Agents Against the Unseen, et al

 ***** RPG Idea inspired by Ghostbusters, Kolchak, the X-Files, etc.

11/22/21, Mon AM and from previous ideas

07/26/23, Wed, etc.

12/07/23, Thu

12/30/23, Sat

Agents Against the Unseen was an idea

[Combine with? 08/08/23, Tue AM

UNSEEN LEVEL

1 - Although not all supernatural creatures have the power of true invisibility, many people cannot see such creatures or if they do, their minds immediately concoct a plausible explanation. That creature glimpsed in a dark alley could have been.. a dog or.. a really large rat.

Beings that prey on humanity use this to their advantage. They are less likely to be actively hunted as few people actively acknowledge their existence. The old world superstitions that helped protect people from evil are no longer observed and modern society denies the possibility of supernatural phenomenon.

]

04/13/11?

Agents Against the Unseen d6 character sheet? (See gmail)

10/17/19

Some of the hooks for a "monster hunter" type of campaign could be just how the battle lines are drawn themselves, with maybe a shadow pact that has been broken. I also had the idea of these nightmare creatures being practically invisible to normal folk ("The Unseen") because people rationalize what their brain can't sort out. ("That's not a vampire feeding. That's a robber mugging someone..") The Agents (Against the Unseen, do you smell a title there?) have had their brushes with the supernatural, always believed or have gifts of their own. Then I had the idea of paranormal beings who are part of the darker world or beings from a dark dimension. They have an interest in preserving the fragile balance to avert war and genocide against their kind. I also had ideas for corporations and various entities who try to spread the darkness. It is their aim to spread superstition and fear, which although it may alert peoole to their presence, also gives them power over humans. I've had a number of similar ideas and I could tweak the background a bit. I also had an idea for F.R.P.D. (Faerie Realm PD) where you're cops recruited to keep the peace with the neighboring dimension and keep things from spilling into our world and misbehaving.

11/22/21

Spookchaser ideas and other classes

Ideas for classes/archetypes

Dodgy Parapsychologist

You never studied. Sure, you know some stuff about some stuff. You might even have a degree or two. But you leave splitting atoms to the eggheads. You're good at finding the angle in all the weirdness, whether it's to earn a buck or save the day, hopefully gaining guest appearances on talk shows to promote your book. Hey, everyone's gotta earn a living, right?

"There's the small matter of this invoice here. But tell you what I'm gonna do.. as a first time customer, I'm going to discount our services for you.."

Empirical Scientist

You're not good with people. You're more at ease with spores, molds and fungi or tinkering with a portable cyclotron. You're intrigued by the science behind the seemingly unexplainable. Which of course, you would discuss at great length, if anyone cared to listen.

"Imagine if all of the normal psychodynamic particle accumulation in this area was represented by this spongecake snack. According to my recent calculations, that cake would now be thirty-five feet long and weigh approximately fifty-four tons."

Enthusiastic Investigator

You've studied the esoteric, the occult, the scientific and metaphysical aspects of anything that can be categorized as strange. Whether it's a massive migration of undersea flora or theories surrounding a massive metorite impact, you've probably heard about it. What some people call "fringe theories" are just things that haven't been verified yet.

"This is great! There hasn't been a documented animal disturbance this large since the Oxfordshire Sheep Panic of 1888!"

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Sheep_Panic

The Great Sheep Panic, also known as the Great Sheep Panic of 1888 or the Mysterious Oxfordshire Sheep Panic of 1888,[1] was an event that occurred 3rd November 1888 across southern England

Working Stiff

You didn't sign up for this. Well actually you did, but you never imagined any of it would be real. You're certainly not getting paid enough. When the average folks are too scared to listen, you're the person to break it down to them.

"I never thought I'd see a dog bigger than a Great Dane. Maybe I should've stayed working for Animal Control."

- - -

Member of Service

You work for a law enforcement agency, whether it's for the government as a federal agent, some shadowy arm of the government, a major metropolitan police force or a sherriff's department. Perhaps you work for a special task force charged with investigating strange phenomenon. You might also be a regular cop in way over your head, trying to figure out the unexplainable. Whatever the case, you're driven to investigate.

"There's a pattern to all this. We just have to find it."

Occult Expert

You may have been part of a cult and perhaps you left when you realized how insane its members truly were. Alternatively, you might have been a dabbler in ancient magicks or just a scholar of esoteric lore who finds it all very fascinating. Regardless, you find yourself burdened with the terrible knowledge that there are forces at work the average person can't begin to comprehend.

'I can sometimes see things no one else can see.. do things no one else can do. But that doesn't really pay the rent."

- - -

Unwilling Participant

You were "fortunate" to have survived a particularly disturbing supernatural event. It left you shaken, but with an understanding about things the average person would rather not know about. The experience also made you sensitive to certain psychic vibrations. You've been a magnet for all sorts of weirdness ever since.

"I opened up my chest freezer and I swear to you, there were steps leading down and I could hear people chanting."

Troubled Psychic

Perhaps you receive visions, or know things you couldn't or shouldn't possibly know. You are burdened with clairvoyance and may have other talents as well.

Choose the way in which you receive information:

Clairvoyance (visions,)  psychometry (object reading,) divination (tea leaves, chicken bones, tarot cards,) seances or otherwise speaking to the deceased, etc.

As someone who is sensitive to psychic phenomenon, you also stand a pretty good chance to be possessed by ghosts, demons or ancient, godlike beings.

"My cousin Walter says he believes in you. Mark Twain and Elvis said they're rooting for you too."

- - -

12/30

Smart Alecky Kid

You know there's things out there the grownups pretend don't exist. You've read enough books and seen enough movies to know some of that stuff might be real. And if the adults won't listen, it's probably up to you (and maybe some of your friends) to save your town.

