—BACKGROUND—
The [World Order Liberation Front] is the power behind the scenes of the “Great Collapse”. While they are not an unknown group, there isn’t a true understanding of how far their tentacles reach. In some places, they are overt and active publicly. In others, they are a power behind the scenes working to establish full control. But while large and entrenched, they are not yet prepared to take power.
—GAME INFORMATION—
To help figure out how this organization would work, assets available, and operational reach, I used the rules for Spy Agencies from Palladium Books Ninjas & Superspies (pg 60). As the rules were some of the earliest used by Palladium, I looked at the rules for Organizations from Villains Unlimited (pg 34). I have copied the relevant information for the organizations here so that I can have the relevant information available as I develop this setting.
Ninjas & Superspies Spy Agency
Agency Size
Mega-Spy Agency – An agency of this size and power indicates that the role-playing world is extremely dangerous. Most, if not all, of the bad guys also beling to agencies with lots of points. And the opposition will have plenty of skills and powers to test the mettle of the player characters. 400 POINTS are available.
Agency Features
A – Outfits – The standard clothing is sued by the agency to its members. Replacement of any agency issued outfits is automatic.
4 – Specialty Clothing – Standard armor, protective clothing, pilot outfits, SCUBA gear, plus any other standard outfits, are available. In addition , the civilian clothing is fairly classy, equivalent to what’s available in expensive clothing stores. Agency Cost: 5 Points
B – Equipment – This describes all the equipment and supplies provided free of charge by the agency. Replacement of any lost or damaged , agency-issued equipment is automatic.
SPECIAL NOTE: Unlike other categories , it is possible to pay points to combine several of the following featured equipments. For example, by spending 1 5 Points, an agency would provide both Ninja (#3) and Electronic (#4) equipment as described below.
6 – Unlimited Equipment – Characters can take any equipment, with any gimmicks included, without a budget limit. Note that this does not include clothing or weapons. Requests around half a million dollars or more may be subject to review and final approval. Agency Cost: 50 points
C – Weapons – This includes all the weapons issued from the agency’ s armory. Any agency-issued weapons come with an unlimited supply of ammunition . Any expended ammo or damaged weapons are replaced automatically.
5 – The Arsenal – Each agent is allowed to choose up to $50,000 worth of weapons, with all appropriate ammunition included. Ammunition is provided free. Agency Cost: 30 Points.
D – Vehicles – Transportation provided by the agency to the characters. Also includes information on the agency’s fleet of vehicles.
5 – Specialty Vehicles – Unmodified vehicles are available in unlimited quantity and can be fairly expensive. Currently available sports cars and luxury cars are also available. Each agent’s car may have up to $200 ,000 worth of modifications. Agency Cost: 35 Points.
E – Communications – This is a measure of how good the communications network and devices are in the agency.
4 – Computerized – A computer network links up the various offices of the agency with the central HQ. In addition, all radio and telephone communications have sophisticated computer scrambling available. Special private couriers and armored truck services are also used. Agency Cost: 15 Points.
F – Offices and Distribution – Just how widespread the offices and personnel of the organization are.
6 – Ubiquitous – Every city in the world has an office or a field agent representing the agency. This agency is everywhere, with their people covering every population center of 50,000 or more. Agency Cost: 50 Points.
G – Military Power – The amount of military force that the agency can command directly. Note that directly means just that; the agency can order around the unit without needing permission or authorization from any other source.
5 – Strike Force – One of the country’s commando battalions, with up to 450 soldiers , is ready to be airlifted to anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice . Includes infantry weapons, eight tanks, and four artillery pieces, plus three armed helicopters. Agency Cost: 30 Points.
H – Sponsorship – Exactly who is controlling the agency, providing them with their leadership and their real source of funds?
5 – International Organization – Sponsored by an interantional body, the agency is free to set its own policies and to wage war against internationally distributed networks of criminal activity. Agency Cost: 20 Points.
I – Budget – Reveals the money available, not for regular operating costs, but for any kind of special projects. In other words, how much money is available to “front” an operation. For example, if the agents are ready to trap some drug dealers, this would determine just how much cash the agency could afford to risk.
5 – Big Bucks – Agency can get up to $100,000,000. Agency Cost: 35 Points.
J – Administrative Control – This determines just how much freedom the agents have.
