One additional copy of the core rulebook.
Welcome to the Dark Conspiracy!
In the all-too-near future, the world slides into the Greater Depression, the United States affected most dramatically. Nationalism surges, and the social safety net is in tatters. Corporations control governments openly, corruption is commonplace, and the citizenry is starkly divided between those who have and those who go without. Urban sprawl runs amok, and great metroplexes connect the great cities into teeming, soulless metropolises, their lights shining across the countryside.
The heartland of America is largely abandoned, the bread basket now empty. Law enforcement and the government have given up on these regions, and utilities are scarce and unreliable. Few can survive within these outlaw areas. Few humans, that is.
For in these forgotten and empty places in the rust belt, the tissue of reality tears wide, and energy from nightmare dimensions and planes of utter terror seep into this world. These places, called demongrounds, grow more substantial, expanding each day, and creatures from these hell-places walk freely there, and from the demongrounds they infiltrate the metroplexes to feed their inhuman hungers and bring ruin to all.
Some of these strange and terrible creatures are remembered through folklore and legend — monsters such as vampires, demons, ghouls, and their like — while others are utterly fantastic, extradimensional and alien beings from beyond time and space. Together, these minions of darkness are opposed to all life, and they struggle to extinguish the last lights of human civilization.
Some few stand against them, humans banded together and armed against these dreadful forces of darkness. These minion hunters stalk them in the cities and even in the demongrounds, but the greatest challenge they face is the realization that these monsters do not work alone: they are aided by humans who have made terrible pacts with the forces of darkness, selling out their own kind for power and survival.
This is the world of DARK CONSPIRACY.
In 1990, Game Designers Workshop first brought Dark Conspiracy to life. It was a robust and acclaimed roleplaying game series, far ahead of its time with canny predictions about the shape of things to come.
In 2019, Clockwork Publishing brings it back. For the first time in more than 20 years, Dark Conspiracy will be available in print in a deluxe new version of the acclaimed roleplaying game, with an updated system and setting, featuring all-new art and content.
The relaunch will begin with the release of the Dark Conspiracy quickstart adventure, the Dark Conspiracy core rulebook, accompanied by the Dark Conspiracy Gamemaster Screen and Resource, and more. Future supplements will include sourcebooks detailing gear, psychic powers, minions, and will further explore the world of Dark Conspiracy.
The Rules
Our version of DARK CONSPIRACY uses and updated and streamlines version of the original rules. The resulting system is straightforward, runs quickly in play, and players can grasp it easily.
- The basic chance of success is equal to the relevant skill of the task being attempted plus the associated attribute that skill belongs to: Skill Rank + Attribute = Skill Value.
- All actions a character (whether minion hunter or nonplayer character) attempts are handled on a single d20, attempting to roll equal to or below the Skill Value. The d20 result itself is not modified, just the Skill Value being attempted.
- The Skill Value may be modified by the general difficulty of the task being attempted, such as due to environmental factors, conditions, how injured the character is, or other factors. The Difficulty Modifiers range from +6 for a Routine task to –9 for an Impossible one.
- A roll of 1 is always a success and a 20 is a failure, no matter what the modified Skill Value is.
- A roll of 10 lower than the modified Skill Value is an outstanding success (like a critical in other games), and a roll of 10 higher than the modified skill value is an outstanding failure (a fumble in other games).
Initiative is based on a combination of a character’s relevant combat skill rank plus their Agility attribute plus a roll of 1d6.
Each combat turn is broken into six five-second combat phases. In each combat phase, characters can perform a minor action and a combat action, as well as multiple reactions and/or free actions.
- Minor actions include things like bracing, moving at a walk or trot, switching gear, and standing from being prone.
- Major actions include aiming, firing, attacking in melee, readying a weapon for later use, reloading, running, using an object, throwing something, and disengaging.
- Reactions include blocking (parrying) and reactive attacks. The more you attempt in a round, the harder it gets.
- Free actions are things like dropping items, going prone, and brief talking.
If you are a veteran player und would like to know more about specific changes, consult the section "What has Changed?" below.
A sample character can be found here.
