1. Introduction
This file gives notes for running the Dark Conspiracy setting - one of the first games of modern horror, and one with a less intrusive background than many of its successors - under the GURPS rules.
1.1. Rights
As far as I am aware, the rights to Dark Conspiracy as a role-playing game were last held by Dynasty Presentations, Inc.; I have no idea whether this organisation is still extant.
GURPS is copyright Steve Jackson Games Inc., and one of their registered trademarks. It is intended that its use here should be in compliance with Steve Jackson Games' on-line policy, as given at http://www.sjgames.com/general/online_policy.html, at the time of writing.
No challenge to or infringement of these or any other intellectual properties is intended by the author(s) of this material.
2. Character generation
3. Tech levels
3.1. TL7 (Main)
Most of the world is at TL7. Even though I at least have been running games set in 2018...
3.2. TL8 (High)
There are significant areas of TL8. Mostly, these are the province of the ultra-rich - corporate, and in a few rare cases government, heads. Learning TL8 skills is certainly possible for Mikes, especially those working for larger companies.
3.3. TL6 (Retro)
Many of the poorer parts of the world have fallen into TL6. It's not that higher-tech items don't exist, just that they're far too expensive for most people to afford.
4. Lifestyle
4.1. Job table
4.1.1. Poor jobs
Beggar* (Panhandling 12+), $10 x PR; PR; -1i/4d
Gang Member* (Streetwise 11+, any combat skill 10+), $350; Worst PR;-1i, 2d/-1i, 6d
Part-time service industry (none), $500; 11; LJ
Prole (none), $100; auto
Street Vendor (Streetwise 10+, Merchant 9+), $325; Worst PR; -1i/-1i, arrested
Trasher (Scrounging 10+), $250; PR; -1i/-2i, arrested
4.1.2. Struggling Jobs
Bartender (Professional Skill: Bartending 10+), $700; PR; -1i, LJ/-1i, LJ, 3d
Burglar* (Stealth 12+, Streetwise 12+, Lockpicking 12+ or Intimidation 12+), $1,000; PR; 1d/A
Computer Operator (Computer Operation 11+), $400; PR; -1i/-1i, LJ
Clerk (Clerical skills 11+), $1,100; 12; LJ
Gambler* (Gambling 11+, Fast Talk 10+), $650; Worst PR; -1i/-1i, 4d
Full-time service industry (none), $800; 12; LJ
Gang Leader* (Streetwise 13+, any combat skill 12+) $500; Worst PR; -1i, LJ/-1i, 5d, arrested
Gang Member (any Combat or Thief/Spy skill), $50xPR; PR; arrested/-2d
Mechanic (any Mechanic 12+), $45 x Skill; PR; -1i/-1i, LJ, 2d
Musician* (Musical Instrument or Singing 10+), $500; PR; -1i/-2i, 3d
Prostitute* (Prostitute 10+), $75 x PR; PR; -1i/-1i, arrested
Technician (any scientific skill 11+), $50 x skill; PR; -1i/LJ, 2d
Servant (Savoir Faire (servant) 10+), $50 x PR; PR; -1i/-1i, LJ
Shop Clerk (Merchant 11+, no stat below 8), $400; Worst PR; -1i/LJ
Thief* (Streetwise 11+, DX 11+), $475; Worst PR; -1i, arrested/-2i, arrested, 3d
4.1.3. Average Jobs
Accountant (Accounting 11+, Economics 10+, Law 10+), $2,200; PR; -1i/LS
Civil Servant (Administration 11+), $1,150; Worst of PR, IQ; -1i/-1i, LJ
