Supernatural Conspiracy Roleplaying WOLFGANG BAUR AND MONTE COOK a)eee renee ten » K Reynolds, Steven Schend, Bll Slay ae ee aes ors i apher Perkins rin Director of RPG R&D eee ¥ Technicians raphic Production Specialist itis E Production Managers ree ae ya ee eee aot aes Ths product equres th we ofthe 0 Woon Rleaig Ge by il svc ef rb ch Redman hrs yen Rules mechanics arsed nthe d20 ooenn Felepaig Ge th giles 8c les cee by Cry Gyan Da Aeon ad he an Nc Dans ue desened by Joatan Tee. este ool, Sep Willams, Richard Baer sn Feter Akon, Sources or this product nde the Az" Scene aig Ganeby Bil Sick ard Rar Bole, Ds are Campin Seti by Wolfzng a mth Note ook the ncn Ansaid pment Gaby Bch aan nd]D We ance Sas fie" y Any Clin nurse” sie 8) Ths Wands ofthe Cnt ume predut cantainsno Open Gane Contr. No parton fh work ay berepaduced nary frm thot ten pein Toleamnote Sout the Open Gaming Liens the cd Sate iene pln vit wha com Visit our website at wuaranéscon/modemTable of Contents Introduction 4 The Wold 2¢ We Know 4 “Ten Thiags To Know 5 What YouNeed To Pay ....5 1: The Hoffmann Institute... 6 ‘Overview ofthe Hoffmann Institte.....6 Agent’ Guide tothe Hoffmann lstitte.......1 Heroic Options... eeeee0 16 Starting Occupations... 16 Mercenary. % Paranormal 6 Psychic v Nonhuman Heroes. 7 ue for Nenhuran Hero 17 Fal (Gre. B Moreau B Sand Save Outeat.gB Sasquatch 0 Feats = 2 ‘Alen Gaft Operation... 21 Alen Weapons Poi au Blood Mage a Gosed Mind a Disc fie 2 ind over Body 2 Greater Power Crystal. 22 Grete Psd 2 Hus PBlde. 2 ante Mastery B (Open inde B Power Fos B Fower Penetration B FaiNastey B Poni Suge B Sith Sense B Spel Foes, B Spell Penetration. B Spel Real B Suen Manifest. B Advanced Cases, 4 Field Antara. m Field Gude 26 Prestige Clases. a Ache. 7 Diabalee 0 Vslorary 3 Fu Abitis. B Divine Spells 3 ‘cane Sls 3 spel Descriptions 4 Battle Wind Powers 3 Telepth Powers 9 Power Descrosions. 3 Specialized Equipment... 2 Ammuntion a Geers, 3 Paranormal Combat Gat... atc Orgs “ 3: The True History 246 Overview 46 Ancient History. a thee a Strangers The aival ofthe Gye AT Timeline oon The Reo ans Theis Conga. a8 The Alen Rove 0 Fesinginto Legend The Sent os. 5 Mesoamerica:A New Canvas. 52 ‘Oimecs 8 Mayes 5 antes 8 wea % Therll and Rie oftuope.— 56 An get War 3 ‘The Back Death a Enlightenment nd Ingustraliation se Afi Te 8 Nar andthe reat War Thelstiue @ ‘Wold Wa 8 Rosvel The Greys 64 TheSecet War “ Their andi? TheNew Word Order. 68 Tey 6 4:The lumina 70 “The lumina n ‘tbo Rayer Kon Ug ta n Hiden Agendas n Organization n ‘hy Tre Degrees: ‘The Freemasons n eepesofKoowiedge The Roslin... 74 Secrets of God The Hidden Orde ofS Gregor. oo. 75 Creativ archi The tnvisble College 78 Modern Cade ight of Mata » ‘occult Masters: TheFial Church a Wea of Nations: ee) Search fort The Hofmann nstue..88 DrtohwoNatam... 8? Spec Dison 9 New Word Orde: The Unted Nations... 89 frocr cer. $0 ‘The ieecity eee) 9 TheLandof the free The United States Government. Agency for Foregn Taceogy AM) 33 Centers for Dzse Cota and Prenton (C)..4 Carer er eolgtl Studies (05) co Netiorl Arand Space ‘Adninstaton (NAS). Actonal Goverment Afencis Vitor rom the Stas The Greys Fre Polis Rogue Fea. Sasquatches “They Walk Among Us: The Sand Slaves Other Organizations ‘Aan tino Theses Kegs of Unity The Mafia MUFON, The Neo Scetologis. es, (pus De ThePion of ion. Sell and Bones Sece, The Socety. Nia Birthplace of Species, The Congo 5: Places of Power. Ext. Yarousouke. ‘he Americas ‘ANew Werld Alas Alestar The Blacks Cahokia. Cope Hatters (Ceyerne Mowntain cheap. Greenland Groom ake rea. Laverta Le lames. Machu Pech New York ty Tahuanac, Washington DC ‘uatan Asi: Land of Ancient Wisdom, Argo Wat ‘The Golden Wargle The Halas Lasaand the Potala Japan asia Australi The land Continent yesRodk Europe and the New Est ‘Architects ofthe Modera Wold. “Tre bits es. opus 100 10 xa 102 102 103 0s m3 or 10 105, 105 105 106 105 106 a0 07 108 108 108 09 09 m0 1 A m1 & DOMTER Istanbul B Jerusaer! mM ala us Orenburg ua rogue U5 ome 05 Se Peterburg 05 Tom, % Venice 05 The Poles: Lands of Desolation... 26 Atri, 1% TheNorth Pole wo The Oceans “worThic ofthe Wold. ..127 Alanis W Mina enc | 7 xraterestil Sites TT Eth oni ra The Moon w Running a Game, 0 Stertng the Campalgn..,..1B0 Typeset Misiors ry Maing Nomal ‘ath Panama.) Using Conspiraces ry Conspiracy Campaigns... “heNatureoFConsprais 82 Fihing Agast Corps. 