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Covert Operations Sourcebook, Vol. 2 (TSAC6) "...Like the first Covert Operations Source Book, this second volume starts off with the detailed inner workings of today's real-life spy agencies, including Russia's GRU (military intelligence), Israel's Mossad, and the espionage arms of East Germany, West Germany, Bulgaria, Poland, and more. Learn about the foundings of these organizations, their histories, their leaders and personnel, their methods, and their division of responsibilities... [This book] also contains real-life case histories of spies and covert operations all over the globe. The case histories of these people and their activities are not only fascinating reading, but they give the ... Administrator a glimpse into the inner workings of espionage as it is practiced all over the world..."

1988 ... John Prados ... 96 pages ... TSR 7632 ... ISBN 0880386169

https://yandex.ru/search/?text=%22Top%20Secret%22%20%2F%20SSI%20by%20%22TSR%22%20pdf&lr=213

https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/2er2tt/rpging_the_cold_war/

Posted byu/Shellout 6 years ago RPG-ing the cold war Working on a Spy-game starting in the early 70s during the height of the cold war. I have miniatures and am building scenery. So far we have played one campaign of my own building, but I was wondering if anyone else on this community had any story hooks/campaigns they want to share? If not are there people looking to colaborate and collect some together? I have been pointed in the direction of the 'spycraft 60s sourcebook' but reading most reviews, its not the best.

anyone able to help?

EDIT: thank you everyone for your responces. As always you are the most responsive and helpful subreddit I have in my list. On the phone at the moment so I will properly reply to your comments in the next few days. You have all given me some cool stuff to scheme through. Thanks

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User avatar level 1 ashlykos · 6y If you want to focus on the psychological aspects of spying during the Cold War, in the vein of John LeCarre rather than James Bond, check out Spione


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User avatar level 1 SenseiZarn · 6y · edited 6y Spy-related roleplaying systems

Though I'll start out by mentioning systems, all of the systems I'll mention have a fairly rich background that can be mined for hooks. If you don't think of any hooks by yourself, you might just start watching TV-shows - the more cheesy the better - for plot hooks.

Top Secret / SSI by TSR has already been mentioned. Obviously, the James Bond RPG system should be a shoe-in.

Another system (and setting info) that might pique your interest might be SpyCraft. I've always considered SpyCraft to be the predecessor to d20 Modern, but SpyCraft aims to be a sort of modern successor to Top Secret / SSI.

For more slightly modern age systems and settings, try Millennium's End, Twilight 2000 (or its non-apocalyptic spinoff, Merc 2000), or RoleMaster's Black Ops book for background. You might also consider Leverage, both the tv show and the RPG based on the show using a more generic system.

Inspiration from other sources

Any technothriller or spy movie should work fine. Depending on how silly you want to get, the Man from U.N.C.L.E might work for you, as could the Six-Million Dollar Man, A-Team, or Mission: Impossible. Basically, the tone of your campaign should determine your inspirations or where you should mine for hooks. Even MacGyver and his Phoenix Foundation can be a good fit.

Heck, you might even fit in low-level superpowers if you consider something like Mutant X or The Champions.

If you want to have a more military style campaign (think the Pro from Dover), you might want to consider The Unit, Flashpoint, Airwolf, or perhaps the 24 franchise.

If you want to get really silly, consider Get Smart, Archer, Chuck, Middleman, Burn Notice, The Dream Team, or even Secret Agent Man. More serious series might be Alias, Nikita, or perhaps Hunted or The Equalizer. Oddly enough, V.I.P. might be a good inspiration as well.

A sort of middle ground might be The Saint, The Persuaders, Secret Agent / Danger Man or The Avengers.


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User avatar level 1 blacksheepcannibal · 6y Make sure you're okay with the mood and theme that really fits in well with the cold war - Paranoia, Patriotism, and Oh God Don't Push The Red Button. If the players make too many big waves, somebody fires ze missiles (with or without nap) and everything glows in the dark for the next 60 million years. Also, both sides think the other side is A: ridiculously powerful and capable of developing crazy advanced technology that will render defenses useless, B: Absolutely bloodthirsty, and C: Absolutely and inherently evil.

There is a lot of material to mine for in there for some awesome mood and theme stuff, although it's not something a ton of people these days really think about.

If I ever do this (and I really want to) I want to get a big counter with an arrow, going from DEFCON 5 down to DEFCON 1 (with DEFCON 1 being an immediate end to the campaign). That way whenever the players start doing crazy shite, I can start reaching towards the arrow...


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User avatar level 1 Addicted2aa · 6y NH-603 A free scenario http://www.gregstolze.com/adirtyworld/DangersFrat.pdf The PC's for the scenario http://www.gregstolze.com/adirtyworld/DangersFratPCs.pdf


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User avatar level 1 locolarue · 6y · edited 6y Top Secret is the RPG you're looking for.

Really, you can easily make up scenarios if the PCs are working for a government of some kind.

-Confirm this individual is/is not an enemy agent.

-Turn this traitor from our organization into a double agent. If you can't, kill him.

-Pilfer the stolen information back from this enemy agent.

-The enemy is testing a new piece of technology in this proxy war. Obtain a sample of it for testing and evaluation.

-A cause hostile to our interests is gaining support in a third world country. Ensure they do not topple the friendly dictator we've put in power.

-A third party may be considering joining a proxy war, which may tip the balance against us. Ensure they stay out.

-We've been conducting weapons testing we shouldn't have. Recover the weapon and kill anyone who knows about it, before the enemy exposes our wrongdoing.

-We think someone has been blackmailing our soldiers for valuable war information while they're on leave in a friendly city outside the war zone. Find out who's doing it and stop them.

And of course, a classic:

-Find out why a high-ranking officer of ours recently resigned, specifically, if he intends to defect.


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User avatar level 1 TheBeardedGM · 6y northern VA USA I know of a Call of Cthulhu sourcebook for the 1950s, and there is a GURPS 3rd edition book called Atomic Horror which is about the cold war era, though it looks primarily at the B-horror films of the time.


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User avatar level 2 locolarue · 6y With Gurps, I'd suggest Mysteries, Tactical Shooting, Social Engineering, and High Tech. Mysteries and Social Engineering cover the spy stuff, Tactical Shooting makes sure the PCs try and avoid open violence, and High-Tech gives you all the gadgets and firepower--bugs, scuba gear, codes, metal detectors, radios, microphones, computers, phone taps, poisons, pistols, explosives, SMGs, and heavier weapons.


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dungeon and dragons

https://yandex.ru/search/?text=monster%20manual%20d%20and%20d%20english&lr=213

spy mision russia game

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1219940/US_Spy_Mission_in_Russia/

https://store.steampowered.com/checkout/?purchasetype=self&snr=1_8_4__503

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