Steam Spy: Intelligence and Propaganda

Imagine a world filled with an intricately mechanized clash of spies clashing against spies. A world where corporate espionage is introduced to a Steampunk world of industrial revolution. And running through it all are all of the plot twists and thrills of both genres.

Steam Spy is Card Game based Role Playing game. It combines the immersive nature of a traditional role playing game with the random unpredictability of a card game. Players create a character that they use to pair off against their fellow players using cards to randomize and manipulate the circumstances.

The game takes place in a Victorian era steam punk universe full of espionage; with all of the action and twists of your favorite spy movie, but surrounded by the clunky, clockwork machinations of steam powered technology. The industrial age creates a perfect background for the development of corporate espionage.

Players take on the role of agents who represent rival intelligence agencies. Neither is necessarily “good” or “bad”, motivation and morality is relative. But one of the agencies is up to something and it’s up to the other agency to stop them. Players take on the roles of Antagonist and Protagonist; the Antagonist is the player responsible for setting the scene and tone of the adventure and sets the actions in motion that the Protagonist is responsible for reacting to it.

Although there are similarities between the Antagonist and a traditional RPG Game Master, the game does not require any more set up than putting out the cards, dice, paper and pencils. Although it’s possible for the Antagonist to flesh out a more detailed environment and motivation for a given scenario, it’s just as possible to come up with the details on the fly, making Steam Spy a perfect option for a spur of the moment, one on one role playing experience.

Set 1. Intelligence and Propaganda allows you to become one of the top spies for M5, the Western European agency that works to collect and protect information for the massive Encyclopedia Englandia Corporation. Or you can join Das Wort, one of the original “reality defining” news organizations. In order to present the world as they want it to be seen (in addition to selling papers), their mysterious organization, the Diamond Club, is often accused of creating events of world significance.

Watch for set 2, Shadows and Circuits and set 3 Action and Adventure. More information about Steam Spy can be found at www.steamspygame.com. Also look for the original Steam Spy short story Steam and Mirrors online.