33 Using the Paranormal... Paranormal Campaigns... 133 High stagenes 6 General GM Advice «-..-- 17 De Somethr! 19 Getting into the ying Pan. 139 nd Get Ut... BP Homer. 1 The Long ArmoftheLaw....39 enoforms: a0 Using enon. Wo Horors of Natu, 0 COterwory Meats 2 Geaton of Mn, 4 HBB esesssssteoe M6 ‘adventure Background... M6 Overview ww Begining the Adventare 7 Scene A Grisly Discovery... M8 Scene? Danny Wood... 150 Scene Who Goes There?...151 Scene 4:Smoke’em Out... 152 Scone: Firebug Scene 6: The Thi Scene Fire and ee. 18 Vitory 8 Defeat Sse Conclusion 156 Experience Points... 56 Inder. eee ‘Recommended Reading and Viewing... 159 s}uia}uo) Jo aje ’ 3ink backto even alien lore, unexplained miracles, stan and secret socetes that you're ever heard. then imagine Ft and your ob was the part of that assumes our st dll and predictab that in fac, we! id ful of secretsandin forces we cant readily understand. nthe unraeling of the truth are atthe heart of d20 DatweMarr ut ke-minded tigatng that hich Fringes of hunan understanding individu and cast aver THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT Murr takes place inthe real word. almost I about conspraces an hidden raths and unfthom able mysteries, and monsters come hu hat rey on humanity for their own ends, I's a modem word in which suspicion has clsplaced tus. aworld where bei in the strange lif the normal essed, most laugh ff such claims, or at er implications uch bei 1 hing unelain- able ocaus—something that ened the way or that surely cant mean wht ft seems to suggest. Its at precsely those moments when the facade of comforter and we cat help but wonder came to a world of the ald where the “cant bet ing is possible” aworld wh smaofsecretsand ds essing, and er and intrigue lurk in w. The only wespon ble of holding back the darkness whats out there, what it’ tri top itTEN THINGS TO KNOW 20 DvaeeMarte blends fantasy, hoot, creams, ghost stories, and ciencefictionintoa potent brew of te paranormal andthe paranoid, Cal t*pseudo-science fiction, if you wil. Whatever you clit, 420 Oxtetdarre fli into the genre of things that might be, or at least ought tobe, tue. Television shows such as The X-Files popularied this gene in te 1990s, and popular nayels such as The DaVinci Code keep the gene alive in the twenty-first century. In keep with the spin of secrets revealed here ae ten basic truths about the 420 DaraaMarren setting you should know before you go off in search of werewolves, Eis, or the LochiNess Monster 1. Leave the danger to the professionals! The heroes of 420 Diswe Marten come from all walks of fe but they have one hing in common from the outset the Hoffmann Institute For reasons known ony to isl, ths private organization (detailed jn Chapter 1) has Sought out extraordinary individuals from ‘ound the globe and gathored them together to leam about the grovang dahness and, f possible, to stem the tide 2. It’s about the real and the unreal. The heroes of c20 ‘Detar are normal people whohave been awakened to the fealtiesof ther word and tustinto decidedly abnormal sit tions Inadition to dealing with ordinary life inthe twenty rst ‘entry theyre facing conspiracies and horrors that would drive ‘mosthumans mad, Yet for them, nvestigating the unexplainable isjust another day atthe office. 3e Truth is stranger than fiction. The unkown doesn't come in simole, easly digestible bits It's not lke a puzle, because all the pieces dnt fit together. Moving lights in the sky often extibit properties that could be attributed to analien spacecraft but not always. Sometimes jst doesrt make sense and no explanation can cover it: Wh do frogs sometimes fall from te sky? No ones come up wit plausible gues. Notall of lifes mysteries come witha ready explanation. which guarantees ‘hat examining the urknawn never becomes routine. The mare ‘ur heroes lear, the less they understand. 4.One investigation begets another. 