The Publisher
Clockwork Publishing (or in German: Uhrwerk Verlag) is a respected German-based RPG and fiction publisher founded in 2009 by Patric Götz, utilizing his extensive experience in the field of roleplaying, first, as an employee in a games store, then working at a wholesaler, and finally as publishing director at Ulisses Spiele. He is still CEO of Uhrwerk Verlag / Clockwork Publishing today, leading a team of about a dozen full-time employees.
Uhrwerk’s first games published were German versions of Hollow Earth Expedition and Deadlands Classic in 2009 as well as the license for the western continent Myranor for The Dark Eye. In the years that followed, Uhrwerk published further games with great success, among them more and more German productions like Malmsturm, Contact, or Dungeonslayers, and extended their range with translations of English games such as Numenera and Achtung! Cthulhu.
Since 2013, Uhrwerk Verlag (under the label Clockwork Publishing) also thrives within the English-speaking market. With a successful crowdfunding for a translation of the German version of Space:1889, the English version of the game was financed. At the same time, Uhrwerk Verlag produces German games such as Splittermond, its own German fantasy roleplaying game, and publishing German editions of games such as Mutant Year Zero, Coriolis, Fate Core and many others.
Today, about dozen employees are permanently employed at Uhrwerk Verlag, releasing an average of four to five publications per month. The company has carried out several crowdfundings successfully, both in English and German.
The Team
We have assembled a stellar team of contributors:
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Jason Durall, the line manager, is a veteran writer, game designer, and line editor for pen-and-paper and computer games. He has written and developed material for A Game of Thrones, Amber Diceless Roleplaying, Battlestar Galactica, Conan the Roleplaying Game, Serenity, Achtung! Cthulhu, World War Cthulhu, The Laundry, Basic Roleplaying, Silver Age Sentinels, and more. He has won Ennies for his work on Serenity, RuneQuest, and Conan, and serves as line editor for Chaosium’s RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha and for Modiphius’ Robert E. Howard’s Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of.
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Marcus Bone is a longtime fan and contributor to Dark Conspiracy, having been involved in Demonground (the Origins nominated Dark Conspiracy fanzine), the game's 2nd and 3rd editions, and most recently via darkconspiracytherpg.com (a Dark Conspiracy fansite and forum). Marcus is a New Zealand based IT executive and consultant, who is inspired by his caring family, and the creative urge, to explore strange, new worlds!
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Lena Falkenhagen is a veteran of the German TRPG scene and was a design board member of The Dark Eye (DSA) for 17 years. She is new to Dark Conspiracy but has written four game novels and contributed to countless adventure and game books for TDE, translated Mage: The Sorcerer’s Crusade and co-translated Mage: The Awakening, edited D&D 3.5 books. Lena lives in Hamburg, Germany and works as a professional novelist, freelance narrative designer for video games, and tabletop RPG game writer.
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Richard Hayden has been a Dark Conspiracy fan since the original release of the game and has in recent years contributed fiction and game materials for the Protodimension fanzine. He is passionate about the future of gaming and cannot wait to see where Dark Conspiracy will go in the future.
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Sascha Hoppenrath is a veteran player and gamemaster of Dark Conspiracy. He has published the German version of Deadlands and did translation work for Pathfinder and The One Ring. Sascha has been part of the design team, that created the popular German Splittermond RPG. When he is not writing or running his boardgame shop in Cologne (Germany), he's probably somewhere gaming.
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Andrew Peregrine came to Dark Conspiracy as a player many years ago and has relished the chance to finally look into the mysteries his Gamemaster had kept secret. He has written for several different games and companies including Doctor Who and Victoriana (Cubicle 7), Vampire V20 (Onyx Path), Judge Dredd (EN Publishing), Star Trek (Modiphius), and two versions of Firefly (MWP). He also produces his own games as Corone Design but for a ‘proper job’ works as a lighting technician at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London’s West End.
