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Covert Ops Fanzine - gauging interest

PostDateIcon Wed, 09/30/2015 - 2:44pm | PostAuthorIcon w00t

As seen on G+ community; Covert Ops RPG
Anyone have an interest in a small fanzine for CO? I was thinking of taking Decahedron Magazine and adding 10 pages of CO stuff. Or maybe have some issue BBF and some CO. Or maybe it's own zine...

I'm not sure if there is enough Fan content to generate a CO magazine.

..just putting some feelers out there. I know everyone would say YES, however it's a fanzine that requires fan to submit content (and I have to dig up artwork, ;) )

Do you know of any other fanzines dedicated to spy stuff??

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Submitted by taustinoc on Wed, 09/30/2015 - 3:41pm.

I'd be interested, and possibly willing to contribute, depending on what sort of material you're looking for.

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Submitted by MindX on Wed, 09/30/2015 - 4:56pm.

I would be also; again, depending on what we are trying to achieve here.

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Submitted by w00t on Wed, 09/30/2015 - 10:47pm.

We would need people to contribute content; maps, short adventures, npc stated out with a background, rule tweaks, gm advice, player advice, online resources, spy terms, game ideas, etc. Things players and GM's can use in their games.

I know there is a lot of content out there, just not sure if people are interested in submitting it. Looking at the fantasy magazine, I would say we have about 11 submitter's that covers 3 issues, about 30 pages of content. It's really not hard to fill 10 pages. ;)

I'm just offering to put a fanzine together for CO, as long as there is content. If you have something now, you can submit it here: http://dwdstudios.com/decahedron/submit

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Submitted by taustinoc on Wed, 09/30/2015 - 11:50pm.

I can do this. I could do a brief write-up on becoming and being a spy in the CIA right now. (In fact, the hardest part will be keeping it small enough.) I'll see what I can do this weekend.

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Submitted by w00t on Thu, 10/01/2015 - 9:02am.

taustinoc wrote:
I can do this. I could do a brief write-up on becoming and being a spy in the CIA right now. (In fact, the hardest part will be keeping it small enough.) I'll see what I can do this weekend.

If you feel the article can't do justice to the subject in 2 pages (this is a 6x8 product) just drop a link at the end of the article and we'll redirect the rest of the content to this site (or your blog, or where is public readable).

"I love it when a plan comes together"
- John "Hannibal" Smith

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Submitted by taustinoc on Thu, 10/01/2015 - 10:34am.

w00t wrote:
If you feel the article can't do justice to the subject in 2 pages (this is a 6x8 product) just drop a link at the end of the article and we'll redirect the rest of the content to this site (or your blog, or where is public readable).

I'll probably include a couple of links to "further reading," like the CIA's job description pages, but the main problem is I just run on and on sometimes, and I've done quite a bit of research on this recently for my own game. I'll manage.

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Submitted by w00t on Thu, 10/01/2015 - 11:30am.

No problem!

red pen

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Submitted by taustinoc on Thu, 10/01/2015 - 11:49am.

w00t wrote:
No problem!

red pen

Er, I thought editors used blue pens. But as long as you don't put on a nun's habit and pull out a ruler, we're good.

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Submitted by mitchw on Thu, 10/01/2015 - 11:03pm.

Larry,
I submitted a small CO scenario a while back about agents getting into trouble in a Dubai hotel. I would not have a problem if you published that in a CO fanzine.

Operation Crossfire.

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Submitted by Bill Logan on Fri, 10/02/2015 - 8:09am.

Operation Crossfire is still on my hard drive, Mitch. The only reason it hasn't been published yet is because of its size... maybe the fanzine is just the right place for it!

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Submitted by w00t on Fri, 10/02/2015 - 7:06pm.

ya!

...so that's one thing. ;)

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Submitted by taustinoc on Sat, 10/03/2015 - 5:53pm.

I've submitted an article on how one becomes a CIA spy.

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Submitted by w00t on Sat, 10/03/2015 - 7:18pm.

taustinoc wrote:
I've submitted an article on how one becomes a CIA spy.

you rule. I pimped your submission on G+

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Submitted by taustinoc on Sat, 10/03/2015 - 9:11pm.

