
Psionic spies pop up in fiction now and then. Few spy RPGs support it.
FREE Lancers, the sort of Cyberpunk superhero campaign for Top Secret SI had this. One of the example characters had the ability to be very persuasive. But was also very susceptible to large crowds and adapting to fit.
TSR's MSH superhero RPG was easily adaptable to this though. SHIELD even had its own esper division.
Keep the powers on the low end and its viable.
Was cleaning out some of Kats old books and came across one relevant to the question above. Highways in Hiding by George O. Smith. Cover blurb proports it to be some sort of Espers & Espionage theme. But the back cover makes it sounds more like an Esperpunk setting where some manner of psi is common place.
Quote from: Tubesock Army on June 07, 2022, 05:47:21 PM
Classified is an excellent retroclone of the OG James Bond 007, which is an amazing, if dated, game.
That's worth a look. I loved the original 007 game.
Greetings!
I've used White Lies (based on Swords and Wizardry, so simple OD&D-style mechanics) with some success. Don't think I've seen it mentioned up-thread. It has a bunch of free pdfs, including a psychic character class.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/164226/White-Lies
It's not traditional modern-day spies, but the new game Carbon Grey looks like it has an emphasis on espionage. Setting is an alternate WWI with upgraded tech and I think magic as well. It uses the WEG D6 system.
Another vote here for that 007 system. If you wanted a spy game without that James Bond-style flavor I think it might not be adequate, but for what it was intended to do, it succeeded spectacularly. Not only excellent, but probably ahead of its time. I've never met anybody who played it and didn't like it.
Quote from: Father Shenis on June 15, 2022, 02:54:06 PM
Greetings!
I've used White Lies (based on Swords and Wizardry, so simple OD&D-style mechanics) with some success. Don't think I've seen it mentioned up-thread. It has a bunch of free pdfs, including a psychic character class.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/164226/White-Lies
This is by DWD Studios, the same people behind the excellent Covert-Ops game I suggested upstream. I still prefer Covert-Ops, though.
Quote from: Omega on June 12, 2022, 07:16:14 AM
Quote from: BoxCrayonTales on June 07, 2022, 03:54:19 PM
What about ESPionage involving psychic powers? How many games supported that?
Psionic spies pop up in fiction now and then. Few spy RPGs support it.
FREE Lancers, the sort of Cyberpunk superhero campaign for Top Secret SI had this. One of the example characters had the ability to be very persuasive. But was also very susceptible to large crowds and adapting to fit.
TSR's MSH superhero RPG was easily adaptable to this though. SHIELD even had its own esper division.
Keep the powers on the low end and its viable.
Ok. I found a self-contained indie game with the premise of psychic spies in case anyone is interested: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/292273/
It doesn't have rules for vampire mushrooms from another universe, unfortunately.
Quote from: Slaphammer on June 25, 2022, 02:21:23 PM
It's not traditional modern-day spies, but the new game Carbon Grey looks like it has an emphasis on espionage. Setting is an alternate WWI with upgraded tech and I think magic as well. It uses the WEG D6 system.
It has about the same emphasis on espionage as Star Wars. You can do it, but it's just garnish on a high-action adventure.
I've always wanted something that would be able to cover the range of military-espionage that I like...which is GI Joe to Metal Gear range. Only thing I ever really saw was Spycraft with some additional supplements...but MAN was that system insanely crunchy
Quote from: Gog to Magog on July 24, 2022, 06:00:48 AM
I've always wanted something that would be able to cover the range of military-espionage that I like...which is GI Joe to Metal Gear range. Only thing I ever really saw was Spycraft with some additional supplements...but MAN was that system insanely crunchy
Check out The Company, Dogs of War and, Ghost Ops: Second Strike.
Quote from: Batjon on July 24, 2022, 06:10:03 AM
Quote from: Gog to Magog on July 24, 2022, 06:00:48 AM
I've always wanted something that would be able to cover the range of military-espionage that I like...which is GI Joe to Metal Gear range. Only thing I ever really saw was Spycraft with some additional supplements...but MAN was that system insanely crunchy
Check out The Company, Dogs of War and, Ghost Ops: Second Strike.