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John Snead has been a full time freelance game designer for 20 years and has written more than a dozen published magic systems. He also developed the idea for and wrote much of the romantic fantasy RPG Blue Rose, and created and wrote the Mythras urban fantasy supplement After the Vampire Wars. He has written extensively for Ars Magica , Exalted, Mindjammer, the recent Conan RPG, Star Trek Adventures, as well as Changeling: The Lost, Mage: The Awakening, and many other games. John Snead is also the developer for Onyx Path Publishing's upcoming science fiction game Trinity Continuum: Æon.
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Samantha Chapman is a freelance editor and proofreader based in Boston, MA. She is a newcomer to Dark Conspiracy. Her publishing credits include Aldis, City of the Blue Rose (for the Blue Rose system), Ork! The Roleplaying Game 2nd Edition, The Mutants & Masterminds Basic Hero's Handbook, and The Expanse corebook.
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Alasdair Stuart is a newcomer as a writer to the world of Dark Conspiracy and has written or contributed to multiple Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space sourcebooks, Star Trek, Victoriana, All Flesh Must Be Eaten, Chill, and After the War, co-created with Jason Pitre of Genesis of Legend. When not writing RPG material, Alasdair co-owns Escape Artists, the podcast fiction company behind Hugo-nominated Escape Pod as well as PseudoPod, PodCastle, and Cast of Wonders. Each runs weekly short fiction in science fiction, horror, fantasy and YA respectively. Find him online at www.alasdairstuart.com
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Richard August is a writer and game designer from Manchester, UK. He has written for Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of, RuneQuest and John Carter of Mars, amongst others. He has been a fan of Dark Conspiracy since encountering a tattered copy of the original rule book and wondering ‘what were they doing under those stairs?’
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Kieran Turley is a newcomer to the world of Dark Conspiracy, having contributed to games such as Space 1889, Ashen Stars, 7th Sea, Atlantis: The Second Age, and Mythic D6 in the past. He’s currently looking forward to seeing this new iteration of Dark Conspiracy come to life.
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Jared Twing is a newcomer to the world of Dark Conspiracy and has written for Ulisses, Modiphius, and Chaosium in the past as well as for Shadowrun Missions and Living Forgotten Realms. When not writing or spending time with his family, he works in the video game industry as an engineering manager.
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Frank Übe is a veteran player and gamemaster of Dark Conspiracy. He did translation work for Pathfinder and D&D 3rd Edition. Frank was part of the design team that created the popular German Splittermond RPG. Apart from his job as a social worker he can be found running/playing a game, in the cinema, or with a book in hand.
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Lee Williams is a Dark Conspiracy community veteran who has edited and contributed to the Demonground, Protodimension, and Dark Times fanzines. He worked on previous versions of the game, as well as other RPG projects, and wants everyone to know that it's all Ferret’s fault!
Other contributors include Anthony Lee-Dudley, Kevin O’Neill, and more to be announced.
Here’s what stands out with this new edition:
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This version of Dark Conspiracy is aimed specifically at a modern audience and modern gamers. The system is an updated version of the popular alternate rules system presented in The Empathic Sourcebook and has been optimized for rapid resolution of action sequences and conflicts. Unnecessarily complicated system elements are now resolved using the standard dice mechanic.
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Character generation has been streamlined, and the overwhelming superiority of military-based careers has been re-balanced in favor of allowing players to choose a wider variety of background options.
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The original game was cannily accurate about the shape of things to come when it first appeared, but some background elements have not aged well. The setting has been revised and updated, modernized but still in the original flavor and keeping many core concepts intact.
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One of the core aspects of this game are in its title: the conspiracy itself. The dark invaders are powerful and malignant, but they are being aided and abetted by humans, trading members of their own kind for temporary power or survival.
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Many classic fantasy or folklore-based monsters and dark races from the original game — the fey, vampires, harpies, mummies, ogres, living skeletons, manticores — have been replaced with creatures and entities more suitable to an audience jaded by decades of exposure to horror films and games, or are modified into something more terrifying to the modern audience. Some are intact, but are not what they seem.
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While we are giving details about the whole world of Dark Conspiracy, Indianapolis is presented as the default campaign starter for the core book, and the game’s scope has been expanded to include demongrounds in other locales around the world, including Berlin.
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We are using all-new full-color artwork for the game, teasers of which you can already see on this project page.
