Dark•Matter
Encyclopedia
1
Dark•Matter is a science fiction
/conspiracy theory
campaign setting
that was originally published in 1999
by Wizards of the Coast
as the second campaign setting for the Alternity
role-playing game
. It was written by Wolfgang Baur
and Monte Cook
. It was later converted to d20 Modern
rules and published as a stand-alone book in 2006
.
This premise was not unique to Dark•Matter, having first been used as the basis for a role-playing game in Bureau 13
.
magazine and Dragon
magazine.
The Dark•Matter Arms and Equipment Guide provided a more detailed list of equipment appropriate to the setting.
The Xenoforms Book provided many more supernatural and alien creatures from myth and folklore to add to a campaign.
The Killing Jar was the first adventure published after those provided in the main rulebook.
The final book, which was provided as an electronic PDF, is The Final Church. It is a combination sourcebook and adventure. It provides information on the organization known as The Final Church and pits the characters against them.
There were five novels written for the setting although only four of them actually saw print. The fifth was offered as an electronic PDF file for a short period of time. In order the books were:
1. In Hollow Houses, by "Gary A. Braunbeck
"
2. If Whispers Call, by "Don Bassingthwaite
"
3. In Fluid Silence, by "G. W. Tirpa"
4. Of Aged Angels, by "Monte Cook
"
5. By Dust Consumed, by Don Bassingthwaite (only available for a short period of time as a pdf file)
role-playing game and its d20 Menace Manual
supplement.
Dark•Matter was first converted into a d20 Modern campaign in Dungeon
#108/Polyhedron
#163 as Dark•Matter: Shades of Grey. In September 2006, Dark•Matter was officially made into a d20 Modern campaign setting with the publication of d20 Dark•Matter.
Dark•Matter is a science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/conspiracy theory
Conspiracy theory
A conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
that was originally published in 1999
1999 in games
This page lists board and card games, wargames, miniatures games, and table-top role-playing games published in 1999. For video and console games, see 1999 in video gaming.-Game awards given in 1999:...
by Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
as the second campaign setting for the Alternity
Alternity
Alternity is a science fiction role-playing game published by TSR in 1998...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
. It was written by Wolfgang Baur
Wolfgang Baur
Wolfgang Baur is an American game designer, best known for his work with Dragon magazine. He designs role-playing games and also is known for his work at Wizards of the Coast.-Biography:...
and Monte Cook
Monte Cook
Monte Cook is a professional table-top role-playing game designer and writer. He is married to Sue Weinlein Cook.-Roleplaying:Cook has been a professional game designer since 1988, working primarily on role-playing games. Much of his early work was for Iron Crown Enterprises as an editor and writer...
. It was later converted to d20 Modern
D20 Modern
d20 Modern is a roleplaying game designed by Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, and Charles Ryan. It was published by Wizards of the Coast in November 2002, and uses the d20 System...
rules and published as a stand-alone book in 2006
2006 in games
This page lists board and card games, wargames, miniatures games, and table-top role-playing games published in 2006. For video and console games, see 2006 in video gaming....
.
Development
Wolfgang Baur did considerable research into the occult, UFO, and government conspiracy theories in preparation for writing the Dark•Matter game.Background
In the setting, the Hoffman Institute is an organization which investigates strange creatures and phenomena. The players take on the roles of members of this organization, and delve into the supernatural and mysterious. The premise of the game is that nearly every strange or supernatural story ever widely told is true, but a web of conspiracies and secret organizations hide this truth from the average person.This premise was not unique to Dark•Matter, having first been used as the basis for a role-playing game in Bureau 13
Bureau 13
Bureau 13 is a fictional top-secret government agency featured in the role-playing game Bureau 13: Stalking the Night Fantastic which investigates and combats supernatural events...
.
Contents
The original book was hardbound with 288 pages illustrated in color. It was divided into chapters covering the background of the Dark•Matter setting to include an introduction to the Hoffmann Institute, hero creation, magic and psionics, history of the setting, the Illuminati, and places of interest. Highlights include:- The true and secret history of Earth.
- Detailed descriptions of 13 powerful conspiracies and secret societies pulling the strings of power, plus nearly 20 more minor organizations.
- Dozens of mysterious sites and hidden strongholds, from the ancient enigma of the Pyramids to the rotten façade of Washington, D.C.
- New skills and careers for heroes, including options for advanced characters.
- New rules for using FX (magic) in your Alternity game, including 45 new Arcane Magic and Faith FX spells.
- Nearly two dozen strange creatures.
- Gamemaster tips and tricks for running paranormal- and conspiracy-based games.
- Raw Recruits, an introductory adventure.
- Alternity Fast-Play Rules.
Accessories and Novels
There were four accessories produced for the setting. Three of them were published in perfect bound paperback format and one was published as an electronic PDF file. There were also various articles published in DungeonDungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
magazine and Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
magazine.
The Dark•Matter Arms and Equipment Guide provided a more detailed list of equipment appropriate to the setting.
The Xenoforms Book provided many more supernatural and alien creatures from myth and folklore to add to a campaign.
The Killing Jar was the first adventure published after those provided in the main rulebook.
The final book, which was provided as an electronic PDF, is The Final Church. It is a combination sourcebook and adventure. It provides information on the organization known as The Final Church and pits the characters against them.
There were five novels written for the setting although only four of them actually saw print. The fifth was offered as an electronic PDF file for a short period of time. In order the books were:
1. In Hollow Houses, by "Gary A. Braunbeck
Gary A. Braunbeck
Gary A. Braunbeck is an American science fiction, fantasy, mystery and horror author.-Biography:Braunbeck was born in Newark, Ohio . He writes in a number of different genres, but principally horror...
"
2. If Whispers Call, by "Don Bassingthwaite
Don Bassingthwaite
Don Bassingthwaite was born in Meaford, Ontario, and now lives and works in Toronto. He has degrees in anthropology and museum studies and is the author of numerous fantasy and dark fantasy novels. Many of his works are set in the fictional universes of role-playing games...
"
3. In Fluid Silence, by "G. W. Tirpa"
4. Of Aged Angels, by "Monte Cook
Monte Cook
Monte Cook is a professional table-top role-playing game designer and writer. He is married to Sue Weinlein Cook.-Roleplaying:Cook has been a professional game designer since 1988, working primarily on role-playing games. Much of his early work was for Iron Crown Enterprises as an editor and writer...
"
5. By Dust Consumed, by Don Bassingthwaite (only available for a short period of time as a pdf file)
d20 Modern system
Some of the Dark•Matter material has since been incorporated into the d20 ModernD20 Modern
d20 Modern is a roleplaying game designed by Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, and Charles Ryan. It was published by Wizards of the Coast in November 2002, and uses the d20 System...
role-playing game and its d20 Menace Manual
D20 Menace Manual
The d20 Menace Manual is a listing of statistics for animals, aliens, and other potential enemies, for use in the d20 Modern role-playing game...
supplement.
Dark•Matter was first converted into a d20 Modern campaign in Dungeon
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
#108/Polyhedron
Polyhedron (magazine)
Polyhedron was a magazine which started out as the official publication of the RPGA . Publication began in the year 1981, and the target audience was players of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game...
#163 as Dark•Matter: Shades of Grey. In September 2006, Dark•Matter was officially made into a d20 Modern campaign setting with the publication of d20 Dark•Matter.