Here's hoping for lots more.

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Submitted by r3burns on Sun, 10/04/2015 - 9:16pm.

I've never submitted content before - anywhere, ever. Any particular format or rules that you have? I'd really be interested in providing content that mixes covert ops with fantasy (modern fantasy?). If this is not desired just let me know!

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Submitted by DwD Studios on Mon, 10/05/2015 - 6:33am.

No particular rules, unless Bill and Larry decide some are needed, but we will edit the submission, then check to see if the edits are ok with you before publishing.

Mark

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Submitted by w00t on Mon, 10/05/2015 - 8:50am.

r3burns wrote:
I've never submitted content before - anywhere, ever. Any particular format or rules that you have? I'd really be interested in providing content that mixes covert ops with fantasy (modern fantasy?). If this is not desired just let me know!

Submission guidelines are here. The fanzine is 10 pages so we try to keep submission around 2 pages (if possible). Hope that helps. :)

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Submitted by Ascent on Thu, 10/08/2015 - 2:08am.

I suggest just making Decahedron all inclusive to all DwD Studios games.

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Submitted by w00t on Thu, 10/08/2015 - 9:37am.

Ascent wrote:
I suggest just making Decahedron all inclusive to all DwD Studios games.

We agree :)

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Submitted by w00t on Tue, 10/13/2015 - 1:47pm.

I have two CO submissions that I have not seen yet. :)

  • taustinoc, I emailed you about accidentally deleting your submission when I was cleaning up spam on this site, can you resubmit or mail it to me.
  • mitchw, I emailed you and Bill about your submission.

As it stands Decahedron #4 will be a mix of BBF and CO (unless I get more CO content).
-w00t

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Submitted by jasales on Tue, 10/13/2015 - 3:04pm.

And really this makes sense. It is Decahedron, not the Barebones Fantasy e-zine.

It can and should be a vehicle for all DWD d00 Lite games.

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Submitted by taustinoc on Tue, 10/13/2015 - 4:25pm.

w00t wrote:
taustinoc, I emailed you about accidentally deleting your submission when I was cleaning up spam on this site, can you resubmit or mail it to me.

I did not receive your email, but I've resubmitted the text.

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Submitted by mitchw on Tue, 10/13/2015 - 10:49pm.

What about formalizing the 'Agency Clothing' thread we did here a little while back. I know the info is available around here but it would be nice to have it written up and published for others who don't know its here.

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Submitted by w00t on Tue, 10/13/2015 - 10:55pm.

mitchw wrote:
What about formalizing the 'Agency Clothing' thread we did here a little while back. I know the info is available around here but it would be nice to have it written up and published for others who don't know its here.

This?

The Agency Uniform

PostDateIcon Sun, 05/03/2015 - 12:24pm | PostAuthorIcon DwD Studios
suit

When the agent selects an agency uniform, the player must choose its appearance. Any type of clothing is permitted, but most people choose a sensible if fashionable business suit. Others choose a trench coat or combat dress fatigues. Some, however, choose a uniform for a cover identity specific to the needs of a mission. All agency uniforms are considered ballistic clothes and provide DR2, as well as contain a concealed pocket in the lining which is difficult to find (-20% to any detective skill check to search) to keep passports and documents. Agents can customize their Agency Uniforms with upgrades. An agency uniform costs 2 of an agent's equipment allowance.

The agency uniform is already a good deal. It’s the same cost and effectiveness of ballistic clothes, and has a concealed document pocket as well. To increase the uniform’s functionality, any of the following upgrades can be added, each increases the cost of the uniform by +1.

Upgrades

Improved Ballistic Mesh
The uniform protects almost as well as a bullet proof vest, add +2 to DR, giving it a total DR 4.