These are only some of the changes, but veteran fans of the game will find that this new edition is still recognizably Dark Conspiracy, and newcomers will enjoy a strong and distinct game with a unique flavor, unlike anything else.
The initial plan for the Dark Conspiracy line includes five hardcover books (the core rules, a 128-page bestiary, a 128-page paranormal sourcebook, a 128-page gear sourcebook and a 128-page adventure anthology), a referee screen, a quickstart adventure, and three card decks. These are described below:
DARK CONSPIRACY QUICKSTART ADVENTURE
Decades ago, the town of Lakeview, Wyoming was depopulated and submerged when the nearby Cedar Mountain Dam was built. Now in a single night, the lake has unexpectedly drained, exposing the town and its terrible secrets. A team has been sent to investigate, and what they discover may destroy them. This 48-page quickstart adventure contains all the rules you need to play Dark Conspiracy, including a group of pre-generated hunter characters.
DARK CONSPIRACY CORE RULEBOOK
This full-color 256+ page hardcover core rulebook contains everything you need to create characters, play, and gamemaster the world of Dark Conspiracy. Here's an overview of the contents:
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Introduction – World Background, How to Use this Book, Intro to Roleplaying, etc.
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Characters – Background, Picking Roles, Campaign Type, Attributes, Age, Initial Experience, Education, Careers (Civilian, Criminal, Government, Military, Outsider, Special), Skills & Skill Descriptions, Empathic Abilities, Skills and Secondary Attributes, Secondary Activities, Contacts, Starting Money and Equipment, Character Generation Example, Sample Characters
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Between Investigations – Healing, Maintenance Activities, Training/Education, New Opportunities, Skill Improvement (Experience and Training)
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Dark Times | World Overview – Intro and Background/History, Life in the Dark Times, Urban Sprawl, Government Collapse, Environmental Collapse, Rise of Fascism/Xenophobia, Collaboration, Major Demongrounds Worldwide
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System – Basic System, Empathic Success Sidebar, Combat, Movement, Time/Turns, Initiative, Panic, Ranged Combat, Melee Combat, Unarmed Combat, Combat Special Rules, Aimed Attacks, Autofire, Movement While Attacking, Ammo, Secondary Fire, Explosions, Fire, Falls, Poison, Radiation, Environmental Damage, Damage, Wounds, Stun, Knockdown, Hit Locations, Healing, First Aid, Medical Treatment, Vehicles and Vehicle Combat
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Equipment – Personal Gear, Tools, Spy Gear, Medical Supplies, Other Equipment, Weapons, Guns, Ammunition, Explosives, Hand-to-hand Weapons, Body Armor, Electronics & Computers, Communications Equipment, Surveillance Equipment, Analysis Equipment, Robots, Artificial Intelligence, Personal Cybernetics, Vehicles, Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, Scooters, Small Boats, Fliers
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Referee Section – Duties of the Referee, Bringing the World to Life, The World of Dark Conspiracy, Secret History, The World as It Is, The Dark Ones, Empathy, Running Games, Character Creation, Adventure Creation, Campaign Creation, Scene Setting, Continuity, Handling NPCs, Character Arcs, Handling Success/Failure, Handling Empathic Abilities in Play, Handling Communication/Information Equipment and Maintaining Horror, Institutional Conspiracies, Dealing with the Police/Govt/Authorities, Dealing with the Press, Reward, Experience, Aftermaths
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Encounters – Handling NPCs and Monsters, Urban Encounters, Corporate Encounters, Govt. Encounters, Rural Encounters, Demonground Encounters, Human NPCs, Handling Human NPCs, Stock NPCs (Average/Generic, Cops, Bikers, Cultists, Derelicts, Gangers, Government Agents, Guards, Soldiers), Animals, Handling Animals, Animals (Ant Swarms, Bears, Bee Swarms, Great Cats, Dogs, Horses, Snakes, Wolves), Minions, Handling Minions, Minions (Bloats, Blood Vultures, Cerberoids, Chimeras, Giant Roaches, Slithers, Spongies), Designing Your Own Dark Minions, Dark Races | Darklings, Handling Dark Races, Dark Races (Animated Objects, Bloodkin, Trolls, Vampires, Changelings, Daemons, Extraterrestrials [Energy, Humanoid, Insectoid, Tentacular], Ghosts, Morlocks, Nukids, Undead [Mummies, Zombies])
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Paranormal Technology – Dark Tech, Overview of Dark Tech, Dimensional Travel, Biotech, Animator Generators, Cyborgs, Nanotech, Quantum Physics and the Dark World, Cybernetics, Dark Tech Experiments, Weapons, Alien Tech, Overview of Alien Tech, Cybernetics, Human Augmentation, Weapons
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The World / Locations – Intro, Indianapolis, The Indianapolis/Cloverdale Demonground, Berlin, The Berlin/Brandenburg Demonground
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Reference Sheets – Skills, Combat Summary, etc.
