The Inside Scoop on Gaming

What compliment can I pay Delta Green that essentially captures why I feel my money was well spent? If any, I'd have to say that the highest compliment I could pay Delta Green is that it made me care about Call of Cthulhu again. No mean feat either, when you factor in my lukewarm reaction to Cthulhu Now when it first came out.

It's biggest strength is that it provides continuity and realism for the games. Now players don't have to herniate themselves thinking of reasons to stay together, when a sensible person would just go into hiding, preferably on a nice, bland, touristy little island (or into a loony bin, or on a drinking binge, etc.) Now the players have access (albeit highly limited) to places, events, and things involving the Mythos, with the equipment to help them solve what's going on. And now, even in the Information Age, when it seems like there's a satellite for every square inch of outer space, they gave solid reasons why the Mythos is still hidden safely (?) in the background.

The politics and double-dealing in government ops is as realistic here as I've ever seen it presented anywhere. Half the time, it puts the X-Files to shame! Ever suspect your government is working at cross purposes with itself? It's in here! Ever wanted nice, legal-looking documents to give the game some versimilitude? It's in here! Ever wonder about how alien abductions or New Age cult groups would work under control of the sinister Mythos forces? It's in here!Ever wonder if Hitler had any help from the Mythos? It's in here! Ever wanted grit and realism in your horror game, and the World of Darkness just couldn't seem to do it? It's in here! (Not quite as nasty as Kult, but it's in here!)

And let's not forget the introductory adventures, which are actually *good* in a supplement! My, what a refreshing change! So information- rich, so well-planned, and still doesn't have that feeling of a "plot on rails." And despite all of the information, they still have plenty of plot hooks, more than you will probably ever use!

Pagan Publishing pulled a massive coup with this one, and it's well past time for Tynes and Co. to get their due!

I can't believe I almost walked away from Call of Cthulu for good...

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Delta Green
Author: Tynes, Detweiller, et al. Category: game Company/Publisher: Pagan Publishing Cost: $25 Page count: a good amount Capsule Review by Carl L. Congdon on 12/25/98. Genre tags: Science_fiction Modern_day Horror Espionage Conspiracy	What compliment can I pay Delta Green that essentially captures why I feel my money was well spent? If any, I'd have to say that the highest compliment I could pay Delta Green is that it made me care about Call of Cthulhu again. No mean feat either, when you factor in my lukewarm reaction to Cthulhu Now when it first came out. It's biggest strength is that it provides continuity and realism for the games. Now players don't have to herniate themselves thinking of reasons to stay together, when a sensible person would just go into hiding, preferably on a nice, bland, touristy little island (or into a loony bin, or on a drinking binge, etc.) Now the players have access (albeit highly limited) to places, events, and things involving the Mythos, with the equipment to help them solve what's going on. And now, even in the Information Age, when it seems like there's a satellite for every square inch of outer space, they gave solid reasons why the Mythos is still hidden safely (?) in the background. The politics and double-dealing in government ops is as realistic here as I've ever seen it presented anywhere. Half the time, it puts the X-Files to shame! Ever suspect your government is working at cross purposes with itself? It's in here! Ever wanted nice, legal-looking documents to give the game some versimilitude? It's in here! Ever wonder about how alien abductions or New Age cult groups would work under control of the sinister Mythos forces? It's in here!Ever wonder if Hitler had any help from the Mythos? It's in here! Ever wanted grit and realism in your horror game, and the World of Darkness just couldn't seem to do it? It's in here! (Not quite as nasty as Kult, but it's in here!) And let's not forget the introductory adventures, which are actually good in a supplement! My, what a refreshing change! So information- rich, so well-planned, and still doesn't have that feeling of a "plot on rails." And despite all of the information, they still have plenty of plot hooks, more than you will probably ever use! Pagan Publishing pulled a massive coup with this one, and it's well past time for Tynes and Co. to get their due! I can't believe I almost walked away from Call of Cthulu for good... Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)