220 DanieMaren ission usually begins ith straightforward paranormal inves: tigation. The weird thing is, once the heroes start ooking int, say, Bigfoot, they learn that sasquatch sightings often occur in canjurction with UFO sightings. While looking into UFOs, they Uncover government cover-up conspiracies. Suddenly, Bigfoot Seems less important than a secret plat to sel the human race into slavery Paranormal investigations have a way of becom ing hopelessly entangled, and before long the heroes will be thoroughly wrepped up inal ot. 5. The only thing harder than keeping a secrets learn- ing one. For al oftheir efforts, Hoffmann agents must resign themselves to the fact that much of what they‘ investigating is byits very ature, unexplainable Stil, they can savor the sweet ‘asteof success when they finally confront the truth and secure it for study... blow it to pieces with automatic weapons © DKON 6, The heroes become part of the conspiracy. As the heroes complete missions for the Hoffmann Institut, they begin to amass secrets of their own—secrets they'e forced te keep from the general public “for the good of humanity Simoly put, there are some truths the world isn-ready for. Even ifthe heroes capture El Chupacabra or lear the truth about ‘the Bermuda Trangle, the Hoffmann Institute doesn approve oftheir agents speaking candidly to reporters or sending their ‘memoirs to book publishers. Not that ordinary folk would be willing to except the truth anyway. T. Knowledge is its own reward, The Hoffmann Institute provides its field agents with the equipment they need to complete their missions, and the work pays the bills. Heroes wotkng for the Hoffmann Institute donot seek glory oc money They seekknonledge—the rarest of al reasures~end they take reat satisfaction in attaining it. 8. No investigation is as straightforward as it seems. his feason, heroes workin teams. The Hoffmann insti assign agents to field teams, usally numbering fur although simaller and larger teams are possible) Ideally, each member brings some unique talents tothe team. The best eld team i eater than the sum of is parts, and Hoffmann agents quickly lear that trust among teammates is vital for survival. 9.Heroes die, Although the Hoffmann Institute takes great pains toassign field agents to missions they can handle i's dif alto predict what might g0 wrong during ied investigtion. times heraes get killed in the pursuit ofthe tra, But at least they died doing something important. 10, The truth is worth dying for. When the Hoffmann Institute loses one or more ofits agent’, recruits and trans ‘ew ones. ts quest to save humanity—from isl, neces: sary—camot be allowed to end in fll. New agents must learn from the mistakes and misfortunes of their predecess The future of the world depends cnt! WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY “To run or play in a 20 DanetsrTeR campaign, you need the 20 Masa Roleplaying Game care rulebook, Gamemasters (dt wil find the 420 Menace Marval” supplement a val able resource for ready-to-use 20 DargoMarmx monsters and supporting characters uolonpoaquCee ne Ca cy cE Td The d20 DarceMarve campaign assumes thatthe hero mann Institute, a priate orga to investigt silts, or pet paranormal nr) me and that their perce ences can help the organization fae the terbl conspire against human existence rmundaneat the stat butt reitspirasi wth the paranormal and sanity. Fboth ‘ulkfledged field case files toi The lsttute prov he de 3 nscanexpect vers that be than newbies. n any isiers to OVERVIEW OF THE HOFFMANN INSTITUTE tive non polluting he Mayan calender the pa psychic ph esperate attempt fo learn vi Fequred to ensue that hurakind survives after the c Shift Ino was more interested in Nak of Niko Tesla than to is politcal‘ute was born in 17 After Hoffmann’ death, the organization sed its mandate of investigating altemative energy sources to conceal a secret agenda—saving humanity from what Institute insiders call the “Dark Tide” the steadily sing level of dark attr inthe glen. The presence of dark mater feeds certain patie and arcane entitles, and the Institute expects thei power to each ts zenith n December, 201. Since such entities have tadtinally used their abilities to menace humanity, i {alloys that this period will pose the worst three to human survival since the last ice age, f humans arent read, they wont survive Dr tohiro Nala, Director ofthe Institute and Hoffmans former associate theorizes that any species capable ‘of controlling dark matter might one day command one ofthe seat forces of the universe, and he fears that hananity fais ro master dak matter, it wil inevitably be overun by other species tat can, (One symptom of the rse ofthe Dark Tide has been a global jnctease n acane and psychic phenomena, After Tomas Ho mann passed away nthe 1970s, Nakami used the trust fund tat Hoffmann