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Character Creation Worksheet, Character Sheet, Index
DARK CONSPIRACY GAMEMASTER SCREEN RESOURCE
This three-panel sturdy cardboard screen protects the referee's secrets from prying eyes, and provides a variety of useful tables for quick reference. This package also contains a booklet containing a ready-to-play adventure and other resources.
DARK CONSPIRACY: THE UNNATURAL
This full-color 128-page hardcover bestiary vastly expands the roster of unnatural and extranormal entities that plague the world of Dark Conspiracy, including story notes and potential rumors about each.
DARK CONSPIRACY: THE PARANORMAL
This full-color 128-page hardcover sourcebook provides further information about the paranormal in the world of Dark Conspiracy, including additional empathic powers and abilities, and more about the Demongrounds and their effects upon reality.
DARK CONSPIRACY: ARMORY
This full-color 128-page hardcover sourcebook contains a variety of additional weapons, gear, technology, vehicles, and rules for customizing them, as well as more esoteric tools that hunters might bear against the Dark Ones and the Minions, or used against the hunters themselves!
DARK CONSPIRACY: ACCESS DENIED
This full-color 128-page hardcover adventure anthology contains a variety of short and mid-length adventures and locations for use in any Dark Conspiracy campaign.
DARK CONSPIRACY: MONSTER CARD DECK
This 55-card deck describes many of the creatures of the world of Dark Conspiracy, including physical descriptions, their statistics, their motives, and their tactics. Indispensible for any referee's use!
DARK CONSPIRACY: ARMORY CARD DECK
This 55-card set includes a variety of guns, explosives, hand-to-hand weapons, and other equipment usable for any Dark Conspiracy characters or non-player characters.
DARK CONSPIRACY: RUMOR CARD DECK
This 55-card set includes rumors, conspiracy theories, and secret societies and can be used to flesh out rumors the investigators stumble upon during play or to quickly generate adventure plots.
We are offering several different pledge levels which should suite different tastes - no matter if you want it digital or physical, if you just want to dip your toe into the conspiracy or want to go "all-in", if you just want to consume or also create. There are options for just getting the core rulebook (in print or PDF), for getting all the products released via this crowdfunding (also in PDF or in print), and even for contributing material to the new edition or playing a game of Dark Conspiracy with our line editor at GenCon 2019. Please check the different pledge levels below and on the right in order to find the one that best suites your needs.
If you just want to dive into the game with the core rules, the Minion (core rules PDF for $20) and the Nomad (core rules and quickstart adventure in print + PDF for $50) are perfect for you. But if you want the whole range that we are financing with this crowdfunding, you should take a look at the Ganger (digital only pledge for ALL new PDFs totalling more than 800 pages for $100) or Minion Hunter (core rules and four more hardcover 128-page supplements, the quickstart a referee screen and three card decks all in print and PDF for $255) levels.
Please be aware that you can "customize" your pledge by choosing add-ons. This way you can for example get the printed core rules with all PDFs of the other products by choosing the Ganger level with an additional printed copy for the core rules as add-on. See the add-on section below for details.
