I love 'Secret Societies'!!

[xidoraven]

I purchased 'Secret Societies' by Silven / Mongoose / Flaming Cobra, and I have used it countless times in my games so far.

It is a d20 book on various real-world and fantasy/scifi applications of secret societies, such as the Assassins, Aum Shinrikyo, the Masons, and more. One of the first things that caught my eye was the Annunaki in the monsters section, and the Assassins information (which is plentiful and uniquely creative in how it's applied to the games of both fantasy, modern/SF, as well as alternative campaign settings.

All in all, it is well worth the buy, and was even better when I got it on the 65% off Christmas Sale rack at Little Wars!!!

Anyone feel like staring up a discussion on how this book can help your game, regardless of genre or background? I would love to begin here, then work our way into the D&D Wiki pages, if possible.

Best wishes all,

 

[The Greek]

You know I like this book as well. It has some nice stuff in it and is an excellent play aid for GMs everywhere. I would have liked a bit more meat here and there, but overall it is a nice gaming book to have at hand.

 

[lastbesthope]

I bid on an eBay copy recently but someone had the audacity to outbid me for it, I mean c'mon, what's that about?! :roll:

LBH

 

[xidoraven]

You know I like this book as well. It has some nice stuff in it and is an excellent play aid for GMs everywhere. I would have liked a bit more meat here and there, but overall it is a nice gaming book to have at hand.

I agree, there are portions that could have used a little more beefing up based on cultural implications (such as the Annunaki and the current conspiracy theories about shapechangers and reptilians in positions of power), but it is quite nice in many other ways.

I had always been into the Assassin culture and history, after reading Dan Brown's Angels & Demons, but after reading this book, I was inspired to take it one step further.

As many other cultures and social groups in my campaigns, the Assassins Guild (and hence, society) has a rich and deep historical context, as well as an official codex of lore and prophecy regarding the Assassins' continuing historical context as well as many other ideas. I ended up calling it the 'Grimoire Hassassin' and have made it a great part of my campaign by allowing the black-covered Assassins book by the author of the Left Behind series as a prop for said codex/grimoire of assassin lore. It makes for a great prop simply because of its appearance and usefulness to catch player's attentions in real life.

Though I have yet to run a successful modern or future campaign, I cannot wait to use the concepts of the Masons and Aum Shinrikyo in those campaigns at some point. Having quite a bit of background on them already has allowed me to consider how to implicate them in nearly endless ways.

I have also included the basic tenets of secret societies in cultures of my own creation, such as a race of shapechangers that exists in other lineages as a sort of subset of of the typical species of that world, which is much like a Beastlands, and the ruling race being a type of catfolk known as the Faunarian/Faunar (upper-class, shapechangers), or Felynne (true catfolk, simple humanoids). Utilizing their unique history to conceal their involvement in planetary and cosmological happenings has been quite fun to evolving the campaign setting and storyline elements in my game(s).

Super fun! I think we need inspiration from many resources such as this for a truly memorable campaign storyline and setting.

Best wishes,
-will (xido, a Mad Raven), D.D., A.A.[/b]

 

[xidoraven]

I bid on an eBay copy recently but someone had the audacity to outbid me for it, I mean c'mon, what's that about?! :roll:

LBH

There is still one more available copy in my local gaming store, if you wanted me to purchase it for you and send it. I would need money ahead of time. Email me:
xidoraven@gmail.com

Best wishes,
-will

 

[lastbesthope]

Thanks for the offer, but since my last comment i picked a copy up for £5 at Mongoose Hall 2008.

Nice of you to think of me though.

LBH

 

[xidoraven]

So I guess the real question now is:

Now that you have a copy of this excellent publication, when are you going to begin an online play-by-post RPG about a secret society of your choosing? :wink:

http://www.elftown.com/_wfr

Best wishes,
-will, Rev. Mad Raven, D.D.[/url]