EPILOUGE: A PARTING WORD "This game is not real...you are" -introduction from Nephilim: RPG Since you are reading this (and assuming you're not one of those people who reads the last page of Mystery novels) I guess you've at least skimmed through my work. For this I'm very grateful. Its been a few months since I started this supplement and I'm more than happy with the result. Its not the typical Secret Society dissertation I had originally had planned, but I feel that it has blossomed into something more original. I hope you like what you've read, or at least have something that you can use. Again, I'd like the thank Anders Sandberg for all his ideas and information, Carl Gutbrod for his support, and all the members of wod-l for their suggestions and ideas that have floated about since its inception. SUGGESTED MATERIALS The following are excellent sources of Illuminati and Secret Society information in general. X-Files (Fox TV-Show) -excellent example of the Enigmatic Stratagem at work Mission: Impossible (Both Syndicated TV-Shows) -excellent guide to Cadre/Clique operations Nephilim: Occult Roleplaying (Chaosium) -has great secret societies (perfect for Throngs) Call of Cthulhu (Chaosium) -great source of secret cults and things "man was never meant to know". Illuminati Card Game/GURPS Supplement (S. Jackson Games) -Original motivation for this supplement, this was my first foray into the world of the secret societies. GURPS Voodoo: The Shadow War (Steve Jackson Games) -More nifty secret societies (on the supernatural side) as well as a fascinating GothPunk-style setting. GURPS Cthulhupunk (Steve Jackson Games) -Cyberpunk meets Cthulhu. 'Nuff said. "In the Country of the Blind" (Michael Flynn). -Very relevant to this game! It is about conspiracies using mathematical models to predict the probable future; the conspiracies wage a shadow war against each other, both trying to hide and trying to wipe each other out. Has several neat descriptions of a basilica, Pawns, Rooks, Knights, Bishops and a Queen. "Focault's Pendulum" (Umberto Eco). -Lots of material about conspiracies, especially the Templars. Society Net.post (Mark Carlson, found in ftp.iquest.com in /pub/RPG/Misc) -though low on facts, this gives you great ideas on the structures of fictional secret societies and the sub- societies below them. Scary thing is, his ranking system for agents is very close to mine (and I down-loaded it two months AFTER deciding on the Ranks in this supplement...). Based on Call of Cthulhu and Comic sources, as well as real conspiracies. This work probably has infringed on many registered trademarks and copyrights. I am neither making money of this supplement, nor am I challenging any of the copyrights/trademarks involved. This supplement may be reproduced freely as long as no profit is made of this supplement and my name is listed as its author. THE LAST NOTE (HONEST): If enough people like this work, I will support it with posts over the next month. Ideas floating around in my head are stats for Corvus Beltaine (and more info on the Shamans of Beltane), the Grey "Aliens" (and an expanded psychic generation system and power selection), an expanded version of Hunters Hunted (with more Merits/Flaws and Backgrounds unique to mankind), and more information on the Secret Society of the Wraiths: The Sihouette. ********************************************************************** That's it. Read and give me feedback, flames, suggestions, problems and questions. Don't let my initial oversensitivity deter you, I want feedback (but I want you to read it first before complaints). An as far as my unwillingness to change, I will only not change the clan system and the politics. Why? I'm confortable with the Clans structure and have no ideas on how to remove that (and frankly I like having different secret socieities battle it out). As for politics, its not just the Vampires domain. Anyway if there are no politics in Illuminati, what's the point of having it? As far as cadres, courts, and other "vampire-esque" trappings, tell me what you like and don't like. An remember, scrap what you want! I won't be offended (honest). ------------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen Esdale (sesdale@flemingc.on.ca) | -Last Roadblock on the road to enlightenment | | "Understanding is a Three edged Sword" | -Kosh, Babylon 5 | -------------------------------------------------------------------