You want to get the updates or show us symbolic support in our fight against the conspiracy? This level is for you! 1 Euro = ~ $1.13 Do you want to know more about the Conspiracy without plunging in head first? Then we have the perfect solution for you! With this level you get PDF versions of the core rules and the quickstart adventure, plus all digital stretchgoals (PDF) that get unlocked in the course of this campaign. This pledge level includes the core rulebook and quickstart adventure in both print and PDF versions. Perfect for people who want to get an overview of the game while also enjoying the smell of a new book. Only available on the first day of the project! This level brings you the full digital package: PDF versions of the core rules, the quickstart adventure all four supplements, the referee screen, and the three card decks - and of course all digital stretch goals that get unlocked in the course of this campaign. Please be aware that in order not to have too many pledge levels we have not included a "Day One" version of the Ganger Deluxe level (which includes everything the level "Ganger" has, plus all original DarkCon PDFs from Game Designer's Workshop). If you want to have those PDFs you can take this level and just add the PDFs as an add-on for $60 (and still enjoy the full discount in relation to the normal/deluxe Ganger level). This pledge level is digital only! If you want to also get a physical copy off the rulebook, you can easily order one from the add-ons section. This level brings you the full digital package: PDF versions of the core rules, the quickstart adventure all four supplements, the referee screen, and the three card decks - and of course all digital stretch goals that get unlocked in the course of this campaign. This pledge level is digital only! If you want to also get a physical copy off the rulebook, you can chose the Ganger + Print level for $110. This level brings you the printed core rules plus full digital package: PDF versions of the core rules, the quickstart adventure all four supplements, the referee screen, and the three card decks - and of course all digital stretch goals that get unlocked in the course of this campaign. Please be aware that in order not to have too many pledge levels we have not included a "+ Print" version of the Ganger Deluxe level (which includes everything the level "Ganger" has, plus all original DarkCon PDFs from Game Designer's Workshop). If you want to have those PDFs you can take this level and just add the PDFs as an add-on for $60 (and still enjoy the full discount in relation to the normal/deluxe Ganger level). This pledge level not only includes all the new PDFs, but also ALL old Dark Conspiracy PDFs from GDW. Perfect for people who are longtime fans and want to use old and new material alike for their campaigns. This pledge level is digital only! If you want to also get a physical copy off the rulebook, you can easily order one from the add-ons section. FOR RETAILERS ONLY - With this package you get four copies of the core rulebook and the quickstart adventure and one copy each of the other products from this crowdfunding (referee screen, four sourcebooks, three card decks) - and you get them before they enter regular retail channels. You are also eligible for one set of any stretch goal goodies unlocked during the campaign. People who buy the books through your store are also eligible for the PDFs of their purchases which they will get via DriveThruRPG (you have to contact us with the email address of the customer once they have purchased one of the books). You can get additional sets as described in this pledge level for $200 each by selecting the retail-only add-on from the add-on section. But you can also customize your pledge with additional books - just contact felix[ät]uhrwerk-verlag.de for a detailed price list. Please be aware that you have to send proof to us that you are a retailer after the campaign ends. Only available on the first day of the project! If you want to go "all in", this is the pledge level for you: You not only get the core rules and the quickstart adventure in print and PDF, but also all other products that are part of this crowdfunding in both print and PDF versions! Three sourcebooks, one adventure, a referee screen resource and three card decks - the perfect equipment for a Minion Hunter. Please be aware that in order not to have too many pledge levels we have not included a "Day One" version of the Minion Hunter Deluxe level (which includes everything the level "Minion Hunter" has, plus all original DarkCon PDFs from Game Designer's Workshop). If you want to have those PDFs you can take this level and just add the PDFs as an add-on for $60 (and still enjoy the full discount in relation to the normal/deluxe Minion Hunter level). If you want to go "all in", this is the pledge level for you: You not only get the core rules and the quickstart adventure in print and PDF, but also all other products that are part of this crowdfunding in both print and PDF versions! Three 128-page hardcover sourcebooks, one 128-page hardcover adventure, a referee screen resource and three card decks - the perfect equipment for a Minion Hunter. This pledge level includes everything listed in the pledge level "Minion Hunter", as well as PDF versions of all the old Dark Conspiracy books from GDW. You get everything included in the "Minion Hunter Deluxe" level, but will also be able to contribute your own idea to an official Dark Conspiracy publication: Our writers will work with you to create a monster or an NPC that will be included in one of the books, complete with artwork. Of course you will be credited in the