Spycraft
Spycraft Roleplaying Game (2nd edition) cover
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| Designer(s) | Patrick Kapera, Scott Gearin, Alex Flagg, Kevin Wilson |
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| Publisher(s) | Alderac Entertainment Group, Crafty Games |
| Publication date | 2002 (Classic Spycraft) 2005 (Spycraft 2.0) |
| Genre(s) | Espionage, Action |
| System(s) |
d20 System (variant) (Classic Spycraft) OGL (Spycraft 2.0) |
Spycraft is a d20 and OGL-based role-playing game dealing with superspies and modern action. Originally published by the Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG), it is currently published under licence by Crafty Games.
Originally envisioned—and initially publicised—as a paranormal superspy game called Series Archer, the game was split into 2 complementary product lines: Spycraft (silver trade dress) which devoted itself to a generic cinematic superspy/action setting, and Shadowforce Archer (black trade dress) which featured a setting focused on a global shadow conspiracy based on a wide variety of supernatural elements. After the release of the core book (subsequently referred to as the "Spycraft Espionage Handbook") in 2002, multiple print supplements were released in the following years for both lines. Each of these books sported highly distinctive cover art by artist Veronica V. Jones.
A new edition of the rules, Spycraft 2.0, was released in August 2005. Shortly afterwards, economic issues forced AEG to cull Spycraft from its product range. As a result, early in 2006 the core authors of the 2nd edition—Alex Flagg, Scott Gearin and Patrick Kapera (who also co-authored Spycraft 1.0). -- formed Crafty Games to continue the line under licence, predominantly through PDF file releases supported by strategic print releases. This model has changed over time, permitting a growing number of print releases including compilations of previous PDF releases. During this time Crafty Games began referring to Spycraft 1.0 as Classic Spycraft.
Classic Spycraft is a d20 System game, implementing a number of changes to the core mechanics in order to give a more contemporary feel:
Spycraft 2.0 took these changes a step further and was released under the Open Game Licence (OGL), but not the d20 System Trademark License. There were also numerous changes from Classic Spycraft, such as:
The first of all the Spycraft campaign settings. The world of Shadowforce Archer (SFA) is an Earth where mystical and psionic powers are real. A series of supplemental books that were released to support the SFA worldbook. Each book details one of the international Chambers of the world. Each book has a different theme and includes new rules and agent options appropriate to the theme. The setting was discontinued at the beginning of 2005. Spycraft 2.0 contains many classes and feats that first appeared in the SFA line.
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