had set upto step up the Istitute’s investigations and ‘operations, The Hoffmanninsttute aggressively recruits anyone who splays supernatural ablites and shows an interest in Jeatningto contra ther ralso attracts “normal” people adept a investigating and handling paranormal treats to the human ‘The Hoffmann Institute doesn't routinely engage in violent actions, but its mandate of collecting and studying alien and arcane artifacts sometimes brings it into conflict with other ups with a similar agenda Institute operatives mxst some: ‘mes destroy artifacts that would otherwise fall inte the wrong hands Ti most instances, the institute operates covertly, although certain members of various government agencies are aware ofthe Institutes true mandate and activities. Agents of the Hoffmann Insitute Frequerty claim to work for one ofthese agencies, turning it around so that it eoms like thei positions ‘within the Hoffmann Institut are their cover stories. However, ‘even an agent coptured and interogated by enemy forces can do litle fo betray the stitute; every scrap of knowledge i {Even on aneed-to-know basis. rly the highest echelons have 2Cear picture of ust how much the Hoffmann institute knows, ad what it's keeping from the rest of humanity. “The Institute does nat seek fame for its actions and takes reat precautions to keep its mare unusual activities from Coming into the pubic eye. To the general populace, the Insite anpeas to be nothing more than a private think-tank engage in esearch on such subjects as alternative energy sources and various fringe topics. A public website proclaims the Institute's mission as “Improving the Human Condition” Teamsin the Feld often poseas reporters or scents involved inroutine investigations of strange incidents. Even those within the lstitute are often kept rom knowing foo much about its activities To ensure this, mast department chiefs o field dvectrs lead specifi ty branches forno more than Five years After this term, the Institute inetably transfers the chief or dectorto another city In adition, only Director [Naka himself knaws the precise size of the organization: each division supervisor knaws haw many agents and researchers report to him ore, but not how mary answer to the institute asa whole, Conservative estimates put the sie ofthe staff at © DNKOMATTER arcund 7300 inthe US. and 800 overseas this estimate does not include parttime staff or contract employees} Although the Institute doesnt appear fo make a profit its source of finding elicit much speculation In fact, the UN and certain departments within the US. government foot part of the bill for the Institutes operation, though the Institute's precticeof occasionally working at crss-purposes with thase ffoups makes the whole arrangement seem more than alittle ‘questionable Recruitment ‘The Hoffmann stitute ects heroes fora variety of reasons Whether it targets a specific individual based on her skis, her backround, he paranormal abies, or simply due to an encounter withthe unusual, the process general the sare Fist, the institute researches the target's background While ctimia activity wort Scare the recruiters of, they definitely wart to know whether the hero can handle encounters with Unerpanable phenomena. Sometimesa strong wil and stong armare enough for recrtent but usual the Insttute looks formore Assuming the background check passes and most rejects won't ever know it happened), a member of the Institute appcoaces the hero actively reciting her asstance for some minor task. The job might be as simple as supplying apiece of information, or it might be as complicated as setering an Allegiance to the Hoffmann Institute | Allheroes gain an allegiance to the Hoffmann | Institute as soon as they join the organization Ge Aleginnces on page? ofthe d20 Manes Roleplaying Game) The Insitute need not be 4 her’ ist and ony allegiance. However, ny hero who leaves the organization loses thi allegiance and is Benet Heroes with analegiatce othe Hoffinann Institute gain a #2 cieumstance bones on CCarisma-based skill checks when dealing ‘vith other members ofthe Inst, including | auxiliary personnel. In theory, they should } have an easier time acquiring information | or resources from other Insttite members | Flowever, succes fant automatic; afterall, } stattmembers have their own jobs to do re= | gardies of whatever erss the heroes