book in which your creation is included. You get everything included in the "Minion Hunter Deluxe" level, but will also work with our writers to contribute one of the six archetypes that are included in the core rulebook, complete with stats and artwork! Do you want to immortalize yourself or somebody you know in Dark Conspiracy? Or do you just have a cool idea that you want to work on with our writers? This is your chance! Of course you will be credited in the core rulebook for your contribution. You get everything included in the "Create your own Monster/NPC" level, of course including creating your own monster or NPC. Additionally, our Line Developer Jason Durall will run a game of Dark Conspiracy for you at GenCon 2019 - and your decisions will influence the content of the game line! The game is scheduled for Friday 2nd of August 2019 from 2pm to 6 pm. Please note that travel, accomodations, and ticket to GenCon are not included in this pledge level. You get everything included in the "Minon Hunter Delue" level, but more importantly you will be able to chose a town which will be given as a Demonground example (at least 5 pages, including a map) in the core rules or one of the sourcebooks. Want to immortalize your hometown or just virtually destroy a town that you hate? This is your chance! You will work with our writers to flesh out the description of the town, the monsters lurking there and the NPCs trying to survive. Of course you will also be credited in the book, in which the city is covered.
We also teamed up with the original creators to give you the option of getting your hands on all PDFs from the first and second edition of Dark Conspiracy as a special pledge levels. This includes: DC1 Core Rules & PC Booster Kit, all ten DC1 adventures and sourcebooks, the boardgame Minion Hunter, several Challange Magazine articles, the DC2 Referee & Player books (in two versions), the DC2 Referee Screen, the Sin City adventure series and nine issues of the Demonground eZine.
Premium Pledges
Please be aware that there are some things to consider for the higher pledge levels that give you the option to contribute monsters, NPCs, archetypes and even a demonground to the game: Most importantly your ideas of course have to fit into the the game and our writing team will work with you to assure that goal. If you are interested, there is the option to write some parts yourself (if you can do it in the timeframe provided) but it is also possible to just give us some ideas, have our writing team flesh out everything and then give us additional input on the result.
Please also note: By pledging for any of these rewards you also give us permission to become the copyright holder of the part of Dark Conspiracy that you help create. We might use it in any future Dark Conspiracy supplement, be it sourcebooks, adventures or fiction. If you are not comfortable with this, please refrain from taking any of these pledges.
No crowdfunding project is complete without stretch goals - goals that are unlocked once the project hits certain benchmarks after the initial funding. We also have a couple of things up our sleeve, some of which we want to present you from the start. Additional stretch goals will be released once we hit current ones.
Strech goals marked as digital and/or print are included in the respective pledge levels (please check the list to the right).
If we hit $25.000 we are fully funded! If we reach this stretch goal, all backers that receive all printed stretchgoals will receive a ca. A2 (42 x 59,4 cm) map of the world of Dark Conspiracy to help you keep track of all the demongrounds around the world. A PDF version of the map will be included for all backers that get all digital stretchgoals. With this stretch goal the backside of the world map (see the stretchgoal before) will include maps of the demonground-infested cities of Indianapolis and Berlin (two of the demonground examples presented in the core rulebook). A PDF version of the map will be included for all backers that get all digital stretchgoals. This small, unassuming town has long figured in urban legend as "The Gateway to Hell", while those who lived there shrugged the title off as just stories. Whatever the case, the emergence of a demonground near Stull makes the point moot. The beleaguered townsfolk struggle to survive in a particularly specific manifestation of the unnatural forces that plague the world of Dark Conspiracy. This circa 8-page expansion presents an overview of Stull and its history, the emergent demonground, notable figures, and story seeds galore. It will be included in PDF format for all backers that receive all digital stretchgoals. This 16-page booklet not only includes a character sheet but also space to catalogue monster encountered or slain, notes about demongrounds or conspiracies, and extra space for all your precious gear. For those who want to hunt in style! One journal will be included in all levels that receive all printed stretch goals, additional copies can be chosen as add-ons once this goal has been unlocked. A PDF version of the map will be included for all backers that get all digital stretchgoals. Long have these creatures figured into Celtic and Irish folklore, but the dark and terrible truth of their nature has never before been exposed. Clad in the semblance of myth, these monstrous and alien beings come from an alternate reality and are once again able to manifest within this world. This circa 8-page expansion describes their motives, their nature, and expands the roster of creatures from the Dark Conspiracy core book. It will be included in PDF format for all backers that receive all digital stretchgoals.