Corporate Security (any two combat skills 11+), $1,000; Worst PR; -1i, 2d/-1i, 5d
Data analyst (Research 12+), $100xPR; PR; -1i/-3i
Data Retrieval Specialist(*) (Computer Hacking 12+), $100 x Computer Hacking; PR; -1i/-2i, A
Drug Dealer* (Streetwise 11+, Merchant 11+), $95 x Merchant; Worst PR; -1i, arrested/-3i, 4d
Geisha (Sex Appeal 10+), $1,000; PR; -1i, LJ/-1i, arrested
Loan Shark* (Accounting 10+, Streetwise 10+), $90 x Worst PR; Worst PR; -1i/-3i, 4d
Mafia/etc. soldier (Streetwise 11+, Guns 12+), $1,200; Worst PR; -2d/LJ, -3d
Mercenary* (any 3 combat skills 11+), $1,000; Worst PR; -1i, 2d/-2i,; 5d
Pimp (Streetwise 11+, Pimp 10+), $100 x Pimp; Worst PR; -1i, arrested/-2i, arrested, 3d
Police Detective (Criminology 13+, Pistol 12+, Legal Enforcement Powers, Military Rank 1, Status 1+), $1,500; Worst PR; -1i, suspended 1d-2 weeks/-1i, LJ, 2d
Police Officer (Criminology 11+, Pistol 12+, Legal Enforcement Powers), $1,300; Worst PR; -1i, 2d/-1i, suspended 1d months, 4d
Police Sergeant (Administration 12+, Criminology 12+, Legal Enforcement Powers, Military Rank 1), $1,750; Worst PR; -1i, 2d/-1i, suspended 1d months, 4d
Reporter (Research 12+, Bard or Photography or Writing 12+), $1,100; Worst PR; -2i, 1d/LJ, 2d
Salaryman (any Professional Skill 12+), $800 + $100 per year of service; PR; -1i/LJ
Shop Owner (Accounting 10+, Merchant 11+), $1,000; Worst PR; -1i/-2i
Street Doctor* (Physician 10+, Streetwise 11+), $100 x Physician skill; Worst PR; -1i/-2i, 3d
Teacher (Teaching 11+), $1,050; PR; -1i/LJ
4.1.4. Comfortable Jobs
Commercial Pilot/Driver* (Driving or Pilot 13+), $5,000; PR; -1i, LJ/-1i, LJ, 6d
Computer Programmer (Computer Programming 12+), $3,500; PR; -1i/-1i, LJ
Corporate Researcher (any Scientific skill 14+), $3,500; PR; -1i/LJ
Crime Boss (Streetwise 14+, Administration 12+), $7,500; Worst PR; -3i, arrested/-6i, 5d
Doctor (Physician 13+), $11,000; PR; -1i/-2i, LJ, lose license
Engineer (any Engineer skill 12+), $7,500; PR; -1i/-1i, LJ, 2d
Judge (Law 12+, Criminology 10+, Status 2+), $8,600; Worst PR; -1i/-1i, LJ, 2d
Lawyer (Law 12+, Status 1+), $15,000; Worst PR; -2i/-2i, LJ, disbarred
Local Celebrity (Acting or Bard or Musical Instrument or Singing 12+, Status 1+), $10,000; PR; -2i/-4i, Status -1, LJ
Madam (Administration 10+, Madam 10+, Savoir-Faire 10+), $500 x Madam; Worst PR; -2i, arrested/-4i, 4d
Mid-Level Corporate Executive (Administration 12+, Status 1+), $2,500; PR; demoted to salaryman/LJ
Police Captain (Administration 12+, Leadership or Diplomacy or Politics 10+, Legal Enforcement Powers, Military Rank 3, Status; 1), $4,800; Worst PR; -1i/-1i, LJ
Police Lieutenant (Administration 10+, Criminology 13+, Legal Enforcement Powers, Military Rank 2, Status 1+), $4,150; Worst PR; -1i, 2d/-2i, LJ
Politician (Politics 13+, Bard or Fast Talk 12+), $11,000; Worst PR; -1i, -1 Status/-1i, LJ, arrested
Private Pilot/Driver* (Driving or Pilot 11+), $2,000; PR; -1i, LJ/-1i, LJ, 6d