might | fring to them, In nddion, some desk-bound astute members resent the autonomy and authority ofthe ed agents and take a certain | perverse delight in denying thom resourees that they could just aswell share, Sure, i's pathetic and ptt, but sometimes thats st ow people ae = = oO — = = > = = a on = = Pa oO© DMOMITER injured agent. The Institute will most likely nt even identify itself nstead posing asa privat entity, or rarely. a govemment agency. Te test involves the hero's trustworthiness and wiling ness to help. ‘Once these two hurdles have been negotiated, the Institute callsin the recritforhes first mision. Typically, shel be teamed with tte to fie other recruits ona simple taining mission streightforward investigation, a research trip, or some ther jl ‘witha lon potential for danger Assuming the ecuit completes the mission tothe satsfction ofer supervisor a promotion to agentis usualy fortheomirg, On raeinstaces,asecond raining meson may be required: however theherofaisto achieve full membership status aftera second try, thelnstitutealmast never extends a tir oer, Structure As fat as the public knows, the Hoffmann Insitute has three Ager in Charge = Special Agent => Agent or Feld Agent Recruit > Ausilary Analytical Division ‘mix of pure research and applied or engineer Ing-oriented analysts makes up the “bains’ of the Analytical Division, The divson has dif © DCMT strengths in different cles, but he primary labs ae based in Flagstaff, Arizona ‘The Analytical Division includes the following four department: Department- Ballistics. The Balistics roup does not have the vast fearms databases commen to the Bureau of ‘Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms othe Bl, but does know the pattems of most cmenon firearms and cf matcha weapon toa particular bullet fboth the weapon and the bullet are avalable for study. The Ballistics department also has some fariatty with advanced firearms and their effects. Department-12: Biological and Chemical. small group ‘of researchers perfarms the Institutes sample collecting, DNA analysand genetic esearch. They can atcha genetic sample ven a 2¢hour tumaround and can identify individuals by blood type semen, and even DNA samples taken from halt o¢ saliva Finally they can determine whether a gen person was poisoned or drugged from a small blood, hal, or urine sample. Given enough time, the chemical analysis team at the Institute ‘an proride much more information, such asthe Ukely source of ibers, the rig of particular forms of plastic or metal, and ‘evena guess atthe lily ste of sol samples. just as important chemical analysts can use gunpowder resdve to determine whether weapons were discharged in a glen room, and can ‘race fingerprints even on rough surfaces sae AINJYSUY VERIJOH ayman lastitute Hoff he S DROME Department-13: Engineering & Fabrication. The F&F staf isan odd mix of engineers and former white-collar criminals. ‘The department reverseenginee alien technology, but it also provides forged documents and specialized equipment for use by the IntelgenceDivsion and the Special Division, Their work includes hidden weapons, tracking devices, survellance goa, fake passports, and so forth, Department-14: Computing Resources. The CR staf installs and services the institutes computers and networks Analytical Division Hierarchy Division Supervisor = Department Chief = Fie Director = Senior Researcher or Team Lead Researcher Research Assistant = Recruit => Auclary Archiving Division While those in other dvsions may drsey refer to those in thisdivsonas the crs the Institue archivists contol all of the dita, esearch reports, patents, and dlasstied information produced by teenie organization Headquarteredin iad pia the Archiving Divison keeps many ofits records secured ina proptietry format using an operating system developed within te stitute provide masiman secur The Archiving Dison is split irta two departments: Department-1S: Antiquities. This department raiclns the mostcomplete set of dara oncurert and historical events, is members aso have beter first-hand knowledge of alien arifacts and unfanilar technology than perhaps anyone on earth Department-16: Documentation Institute researchers tum over recovered items to Department for storage, but all ters, epors, cas fies, and photographs from agents eventual wind up with Department Here Archiving agents Sean and compress