"The first rule of Monster Hunter Club.. is never talk about Monster Hunter Club."

Member of the Press

You chase down the stories that no one else wants known. Now if only they would run some of them. If you have to cover one more flower show, you'll go insane.

"You know Robert Frost won four Pulitzers for poetry. He chose the road less traveled. So can I get that car rental approved or not?"

04/18/23, Tue

"We're the pesticide for the Other Side!"

- The Spookchasers

FOREWORD:

I was a kid in junior high school when Ghostbusters came out in the theatres. I loved that movie and still do. I also grew up watching Kolchak the Night Stalker, many Hammer horror films and years later would follow shows like the X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Special Unit 2 and Supernatural. I probably love sci-fi more than horror, but when I can have them combined, in the best "chocolate in the peanut butter" way AND combined with a bit of comedy, I'm all about it.

PLAYER GROUPS

Characters can all be part of one team or can come from different backgrounds. There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these approaches. Each background will have a FOIL, a person who may be a rival, a supervisor or someone who generally gets in their way. A group of characters from the same background might have only one major foil at a time. A party with characters from different backgrounds might have a foil for each character who will oppose all of them, due to guilt by association.

Lone Wolf: This is either an independent operator like a private investigator, roving reporter or occult buff. The character might work for a company or agency but is usually frowned upon for ignoring or violating rules or guidelines that other employees follow.

Shared background groups:

Partnership: 1-2 characters. If this a company, they might have a very small staff. This could also be two partners from an agency or company who usually work together. (See Agency.)

Group: 3+ characters. If this a company, they might have a very small staff, such as a sarcastic secretary and/or personal accountant.

Company/Corporation: 3+ characters. The characters either head the company or are employed by a larger entity. Depending on the size, they might have more resources than a more independent firm, but may also have strict company guidelines they must follow.

Agency: 1 or more characters. The character(s) work for a law enforcement agency, firm or clandestine organization. Characters can expect better resource availability depending upon their relationship with the agency and the perceived importance of their work. It's also possible the agency is either unaware of their activities or frowns upon them.

QUIRKS

Each character must choose, roll for or invent some unique trait for their character that sets them apart from other characters. They must also come up with at least one way in which this quirk can complicate matters for themselves or others. A player can take more than one, giving a bonus of..XX

Characters may have any number of similar personality traits, but the ones chosen or rolled for here are more prominent.

Blabbermouth - This person tends to go on and on with little thought given to how appropriate the topic is or how interested the listeners might be.

"So my aunt Maxine.. she had FOUR cats: Mazie, Murray, Milton and Martha. All wih M's like her name. But they all had different personal- Oh, sure. Bast. Egyptian goddess. I'll get right on that."

Pariah - Tends to annoy others or is considered an outcast in their personal or professional life.

"So.. How much have you been bribing the building inspectors?"

Wardrobe - The character has a distinctive look, possibly wearing the same clothing all the time. This could be a crumpled blue suit and straw hat or a black suit, tie and dark sunglasses. This could also be a strange uniform that attracts bewildered looks.

"Who are you dressed up as? Buzz Aldrin?"

Lecherous - The character can't help but hit on people found to be attractive, often in inappropriate situations.

"I'm gonna go out on a limb here. I think I'm falling for you."

Wisecracker - A jokester who often makes puns or insults authority figures. The side benefit of this is that sometimes it helps morale when the chips are down.

"An army of mindless zombies are swarming all over Midtown? Do you think anyone will notice?"

Wisacre - A Know-It-All who has to interject personal or professional opinions on a variety of topics.

"It's very obvious you should have used octupoles to stabiize the particle frequency."

Poor Interpersonal Skills - This character has a hard time relating to and interacting with others. It could be due to grouchiness, shyness, years spent in isolation or due to a medically diagnosed cause. The character can overcome this, but meeting or interacting with new people can be challenging.

"I'm going to wait in the car. I don't have any desire to talk to these jackasses."

Compulsiveness - This character has an overwhelming drive to repeat certain behaviors. The compulsion can be relatively harmless, like meticulously collecting and storing comic books, or something more intense like extreme hoarding or inveterate gambling.

"I have to go to the comic store today. It's Tuesday. All the new books come out on Tuesday. You know what you get if you go on Wednesday? Wrinkled comics."

Slob -

No Filter - The character often says what comes to mind with little thought to the consequences. The comments might be made innocently and without malice, but it will still get them into a jam sometimes.

"You might want to wait for the next elevator. We don't want to exceed the weight limit."

Obligation - The character must fulfill some duty that is more intensive than most people in similar situations. This might include working another job, caring for a loved one with a serious medical condition or managing a Little League team headed to the playoffs.

"Can't do it. Gotta take Mom for her dialysis."

Stalker - The character has someone who spies on them constantly, keeps tabs on them and can show up at the worst possible times. It could be an ex, a nosy reporter, a rival or even a mentally unbalanced person seeking to harm the character.

"So for me, for my entire family that you've wronged, and for the common good, I must now kill you, and your friends."

Debt - The character either owes a large sum of money to a bank, company, loan shark or crime boss, or is somehow indebted to someone for something they've done for them in the past. The other party may even be angered, stepping up attempts to see the debt is paid or asking the character to perform (possibly illegal) tasks.

"A black mark on your credit is not an easy thing to live with."

Overzealous - The character can be too enthusiastic and quick to act without thinking of the consequences.

"I'll get it! I'll get it! Oh no.. It's got me!"

WIP Copyright ©️2025 Roger C. Jones, Brainstorm Books and Games