Oh for real? Hmm
EDIT:
None of these seem to have the weirdness inherent to things like GI Joe or Metal Gear from what I am seeing.
I feel like a lot of RPG creators could use a brief lesson on 'branding'. NEVER name your product "The Company" with nothing else. Try to be a LITTLE bit more unique and searchable. Yeesh. As much as I love it, "FIGHT!" has the same problem.
As someone who loved "The Americans", what is the best suggestion for running that type of campaign? (which can also be about American agents in Russia).
Quote from: Reckall on July 24, 2022, 07:32:14 AM
As someone who loved "The Americans", what is the best suggestion for running that type of campaign? (which can also be about American agents in Russia).
I think James Bond OO7 would still work for that. It has rules for interrogations and undercover work, plus it's set in the 1980s - so even though the genre feel is different, I think lower-level agents in suburbia using those rules would work - you just can't use a bunch of the high-flying background stuff.
One could also use generic systems like GURPS, BRP, or CORPS, of course.
As a Palladium books player I have to mention Ninjas and Super Spies.
While the game implies a setting of its own, the book page count is mostly various martial arts, and the most complex set of combat rules that Palladium ever produced.
There are also secret agent types in most of Palladium's other game worlds, wether they're actual spies, supernatural investigators, or enemy disguise and infiltration specialists.
Quote from: Reckall on July 24, 2022, 07:32:14 AM
As someone who loved "The Americans", what is the best suggestion for running that type of campaign? (which can also be about American agents in Russia).
Here's a wild idea: Call of Cthulhu. Just for the sanity rules and psychology.
It would probably need some house-ruling, but for something like
The Americans, a lot of the emphasis is going to be on flipping agents and dealing with psychological pressure from your own handlers.
Maybe
Delta Green would be more on point? Not sure, I never played it.
Quote from: Reckall on July 24, 2022, 07:32:14 AM
As someone who loved "The Americans", what is the best suggestion for running that type of campaign? (which can also be about American agents in Russia).
Cold Shadows.
https://nerdist.com/article/enter-a-world-of-shadowy-spies-with-this-cold-war-rpg/ (https://nerdist.com/article/enter-a-world-of-shadowy-spies-with-this-cold-war-rpg/)
I desperately want to run or play in a game of Conspiracy X.
Quote from: drayakir on July 25, 2022, 07:38:52 AM
I desperately want to run or play in a game of Conspiracy X.
I ran one with a group of players that were more familiar with Cinematic Unisystem than Classic. The game was too gritty for their liking (too many finely split skills, and combat was less fun for them). While the default game is Classic, I would think that converting it over to Cinematic might attract players that want some action/adventure in their UFO chasing.
Yeah, unfortunately I only ever read the books, but I have them all, because WOW it's a cool setting.
Quote from: drayakir on July 25, 2022, 07:38:52 AM
I desperately want to run or play in a game of Conspiracy X.
If you would be willing to run it online I would play in a heartbeat and I could bring another player or 2.
I LITERALLY started an ACKS campaign yesterday, but I'll keep you in mind. Got a Discord?
Quote from: drayakir on July 25, 2022, 08:12:02 PM
I LITERALLY started an ACKS campaign yesterday, but I'll keep you in mind. Got a Discord?
I do indeed. The Batman#8670
If you're into online gaming, there are some sick options to choose from. Have you checked out "SpyParty" yet? It's a super cool indie game where you play as a spy trying to blend in with a crowd while completing objectives. It's totally unique and has some seriously addictive gameplay. So yeah, there are definitely still spy games to play online (https://gaamess.com/) and offline! Another fun online option is "The Ship: Murder Party." It's kind of like a mix between a murder mystery and a spy game, where you have to sneak around a ship and assassinate other players while avoiding getting caught yourself. It's hella intense!
The Spy Game looks good.
It's a modern day spy game that is based on the 5e system and they really did a good job with it.