fies, then encrypt them for storage on the institute's OS1RS computer network. colloquy referred toby thestaff asthe "fy of God Rumors cult rm time tome ‘hatte eason forthe high degre of successful secu within the stitute Archiving Dvsion isthe presence of an artic inteligene that oversees every communication and exchange between Report Server andthe ese word xen within the department, though, stars are reasonably sue that thisisjst arunce Most of he tine All epots, photographs, and affidavits resulting from an Institute mestition aretranseredt digtl media and stored inthe Case Report Server. There ino access to the CRS from the ouside wold the newark can only be reached from an Institute terminal, Even ten, ech level of secured les equirs asepaate password Ganeral publ files reque only a genera Insttete password. Each lyer of successively moce sensitive dlocamen requires an addtional password unt the researcher reaches the level of compartmentaized information, where ‘only afew people have access to certain docurnens eating to the most sensitive files. These compartmentazed cata sectors include files onthe Administrative Divison and many oF the Special Division projects The CaseReport Server also logs each and every file access. Only the research directors and higher ranking members of Department (Computing Resources) have the codes to overide this electronic tracking system. Archiving Division Hierarchy Division Supervisor = Department Chief = Feld Director > Senior Researcher or Team Lead » Researcher » Research Asistant = Recruit > Auxiliary Special Division ‘The Institute makes no effort to public the existence ofthe Special Division. The Institute’ oficers and supervisors dont acknowledge it andi members never appear on an organ ‘ational chart or even on phone lists. Many Special Division members are passed off as members of the Adminstration Division’ security teams or as special researchers or spooks. Questions about ther work ae usually answered witha curt “cant tak about that” Regardless, tris of ther atts, petodically make the rounds among agents, and if even half ofthe rumors are true, the Insitute is involved in lat of very Institute Computer Security ‘The Hoffinann Institute uses a unique com- | puter operating system designed by Insitute employes many years ago, called the Operitng System for Internal Reatime Seurity, Abbre= vated OSIRS (and pronounced “Osiris, this system is used throughout the organization OSIRS is a special operating system used. swowhere es, simply to make it more difficult for outsiders to hack the Tsttate This pro- vides much better security atthe root vel han any commercial softwar; tenable realtime processing of video signal, quick verification of retinal scans, real-time eneryption of all Institute messages, nd much tighter tacking of who opens what files when, Any Computer Use cheek made to hack SIRS takes a -§ penalty: This penalty ap- | plies to checks mado gin acces, ind files, cover one's tracks, defeat secur, or degrade programming. See the Comper Hacking sie- bar on page 52 ofthe 20 Mone Roleplaying Game for dais.interesting activities, from black ops to wetwork to contact vith alien beings. Heroes may encounter Special Divsion operatives in the course of thelr on investigations, but such encounters are fleeting at best, The Special Divisions agenda is inscrutable to ‘outsiders, andi’ debatableas to whether the institute has any real control oer its day-to-day acts, Department-7's Mandate “The investigations of Department fall into three main areas isolating new technology, cataloging néw species, and tracing Sigs ofthe changes that have Been wrought on humans anc conthe€arth Such projects are generally led by a ied director ‘wha in tun paces out portions of the work to various tears. ‘When this works spit over multiple teams of field operatives, itis always vided up and compartmentalized so that no single steam can puta the pieces together. Isolating New Technology: Department7 agents are ten charged with berating allen technology wherever It is found—sometimes fom government facts, Retioved items.are quickly passed along to researchers in the Analyt {al Bivsion for study. A few ofthe most dangerous ofthese items are simply exanined, clase, and fled avay. Others ~ are subjected to reverse engineering or taken apart to study their intemal constuction and deduce the