You can order any of the following items as add-ons to your pledge. Simply manually add the appropriate amount to your pledge in order to do so - after the project has finished, we will send out surveys (most likely via Backerkit) to find out, what exactly you want to get for the extra money.
Available print add-ons of course include all the books available in this crowdfunding (in case you want a second copy or want to customize what you get):
More add-ons might get unlocked via stretch goals in the course of the project.
We will ship from one or two locations in the EU and/or UK, depending on final offers and on how Brexit turns out. Shipment is worldwide and costs vary from region to region and are automatically included in any pledge that has any physical items included.
Some information for orientation (as stated above you won't have to calculate manually, Game On Tabletop will apply shipping costs automatically before you finalize your oder):
Shipment costs vary according to location of the backer. Inside the EU (including the UK, no matter how Brexit turns out) shipping is $5 for packages from 1 to 5 kg and $10 for packages 5 kg and above. Packages to the US cost $10 for shipments from 1 to 5 kg and $15 for packages 5 kg and above. Packages to Canada cost $15 for shipments from 1 to 5 kg and $20 for packages 5 kg and above. Packages to Australia and New Zealand cost $20 for shipments from 1 to 5 kg and $25 for packages 5 kg and above.
The Minion Hunter and Retailer packages will weigh above 5 kg, all other packages will weigh below 5 kg (unless a high amount of add-ons is ordered).
PDFs will be sent out via DriveThruRPG.com.
We will have only new full-color artwork and will not be using any of the old material.
You can easily choose the pledge level that comes closest to your needs and than add specific add-ons from the appropriate menu. This way you can choose exactly what you want.
We have a special add-on for $20 for just this case. Simply choose the "PDFs of all selected Add-ons" add-on from the appropriate menu and you will get all PDFs for the physical add-ons that you selected.
This is due to the sheer number of products included in each of the pledge levels:
- The Ganger level includes more than 800 pages of PDF material: the core rules, the quickstart adventure, three sourcebooks, an adventure anthology, a referee screen resource, and three card decks.
- The Minion Hunter levels includes all these PDFs and the material in printed form: The 256-page hardcover core rules, four 128-page hardcover supplements, the sturdy referee screen resource, and the three card decks.
Simply choose the newly implemented "Ganger + Print" level, which has exactly this combination.
Yes, this is correct and is due to how Game On Tabletop is set up.
If the pledge sum is not reached you will of course get a full refund of your pledge amount.
Yes, you can change your pledge amount at any time during the campaign. If you increase your pledge (e.g. by choosing additional add-ons or by switching to a higher pledge level) you will get charged again, but of course only for the difference between your already made pledge and the new pledg total.
If you want to decrease (or cancel) your pledge just contact us via crowdfunding@clockwork-publishing.com and we will take all appropriate steps (sadly this doesn't work automated on Game On Tabletop).
Yes, as in every crowdfunding campaign you can of course cancel your pledge at any time until the end of the campaign. Simply contact us via crowdfunding@clockwork-publishing.com and we will take care of it (sadly it doesn't work automated on Game On Tabletop).
We have worked with Game On Tabletop in the past for a German project, due to the platform being quite well known and widely used in parts of Europe. We were very happy with the vast amount of options in the backend (superior to those Kickstarter has, basically reducing the need for a pledge manager like Backerkit after the end of the campaign) and especially by the very friendly and competent staff being available to us very easily (while it is always harder to reach anybody at Kickstarter if you have any problems). Therefore we decided to give Game On Tabletop a try to see if it also works for campaigns with an international audience.
You can use the contact form in the project or simply write us an email to: crowdfunding@clockwork-publishing.com
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