The Agency: Men in Black Dusters is a supplement for Deadlands: The Weird West detailing the secretive Agency. This book requires the Deadlands: Weird West Player's Guide and (for Marshals) the Deadlands: Weird West Marshal's Handbook.
The Agency acts as the Special Services division for the United States. However, their mission is not to spy on the South, it is to combat the sinister forces that inhabit the Weird West.
The book starts with a short introduction telling posse member (players) to keep their eyes out of this book without their Marshal's (game master's) permission. Of course if a player has bought this book, they are going to read it, but hopefully they will be playing an Agent and if their Marshal is really lucky the player will stay out of the Marshal's section (but don't get your hopes up).
Chapter 1: U.S. Special Service Agency
Chapter 1 gives us the Agency's goals and a history of why the Agency was formed. It also details how the Agency is divided up along geographical lines. This chapter is written in the form of an Agency training manual.
Chapter 2: Agency Field Operations
Chapter 2 details field operations. It expands on the Agency's goals and gives an overview of how to run an investigation as well as a classification guide for supernatural creatures and a few "proven" methods of eliminating said creatures. This section is finishes up with three appendixes, one on codes, one on recruitment and one detailing a case study of a successful investigation. This chapter is written in the form of an Agency training manual.
Chapter 3: So You Want to Be an Agent?
Chapter 3 goes back to your typical sourcebook format and details character creation for Agents. It includes new skills, new aptitudes, new hindrances and a merit/demerit system for Agency characters to determine how quickly an Agent advances in rank. This section finishes up with three archetypes of Agency characters. The chapter also includes more info on conducting investigations as well as an autopsy guide (yuck).
Chapter 4: Tools o' the Trade
Chapter 4 details Agency equipment from the simple (blackjack) to the extraordinary (Ecto-Plasmic Calcifer). Some items are updates from previous sourcebooks, but most are new devices used to give an Agent the edge he needs to put down evil critters. A system of Requisition points is introduced allowing Agents to requisite items on a mission-by-mission basis.
Chapter 4: The Truth Is in Here
Chapter 4 (part 2?) is the Marshal's handbook, which gives some new rules (including a revised massive damage system, which is a heck of a lot scarier) as well as the secrets (shush!) of the Agency. I could tell you all about them, but then of course, I would have to kill you.
Index
The book finishes up with an index (yippee).
Thoughts:Good
The book is well written and contains a lot of information.
It also gives both posse members and Marshals a good feel of how an Agent is to be played and what sort of adventures an Agent will be involved in.
Finally, one section that I really liked was the investigation manual, which details how to run an investigation. This manual is a great resource for Marshals trying to plan an adventure and posse members trying to figure it out.
Bad
There are a few mistakes (two chapter fours and no explanation for Fightin' Agency Sword Cane), but nothing jumped out at me as being seriously flawed.
Ugly
There is nothing to go in this category, although the art in the book is pretty plain. I do, however, love the picture on the front cover.
Final Notes
If you want to run an Agency campaign, have an player who is an Agent, want to use the Agency as an ally or enemy of your posse, or if you just like reading a good book, then you should pick up The Agency: Men in Black Dusters. It is a great read and well worth the money spent on it.
Style: 3 (Average)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)
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