Professional Athlete (any Sports skill 14+, ST, HT and DX 10+), $1,000 x Skill; Skill; -2i, injured for 1d-2 months/-3i, 2d, permanently disabled
Professor (subject 14+, Teaching 11+, Writing 10+, Research 10+), $2,000; Best PR; none
Religious Leader (Occultism or Theology 11+, Bard 12+, Status 1+), $4,000; Worst PR; -1i/ -3i, LJ, defrocked
Slum Lord (Administration 12+, own property), $12,500; PR; -2i/-2i, lose tenants for 1d months
Small Business Owner (Administration 12+, Accounting 12+, Merchant 12+), $7,000; Worst PR; -2i/-4i, LJ
Smuggler* (Fast Talk 12+, Forgery 10+, Driver or Pilot 12+), $15,000; Worst PR; -1i, vehicle impounded for 2d weeks/-2i, 4d
TV/radio Broadcaster (Bard or Performance 12+, Research 12+), $25,000; Worst PR; -1i/-2i, LJ
4.1.5. Wealthy Jobs
Investor* (Economics 12+, Savoir-Faire 10+, Wealthy, Status 1+), $5,000 x Economics; PR; -3i/-6i, reduce Wealth
High Level Politician (Politician 15+, Status 3+, Fast Talk or Bard 13+, Voice or Charisma or Appearance), $75,000; Worst PR; -1i, -1 Status/-3i, LJ, -2 Status
Major Celebrity (Acting or Bard or Musical Instrument or Singing 14+, Status 3+), $150,000; PR; -2i/-4i, Status -3, LJ
Major Criminal Figure (Streetwise 15+, Administration 13+, Fast Talk 13+), $160,000; Worst PR; -4i, arrested/-6i, arrested, 6d
Top Corporate Executive (Administration 14+, Savoir-Faire 13+, Status 3+, Accounting 12+, Merchant 12+), $175,000; Worst PR; -2i/-6i, LJ, -2 Status
5. Equipment
5.1. Guns
| Weapon | Malf | Type | Damage | SS | Acc | hD | Max | Wt | RoF | Shots | ST | Rcl | Cost |
| Smith & Wesson 36 | Ver | Imp | 2d-1 | 10 | 1 | 100 | 1,700 | 1.5 | 3~ | 5 | 10 | -2 | 315 |
| Browning HP-35 | Crit | Imp | 2d+2 | 10 | 3 | 150 | 1,867 | 2.2 | 3~ | 13+1 | 9 | -1 | 450 |
| Uzi-2010 | Crit | Imp | 3d+1 | 10 | 7 | 160 | 1,900 | 7.25 | 10* | 32 | 10 | -1 | 500 |
| .338 Weatherby IV | ver | Imp | 8d-1 | 15 | 12 | 1,100 | 4,500 | 10.8 | 1/2 | 1 | 12/10B | -2 | 200 |
| XM7 Storm Gun | Crit | Imp | 12d | 18 | 14 | 3,000 | 14,400 | 50 | 3~ | 5 | 19 | -3 | 4,700 |
The Smith & Wesson Model 36 is a .38 revolver.
The Browning HP-35 is a 9mm automatic pistol.
The Uzi-2010 is a TL8 development of the classic Uzi sub-machinegun. It is supplied with a folding stock.
The Weatherby is a reconditioned big-game gun firing the unpopular and generally unavailable .338 Weatherby Magnum ammunition.
The XM7 Storm Gun is a TL8 20mm rifled fast autoloader with a medium barrel. It is fitted with a shoulder stock and weighs 50lb empty; each five-shot clip weighs 3.15lb. It is supplied, and intended to be used, with a laser sight, HUD sight and articulated weapon harness. The figures given take this equipment into account; in addition, bear in mind the reduced snap-shot penalty that a laser sight bestows at close range, as well as the snap shot accuracy bonus given by laser and HUD sights combined. In the military role, it normally fires armour-piercing ammunition.
5.2. Vehicles
See ../vehicles/.