methods used in their manufacture. few such tems simply defy al attempts stundestandng Cataloging New Xenoforms: The most obvious sin of the soiled “ack Tide" isthe appearance of new beets of mutants ard even entire new species of unknown ogi, The Institute investigates al such appearances, takes samples when itcan andirakes careful notes onthe powers, weaknesses and behavior ofeach species ‘Tracking Signs of the Dark Tide: Finaly, Department? agents routney track new phenomena, including evidence of psychic powers alleged incidents of magi and reports of mics (ften dubbed as “operate fat” among institute staff, Whilemuch of thsi ust statistical tracking ofthe general background level of weirs the stitute singles cut the most unusual reports or further vestigation. Avoiding the Law The Hoffmann institute isnot government agency and hasno authority whatsoever Keeping is activites quiet tales some doing fortunately the Insttut has mary rsouces tht alow its members to escape the consequences of thei and sometimes legal activites Legal Cover ‘ny large organization operating nthe United States needs an azmty of lawyers to fend off lavsuits defend acoused employees from arious criminal, charges and civil complaints, fle the necessary paper wotkfor licenses and charitable tax status, and lobby fr specal privileges from the government The stitutes ria dferent, andi relies onthe firm of Marshal Wickham, and \Vanderdossen to provide these services and to advise Institute ‘operatives when they move artifacts across national under become embroiled in customs disputes aver import and export, andso on. The fim often settles disputes out of court, and its © DOM ible enough to realize that bribery, extortion, cof public officials are ll valuable tools agaist the oppositions sometimes ruthless attempts at coverups and suppression. ‘While the law firm benefits from its close ties to gave ment officals it also sees to retain avery low pofle. So fer, the attorneys at Marshall, Wictham, and Vanderdossen have managed to put some Favorable legislation into effec, grant- Ing the institute te right to use extralegal measures in cases ‘of extreme national need. In several cases, the firm has also provided government resources tofalitate witness protection Or identity switch, However, gaining access tothe institute's high: ponered lawyers ifr ftom easy; the partners at Marshal, Wiclham are reluctant to help out with schemes that dont come fram the top ofthe Hoffmann Insitute through normal channels. Normally, theyll work hard to help an operative in trouble, butheroes who want advice for other plans must make a successful Diplomacy check to gain the law firms asistance ‘eating the irmas though tsintalattudeis indifferent” see ‘the Diplomacy sll description on page S7 ofthe 20 Monee Roleplaying Game ifthe heroes are captured by law enforcement, the institute ‘an usualy pul strings to extricate them and have the incident removed from their record, but the process can take days depending on the crime, the lca legal system, and in some ‘cases what sort of money the heroes are prepared to spend ‘on bribes, Left to ther own devices, the attorneys of Marshal Wickham, and Vanderdossen can get the heroes released after 145+ cays of legal wrangling Heroes should bear in mind that many individuals without a criminal record have some personal information on fle with various agencies For instance, fa hero has ever been arrested, belonged tothe military, worked in law enforcement o for a government agency his fingerprints are on file somewhere Though the Institute maintains resources ta deal vith extreme cercumstances, it stil ays to keep clean ecard. The Underground Railroad inaddition o "above round legal options the sures chain of eer one teed members whoprovidesafehausing nd esures olsen then or therein rouble “There are mits to what hs underyround alos” can prove, though, and mary members ae not exact trled to have bloodied agent or wanted crminas shonin up inthe homes. ost ofthe tne the members ofthe network provide what help they can the end the ugtveson thee way Semetimes they take etree rls tohelp ou the successors or evenjon tem tempocal inthe wok But otingcompesa eid site member t take anyone into hishouse especial they bring the threat of ptertally lta pusut along wit them, Mare than anything ele theheoes recention depends on the ature ef the pup