Belt Garrote
The uniform has a thin but strong wire sewn into a cuff or the belt which can be pulled out and used to strangle someone. The agent must make a roll to hit his enemy with a -20 penalty; establishing the hold necessary to allow the garrote to do its work isn’t easy, and people are very protective of their necks. Once established, the victim can make a STR check each turn to remain conscious. If he fails his check he is rendered unconscious for 1D minutes. If he succeeds in his check he may act as if stunned, but has already accrued a multi-action penalty due to his STR resistance check. To free himself from the garrote choke hold, he must succeed in a martial arts check against his opponent.

Boot Knife
When activated, a sharp blade extends from the toe of an agent’s boot. His martial arts attacks now do 1D damage instead of 1D/2. Don’t forget Melee Damage Modifier. The blade can retract back into the show when desired. The shoe can set off metal detectors, but when x-rayed or searched will not reveal the knife and will be assumed to simply contain structural metal in the construction of the shoe or boot.

Concealed Equipment Pack
The uniform has various special pockets and recesses built into its linings which can contain any one standard equipment pack of the player’s choice. The pack itself must be purchased separately, and the uniform is tailored specifically for that type of equipment pack. The equipment pack is completely concealed from casual view, and even against very thorough searches it is well hidden; apply a -20 to any check to identify the presence of the hidden compartments. The equipment pack is also hidden from x-rays or other types of electronic searches. Purchase this upgrade multiple times to have multiple equipment packs concealed into the uniform. Common sense should prevail here; the GM can reject a request based on the estimated size of the equipment pack and type of uniform.

Concealed Parachute
A micro-fiber silk parachute is sewn into the back of the uniform and can be activated (once!) when the agent needs, allowing the agent to fall large distances and land safely. Once landed, the agent can release the parachute to discard it. The parachute can be reset only at the SECTOR headquarters labs between missions.

Defensive Bracers
Normally, unarmed agents are at a disadvantage to resistance checks against opponents wielding melee weapons. This uniform contains long cords of strong kevlar in the forearms. The agent with defensive bracers in his uniform suffers no penalty when fighting an armed enemy while unarmed.

Faraday Weave
This uniform has a conductive thread woven into the fabric and grounded through the shoes. It offers immunity to electrical attacks such as those caused by Tasers or stun guns.

Health Monitor
This uniform contains a suite of various biometric sensors capable of identifying the general physical health of the agent. If it detects the agent has been knocked unconscious, it stimulates the agent through probes. In game terms, an agent with this upgrade who has fallen in a fight doesn’t have to wait until after the fight to make a STR check to see if he wakes up and survives; he may do so one turn following being knocked down. If he succeeds, he awakens with 1 BP and the traditional headache. But if he fails, he is gone; there is no additional roll allowed after the encounter is over.

Identity Change
The uniform is designed to allow an agent who is being followed to duck into an alley and rapidly alter his at-a-glance appearance to help him get away. A suit jacket can be reversed to change its style and color, etc. The actual game terms are up to the GM, but this identity change might give a +10 or even +20 to a detective or thief check.

Lojack
The uniform has active tracking electronics built into it in a concealed manner. This allows the agent to use his encrypted cell phone (which is part of his operative pack) to track its position on a map overlay using a special app designed by SECTOR. It uses cell phone satellites and repeaters to coordinate the signal, so it cannot track the uniform if it is outside of coverage area.

Shaped Explosive Charge
This upgrade can be activated, which causes shaped explosive charges to detonate in all directions around the agent’s uniform. The uniform is reduced to shreds (the agent better be wearing undergarments!) and sharp bits fragment everywhere to create an explosion similar to a fragmentation grenade. The agent takes 1D concussion damage (no DR will help this) but all those in adjacent spaces will sustain 5D damage (half with DEX resistance check). The charge is detonated by a command word from the agent (validated through vocal pattern recognition micro circuitry) which must be set-up when signed out from SECTOR. Make sure the agent picks a command word that he won’t likely say in common speech! The agent need not be wearing the uniform to activate it.

Thermal Dampening
The suit (which has pull-out hood and gloves) has active thermal compensation running through its lining. It attempts to normalize the outward appearance of the body’s temperature with the environment to attempt to hide him from infra-red cameras, goggles, and motion sensors. If someone has reason to know the agent is there (because he makes noise, opens a door, etc.) a detective check will spot the thermally dampened agent.

