Welcome to the Delta Green Handler’s Guide, a comprehensive resource for running the iconic RPG. This guide equips handlers with tools to craft compelling scenarios, manage player agency, and maintain the eerie atmosphere of the Delta Green universe.
Overview of Delta Green
Delta Green is a clandestine organization within the U.S. government, tasked with investigating and combating supernatural threats to national security. Established in the 1920s, it operates outside official channels, employing covert methods to neutralize occult, alien, and otherworldly dangers. Agents, often drawn from military and intelligence backgrounds, are sworn to secrecy, facing unimaginable horrors while protecting the public from the unknown.
Delta Green differs from other mythos-focused groups in its emphasis on espionage and counterterrorism. Its agents must navigate bureaucratic challenges, political intrigue, and the ever-present risk of psychological trauma. The organization’s existence is denied by the government, leaving its operatives vulnerable to betrayal and abandonment.
The setting blends cosmic horror with Cold War-era espionage, creating a grim, atmospheric world where the unknown lurks in every shadow. Agents must be resourceful, relying on their wits and experience to survive. This unique mix of horror and espionage makes Delta Green a compelling and unsettling narrative backdrop.
Importance of the Handler’s Guide
The Delta Green Handler’s Guide is an indispensable toolkit for anyone running the Delta Green RPG. It provides handlers with the necessary resources to create immersive, terrifying, and deeply engaging experiences for their players. By balancing espionage and horror, the guide helps handlers craft scenarios that resonate emotionally and intellectually, ensuring a unique blend of tension and intrigue.
One of the guide’s key strengths is its focus on the challenges handlers face. It offers practical advice on managing player agency, maintaining atmospheric tension, and weaving compelling narratives. Additionally, it delves into the psychological and emotional toll on agents, making the game more realistic and impactful.
The guide also serves as a reference for understanding the Delta Green setting, its history, and its intricate web of factions. It equips handlers with the tools to create authentic scenarios, adapt to player choices, and ensure the game remains both unpredictable and memorable. For new or experienced handlers, this guide is essential for mastering the art of running Delta Green and delivering unforgettable stories.
Structure of the Guide
The Delta Green Handler’s Guide is meticulously organized to provide handlers with a clear and accessible framework for running the game. The guide is divided into several key sections, each focusing on a specific aspect of the game, ensuring a logical flow of information.
The guide begins with an introduction to Delta Green, offering a broad overview of the setting and its themes. It then delves into the background, historical context, and key organizations, providing handlers with the lore and depth needed to create authentic scenarios. Following this, the guide explores core mechanics, including character creation, sanity systems, and combat rules, ensuring handlers understand the game’s foundational elements.
Later sections focus on scenario design, NPC creation, and balancing horror with espionage, equipping handlers with the tools to craft compelling and immersive stories. The guide concludes with appendices filled with essential resources, tables, and scenario hooks, making it a comprehensive reference for both new and experienced handlers.
This structured approach ensures that handlers can easily navigate the guide, finding the information they need to create unforgettable Delta Green campaigns.
Background of Delta Green
Delta Green is a clandestine U.S. government agency secretly tasked with investigating and combating paranormal threats. Originally formed in the 1920s, it was disbanded but reemerged in the 1990s to confront modern horrors, blending espionage with cosmic dread.
Setting Overview
The Delta Green Handler’s Guide is set in a modern-day world where clandestine government operations intersect with cosmic horror and espionage. Agents operate in the shadows, dealing with threats both terrestrial and otherworldly. The setting blends the gritty realism of espionage with the existential dread of unknowable entities lurking beyond human understanding. The world appears normal on the surface, but beneath lies a web of conspiracies, ancient deities, and alien technologies waiting to unravel reality. Handlers are tasked with creating scenarios that explore this tense balance, where the line between patriotism and madness is thin. The guide emphasizes the importance of atmosphere, with a focus on paranoia, betrayal, and the futility of human efforts against eldritch forces. It provides tools to craft immersive stories that keep players on edge, questioning what is real and what is a product of their characters’ fraying sanity. The setting is global, with operations spanning from the deserts of the Middle East to the forests of Europe, ensuring a diverse range of environments for horror and intrigue.
Historical Context
The Delta Green Handler’s Guide is deeply rooted in a fictional history that intertwines with real-world events, creating a seamless blend of espionage and cosmic horror. The setting originates in the 1990s but draws inspiration from earlier decades, particularly the 1920s and 1940s, when secret government operations first encountered eldritch phenomena. These events are explored through classified files, historical anomalies, and whispered legends, providing handlers with a rich tapestry to craft their narratives. The guide details how Delta Green evolved from a covert U.S. government program aimed at investigating paranormal threats during World War II to its modern-day incarnation as an illegal, decentralized network of agents. Historical context is crucial for establishing the game’s atmosphere, as it ties the fictional world to real-world events, making the horror more grounded and believable. Handlers are encouraged to use this history to create scenarios that resonate with players, drawing parallels between past and present. By understanding the historical backdrop, handlers can weave compelling stories that explore the consequences of humanity’s brushes with the unknown.