that presents itself at the safe house door ard the rest of Diplomacy check Institute Allies ‘Accummber of groups ae closely aed with the Institute, rang ing from grassroots UFO watchers to sophisticated corporate sponsors ta sympathetic government agents. Some of these ties are closer than others, but al bring something valuable } aINpiysuy UeNIJOH ay a:‘exchange for the Institutes wealth of information, contacts, and experience The informal groups are in ary waysthe closest and the ost. valuable. They include netwark of real phone psychcs{the Car ty Network) who report current doings inthe paranormal world in exchange for extended psychic seinars, UFO watchers who keep tabs onthe tes inretu for veld hints about government Projects and cies about poner sources and even any sal but sincere pagan groups who ask for necting in return forth aid but Institute intervention when dabolsts or other dark arcane forces perturb ther local places of worship The Institute keeps its corporate fiends in the dark about ‘many ofthe Institute’ real goals ales and methods. However in exchange forthe patent right to certain limited technological and manufacturing advances, these corporate groups provide the lstitute with needed funds. Most are too start 0 look a aft horse inthe mouth; those that inquire too closely into the Institutes other affairs quickly find themselves cut off from further offers. The United Nations and other governmental organizations often request help from the Ictiute when fon: profle, high-risk ‘operations need tobe undertaken that cant stand the scrutiny of open debate, legislative wrangling aver budgets, and an LUN funded: the notoriously wasteful UN budget isin fact rather efficent. The supposedly wasted funds are usually transferred through variety of financial snenanigans into the coffers ofthe Institute, the COC quarantine teams, NASA, certain paramitaty covganizatons, and other groups the UN deems as useful tits Resources and Accountability Thelnstitutehas an effective Wealth score of (itary) but that doesrit mean thatthe heroes cn simply take whatever they wart: Every field agent is equipped wth am untraceable ‘mm sidearm holster, 2 boxes of ammunition, a Hofrann Institute ID card and cll phone Feld team alo receives a Vehicle usual a Chevrolet Suburban SUV ara Dace Caravan rina. Agents my equest other specific test hel them complete theic misian. For particularly unosual request, Use the Requistonng Equipment res presented inthe IO ‘Moces Roleplaying Game (pages 93-9) Its wort nating that the lstitue tt a botomles pit of rmaney withno accountability. Agents mast meticulous rack theiruseof iste resources, rig downto te tbl fied atte aging yt. Furthermore, bus of nstuteresurcesisa verseht committee. ined, mary sttte opeetions a ore offense punishable by censure ines, or even suspension Specialized i Equipment Involving the Heroes The Hoffmann Institute The Hofman Ina cage ex ew ass sci hse who ff es tes nye experienced some form ofparanormlaciviyoralenencouner. (During Sse ‘othe rt ‘The Hoffmann Institute is not a sinister ageney—but it might seem that cout flashy or expensive ‘way to some of its more paranoid agents. The Institute is highly secretive, equipment on a whim. ‘and even within its ranks, the average agent might not know its true agenda, Notall ofthe equipment ‘Surrounded by such secrecy, it's ensy foran agent to believe thatthe Institute's Sree ect motives might be somewhat essaltrustic han ts motto sugyess. Inaddition, Paracel 99 Fah ‘es important for the long-term success of the campaign that the heroes Gaining access to such feel like the Institute is their ally and has humanity’s best interests at heart, equipment is possible only even if select members of the agency are working at cross-purposes or Se geet pet seemingly doing their utmost to confound the heroes. Turning the Institute See mss fon i pe je specal agents agents of 8th level or higher) wil be given serious consideration, See Chapter 2for special laed equipment avalableto ai agents,AGENT'S GUIDE TO THE HOFFMANN INSTITUTE ‘You wark for 2 quiet, private institution called the Hoffman Institite, Those in the public wha even know ofthe Institutes ‘xstence belie it to bea thinktank devated to developing ‘ew technologies particulary inthe fled of alternative energies. Youknow better, The Hoffmann Institute's public face conceals 2 secret