Top Secret (role-playing game)
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| Top Secret | |
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 Top Secret logo (first edition) |
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| Designer(s) | Merle M. Rasmussen (original edition) Douglas Niles (Top Secret/S.I. Edition) |
| Publisher(s) | TSR |
| Publication date | 1980 (1st edition) 1981(2nd edition) 1987(Top Secret/S.I. Edition) |
| Genre(s) | Agent fiction |
| System | Custom |
Top Secret is an espionage-themed role-playing game first published in 1980 by TSR, Inc.
Contents |
[edit] Top Secret (original edition)
Designed by Merle M. Rasmussen, the original Top Secret game aimed to capture the spirit of such fiction series as James Bond, Modesty Blaise, Mission: Impossible and The Avengers, while allowing players and gamemasters to build their own espionage story settings. The original boxed set of the game included a 64-page rule book and a sample adventure, "Operation: Sprechenhaltestelle." The game was developed and edited by Allen Hammack at TSR, during a year of close collaboration with Rasmussen.
Following in the "character class" format of D&D, Top Secret characters came from specific bureaus -- Assassination, Confiscation, or Investigation -- all in the employ of a master spy organization simply referred to as The Agency. (An appendix in the rule book listed dozens of historical and fictional espionage organizations which could serve as employers or adversaries for missions.)
The greatest strength of original Top Secret is that many of the game's mechanics operated without dice rolls or complicated tables. Using skills was based on the player's score, and not on dice rolls. This did cause some problems for new gamers, but for those with some experience in the hobby it was handy. A second strength of this system was its ability to mimic "real world" intelligence operations. Its combat system and a lack of maneuver systems often needed to resolve more complex actions kept it from modeling the more action-based espionage films and novels, but for a flavor like the I Spy 1960s television show, original Top Secret was hard to beat.
An expansion to the game, "The Top Secret Companion" introduced enhancements to many game components. It included additional character classes and missions, as well as new Areas of Knowledge and abilities. A revised combat system was introduced that speeded up and provided more variety to combat results. New equipment and weapons were introduced as well.
At TSR, an internal spy campaign game based on Top Secret resulted in a brief investigation by the FBI when notes from players in charge of the KGB, Mossad, and others were found by "civilians" unaware that it was a game.
[edit] Supplements
[edit] Information supplements
- Administrator's Screen and Mini-Module. Corey Koebernick (1982). (Includes Operation: Executive One) ISBN 0-935696-79-2
- TS007 - Top Secret Companion. Merle Rasmussen (1985). ISBN 0-88038-102-7
[edit] Mission modules
- TS001 - Operation: Sprechenhaltestelle. Merle Rasmussen (1980). ISBN 0-935696-17-2
- TS002 - Operation: Rapidstrike!. Mike Carr (1982). ISBN 0-935696-57-1
- TS003 - Lady In Distress. Mike Carr (1982). (This module's plot was agents parasailing to rescue a hijacked cruise ship. Eerily, the module's ship plans were based on the Achille Lauro, which was seized by PLO terrorists in 1985 and resulted in the murder of one passenger.
- TS004 - Operation: Fastpass. Phil Taterczynski (1983). ISBN 0-88038-011-X
- TS005 - Operation: Orient Express. David Cook. ISBN 0-88038-041-1
- TS006 - Operation: Ace of Clubs. Merle Rasmussen (1984). ISBN 0-394-53464-6
- TS008 - Operation: Seventh Seal. Merle Rasmussen (1985). ISBN 0-88038-134-5
[edit] Modules published in Dragon magazine
- "The Missile Mission", Dragon no. 39. Mike Carr.
- "The Floating Island Mission", Dragon no. 48. Merle Rasmussen, James Thompson.
- "Mad Merc: The Alulu Island Mission", Dragon no. 56. Merle Rasmussen, James Thompson (1981).
- "Chinatown: The Jaded Temple", Dragon no. 62. Jerry Epperson (1982).
- "Wacko World", Dragon no. 79. Al Taylor.
- "Whiteout", Dragon no. 87. Merle Rasmussen (1984).
[edit] Modules published in Dungeon magazine
- "Operation: Fire Sale", Dungeon no. 26. John Terra.
[edit] Top Secret/S.I. edition
In 1987, TSR published Top Secret/S.I. ("Special Intelligence"), a revised edition designed by Douglas Niles. S.I. introduced a more structured gaming environment in which players worked as agents for secret intelligence agency O.R.I.O.N. against its evil adversary, W.E.B. Later source books in the product line introduce both supernatural (Agent 13) and futuristic (F.R.E.E.Lancers) adventure settings.