5 – License to Kill – Each agent is specifically authorized to break any and all laws in execution of their duty. Murder, assassination, theft and illegal interrogation are all allowed. Agency Cost: 35 Points
K – Internal Security – This is the level of internal infiltration that the agency is vulnerable to. Note that this is the only thing that prevents spies from already having been placed in the organization. It varies according to the agency’s security measures. Enemy agents, moles, “turned” employees, and other unreliables can only be prevented with high levels of internal security.
2 – Lax – A security guard at each entrance checks visitors in and out. Identification is simply printed and signed (no pictures or fingerprints). 15% chance of each employee being an infiltrator. Agency Cost: 10 Points
L – External Infiltration – A measure of how well the player characters’ agency has infiltrated and corrupted enemy organizations. There are even attempts at infiltrating friendly or allied agencies (just in case). An important side benefit of external infiltration is that captured characters may be provided with “accidental” opportunities to escape by friendly infiltrators.
2 – Rare Minor Traitor – The agency occasionally manages to pay off some low ranking persons in other organizations. These are usually janitors , clerks or technicians who rarely have any idea of what is really happening where they work. At best, they can give clues. 10% chance in each office of each enemy agency. Agency Cost: 10 Points
M – Agency Credentials – Just what is the reputation and authority of the agency? The credentials determine just how much respect the characters’ agents can command.
5 – Recognized – Agents are known as “good guys” who deserve all the help they can get. Police, foreign governments, and bureaucrats will all help and cooperate fully with any investigations and operations. Agency Cost: 3 Points
N – Agency Salary – The amount of money received weekly by the player characters. Check the character’s O.C.C. for the base salary (it’s listed under income).
4 – Civil Servants – Characters receive exactly their base salary. The job doesn’t pay well compared to private industry, but job security is solid . Will often get a I D4 x $100 bonus for a successful or profitable assignment. Agency Cost: 5 Points
Ninjas and Super Spies Agency
A – Outfits – Specialty Clothing – 10 pts
B – Equipment – Unlimited Equipment – 50 pts
C – Weapons – The Arsenal – 30 pts
D – Vehicles – Specialty Vehicles – 35 pts
E – Communications – Computerized – 15 pts
F – Offices and Distribution – Ubiquitous – 50 pts
G – Military Power – Strike Force – 30 pts
H – Sponsorship – International Organization – 20 pts
I – Budget – Big Bucks – 35 pts
J – Administrative Control – License to Kill – 35 pts
K – Internal Security – Lax – 5 pts
L – External Infiltration – Rare Minor Traitor – 5 pts
M – Agency Credentials – Recognized – 30 pts
N – Agency Salary – Agency Salary – 10 pts
TOTAL POINTS – 360
Villains Unlimited Organization
D – Bionics & Robitics – Bionics includes all the bionic and cybernetic implants, gizmos, disguises, weapons, limbs, internal organs, body armor, and reconstruction as presented in Heroes Unlimited and Ninjas & Superspies.
Robotics offers the various types of robot constructions, both drones and intelligent, as found in Heroes Unlimited.
5 – The Bionic Arsenal – Full bionic reconstruction, features, and implants are available as found in Heroes Unlimited and Ninjas & Superspies, although limited to special agents and for the restoration of seriously injured and valuable operatives. 30% of the organization’ s operatives will have one to four bionic implants, weapons or disguises. 20% will have a bionic limb or two and that limb will have three special features or weapons, plus the agent can have one additional bionic implant or feature. Furthermore , 1 0% of the operatives will have major bionic reconstruction, with a budget of 7.2 million. Repairs, replacements, ammunition, additional features (if proven worthy), and body armor are available upon approval. The annual budget is 5D4 x 10 million. Agency Cost: 50 Points
O – Research and Information Gathering – The available resources and methods of collecting, collating, storing, and accessing information.
3 – Good Connections – The agency has $10,000 worth of computer equipment, two modems, is on line with a dozen national and international computer networks, a score of clipping services, both national and international (with 1 04 staff sorting and updating data), and has a source at 106 major newspapers, allowing access to newspaper files/records and wire services. Agency Cost: 10 Points
D – Bionics & Robitics – The Bionic Arsenal – 50 pts
O – Research and Information Gathering – Good Connections – 10 pts
TOTAL POINTS – 60 pts
TOTAL – 420 points