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Submitted by w00t on Tue, 10/13/2015 - 11:06pm.

taustinoc wrote:
w00t wrote:
taustinoc, I emailed you about accidentally deleting your submission when I was cleaning up spam on this site, can you resubmit or mail it to me.

I did not receive your email, but I've resubmitted the text.

Got it! I put it in layout, it fits in the fanzine on 3 pages, perfect!

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Submitted by taustinoc on Wed, 10/14/2015 - 12:39am.

I did warn you I can run on and on. :) (I was aiming for two, but that was the right length for the material.) Did the sidebar fit?

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Submitted by taustinoc on Wed, 10/14/2015 - 12:41am.

w00t wrote:
mitchw wrote:
What about formalizing the 'Agency Clothing' thread we did here a little while back. I know the info is available around here but it would be nice to have it written up and published for others who don't know its here.

This?

My players showed quit a bit of interest in both that and the Agency watch when I added them to the outfitting sheets. I expect the brief case will get used to good effect, too, though it will probably be assigned rather than checked out by PCs.

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Submitted by daddystabz on Thu, 11/12/2015 - 10:47pm.

Please make this fanzine a reality.

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Submitted by The GIT on Fri, 11/13/2015 - 12:51pm.

I have created PDFs of various articles that have been posted on the DwD website re: CO. Specifically...

100 Descriptors for Covert Ops
The Agency Attache
The Agency Uniform
The Agency Wristwatch
Poison in Covert Ops

I did share them with Bill a while back so that he could add them to the downloads section; obviously he's pretty busy so I'd be happy to submit them for the fanzine if it helps.

Edit: FWIW I also have the articles in docx format as well. While I didn't write the original articles I have collated the data in the threads and formalised the articles as it where.

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Submitted by w00t on Fri, 11/13/2015 - 1:54pm.

daddystabz wrote:
Please make this fanzine a reality.

It's in the works. With the help of fans on G+ we now have a d00 table ready, I need to finish up the cover (ugh, this is taking time) and then rock n' roll.

The GIT wrote:
I have created PDFs of various articles that have been posted on the DwD website re: CO. Specifically...

100 Descriptors for Covert Ops
The Agency Attache
The Agency Uniform
The Agency Wristwatch
Poison in Covert Ops

I did share them with Bill a while back so that he could add them to the downloads section; obviously he's pretty busy so I'd be happy to submit them for the fanzine if it helps.

Edit: FWIW I also have the articles in docx format as well. While I didn't write the original articles I have collated the data in the threads and formalised the articles as it where.

I snatched some of these off this site and dropped them into issue 4. However I don't have the 100 Descriptors, can you send that to me please?

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Submitted by w00t on Fri, 11/13/2015 - 1:56pm.

Also remember that as long as fans are contributing content, we'll have a fanzine. ^_^

http://dwdstudios.com/decahedron/submit

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Submitted by The GIT on Fri, 11/13/2015 - 4:42pm.

w00t wrote:
daddystabz wrote:
Please make this fanzine a reality.

It's in the works. With the help of fans on G+ we now have a d00 table ready, I need to finish up the cover (ugh, this is taking time) and then rock n' roll.

The GIT wrote:
I have created PDFs of various articles that have been posted on the DwD website re: CO. Specifically...

100 Descriptors for Covert Ops
The Agency Attache
The Agency Uniform
The Agency Wristwatch
Poison in Covert Ops

I did share them with Bill a while back so that he could add them to the downloads section; obviously he's pretty busy so I'd be happy to submit them for the fanzine if it helps.

Edit: FWIW I also have the articles in docx format as well. While I didn't write the original articles I have collated the data in the threads and formalised the articles as it where.

I snatched some of these off this site and dropped them into issue 4. However I don't have the 100 Descriptors, can you send that to me please?


I've submitted all of the articles. I know that you've already snatched some of them from the site but I figured they might still be useful - there were a few discussions about the articles which I added (especially the wristwatch).

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