Top Secret/S.I. is a relatively fast-paced, all-action, "Die Hard" and "James Bond" type of game. Some gamers feel that it was a perfect match for the '80s.
[edit] Combat system
Top Secret/S.I. uses a fast, simple combat system based on percentages. With as little as a single die roll, a player can know not only if a character was hit, but what part of the body was hit and the extent of damage.
Based on a character's stats, skills, bonuses and penalties, the gamemaster gives that character a certain percentage chance of hitting a given target. The player then rolls a percentile die; a result that is equal to or lower than the to-hit percentage succeeds. The hit location is determined by the 'ones' digit of the same roll, and hand-to-hand combat damage is determined by the 'tens' digit. Weapon damage ignores the 'tens' of the first roll, and requires a second roll based on the weapon's characteristics.
[edit] Character sheets
Character sheets in Top Secret/S.I. resemble agent dossiers, and are intended to provide quick and easy reference to all a player's stats and skills. They also provide a detailed map of the ten possible hit spots of a character's body, and a blank portrait area for drawing or attaching a depiction of the character.
[edit] Supplements
[edit] Box sets
- Top Secret/S.I.. Douglas Niles, Warren Spector (1987). ISBN 0-88038-407-7
- High Stakes Gamble. Douglas Niles, Bob Kern (1988). ISBN 0-88038-545-6
[edit] Accessory books
- TSAC1 - G4 File: Guns, Gadgets & Getaway Gear. Merle Rasmussen (1987). ISBN 0-88038-474-3
- TSAC2 - Agent 13 Source Book. Mark Acres (1988). ISBN 0-88038-478-6
- TSAC3 - Covert Operations Sourcebook. John Prados (1988). ISBN 0-88038-479-4
- TSAC4 - F.R.E.E. Lancers. Jeff Grubb (1988). ISBN 0-88038-565-0
- TSAC5 - Commando. David Cook (1988). ISBN 0-88038-594-4
- TSAC6 - Covert Operations Sourcebook Vol. 2. John Prados (1988). ISBN 0-88038-616-9
- TSAC7 - F.R.E.E. America. Scott Bowles (1989). ISBN 0-88038-725-4
[edit] Mission modules
- TS1 - Operation: Starfire. Tracy Hickman (1987). ISBN 0-88038-476-X
- TS2 - The Doomsday Drop. Tracy Hickman (1988). ISBN 0-88038-480-8
- TS3 - Orion Rising. (1988). ISBN 0-88038-575-8
- TS4 - Commando Brushfire Wars. ISBN 0-88038-708-4
- TSA1 - The Web. Caroline Spector (1990). ISBN 0-88038-820-X
- TSA2 - The Final Weapon. Ray Winninger (1990). ISBN 0-88038-855-2
- TSE1 - Web of Deceit. Bob Kern (1989). ISBN 0-88038-714-9
- TSE2 - Sting of the Spider. Bob Kern (1989). ISBN 0-88038-732-7
- TSE3 - Web Wars. Bob Kern (1989). ISBN 0-88038-765-3
[edit] Solo Operations Casebooks
- The Final Bug. Jean Blashfield (1988). ISBN 0-88038-553-7
- Foul Play at Fool's Summit. Troy Denning (1989). ISBN 0-88038-621-5 (Note: though this module has an ISBN, it was never actually released, as the Catacombs gamebook line was cancelled before its release.)
[edit] Comics and Novels
Five novels were published by TSR from various campaign settings from Top Secret/S.I. game.
- Agent 13 the Midnight Avenger #1: The Invisible Empire by Flint Dille and David Marconi ISBN 0-88038-281-3
- Agent 13 the Midnight Avenger #2: The Serpentine Assassin Flint Dille and David Marconi ISBN 0-88038-282-1
- Double Agent: Acolytes of Darkenss/Web of Danger by Flint Dille and David Marconi/Aaron Allston ISBN 0-88038-550-2
- Double Agent: Royal Pain/The Hollow Earth Affair by Richard Merwin/Warren Spector ISBN 0-88038-551-0
- Double Agent: The Hard Sell/Glitch! by Richard Merwin/David Cook ISBN 0-88038-589-8
Two graphic novels based on the Pulp era setting were published.
- Agent 13: The Midnight Avenger by Flint Dille, David Marconi, and Dan Spiegle ISBN 0-88038-581-2
- Agent 13: Acolytes of Darkness (loosely based on the novel)
[edit] Current Status
The Top Secret brand ceased production in 1992. TSR was purchased by Wizards of the Coast in 1997, which in turn was purchased by Hasbro in 1999.