Key Organizations and Factions
In the Delta Green Handler’s Guide, several key organizations and factions shape the world of espionage and cosmic horror. Delta Green itself is a clandestine network of agents operating outside official channels, dedicated to investigating and containing supernatural threats. Opposing them is MJ-12, a rival organization obsessed with exploiting eldritch phenomena for political and military gain. Other factions include The Fate, a mysterious group manipulating events from the shadows, and The Black Book, a cryptic entity tied to ancient, otherworldly powers. These organizations create intricate alliances, rivalries, and betrayals, adding depth to the game. Handlers can use these factions to craft complex scenarios, where players must navigate not only supernatural horrors but also human conspiracies. Understanding these groups is essential for building believable and engaging storylines that immerse players in the Delta Green universe.
Core Mechanics and Rules
The Delta Green Handler’s Guide outlines the fundamental mechanics and rules, blending espionage and cosmic horror. It details character creation, skill systems, and scenario design, ensuring a balanced blend of investigation, combat, and psychological tension to immerse players deeply.
Character Creation
Character creation in Delta Green is a detailed process designed to craft agents with rich backgrounds and skills. Players allocate attributes, select skills, and choose professions that define their expertise. The system emphasizes realism, with characters built to reflect their military, intelligence, or civilian backgrounds. Psychological traits, motivations, and backstory elements are integrated to create layered, believable agents. Handlers can guide players to ensure characters fit the campaign’s tone, whether focusing on espionage, horror, or a mix of both. The guide provides optional rules for aging characters, reflecting the toll of years of service, and for creating characters with personal relationships that add emotional depth. These elements enhance the narrative, making agents more relatable and vulnerable to the eldritch horrors they face. The process balances customization with structure, ensuring characters are both unique and functional within the game’s framework. This section is essential for handlers seeking to help players create compelling, memorable agents for their Delta Green campaigns.
Sanity and Trauma
Sanity and trauma are central to the Delta Green experience, reflecting the psychological toll of confronting eldritch horrors. The game mechanics track mental deterioration through a sanity system, where exposure to traumatic events can lead to phobias, irrational fears, or even complete breakdowns. Handlers are provided with tools to weave these elements into the narrative, creating a sense of dread and unpredictability. The guide offers detailed rules for resolving sanity losses, including temporary and permanent effects, ensuring that each agent’s mental state adds depth to the story. Optional rules for shared trauma and group psychological effects further enhance the game’s horror elements. This section also includes advice on balancing sanity mechanics with player agency, ensuring that psychological horror enriches rather than overwhelms the game. By integrating sanity and trauma, handlers can craft scenarios where the greatest threats are as much within the agents’ minds as they are in the external world. This adds layers of tension and realism, making Delta Green a masterclass in psychological role-playing.
Combat and Investigation
Combat and investigation are integral to the Delta Green experience, blending tactical espionage with cosmic horror. The guide provides detailed rules for both, ensuring handlers can create tense, realistic scenarios. Combat is deadly and strategic, emphasizing planning over brute force, with mechanics for firearms, hand-to-hand combat, and explosives. Investigation is equally crucial, with systems for gathering clues, interrogating suspects, and analyzing evidence. Handlers are equipped with tools to design intricate mysteries, involving forensic analysis, decryption, and psychological profiling. The guide also covers how to balance action and investigation, keeping players engaged in both high-stakes combat and cerebral problem-solving. Optional rules for surveillance, infiltration, and sabotage further enhance the espionage aspect. By mastering these elements, handlers can craft scenarios where agents must navigate both the immediate dangers of combat and the lingering unease of uncovering forbidden truths. This balance of combat and investigation ensures that Delta Green remains a gripping blend of action, mystery, and horror, challenging players on multiple fronts.
Creating Scenarios and Campaigns
Crafting compelling scenarios and campaigns is the heart of the Delta Green Handler’s Guide. This section provides tips for creating mysteries, balancing horror with espionage, and designing engaging story arcs. Handlers learn to weave player-driven stories, incorporating atmospheric elements and strategic challenges to keep agents invested and uneasy.
Building Compelling Scenarios
Building compelling scenarios is the backbone of any successful Delta Green campaign. Handlers must weave together elements of horror, espionage, and mystery to create immersive experiences. Begin by establishing a strong central mystery tied to the Delta Green setting, ensuring it aligns with the game’s eerie atmosphere. Clues should be layered, with clear objectives for agents to uncover, while red herrings add depth and unpredictability. Antagonists, whether human or otherworldly, should be memorable and tied to the Mythos or covert operations, enhancing the sense of dread. Player agency is crucial; allow agents to make meaningful decisions that impact outcomes, avoiding railroaded plots. Pacing is key—balance action, investigation, and downtime to maintain tension. Atmosphere is equally important; use descriptions of decay, isolation, and the unknown to evoke fear. Scenarios should also challenge agents morally, forcing tough choices that reflect the grim world of Delta Green. By combining these elements, handlers can craft scenarios that leave players on edge and invested in the story. A well-designed scenario ensures a memorable and haunting experience, true to the Delta Green spirit.
Designing Non-Player Characters
Designing compelling Non-Player Characters (NPCs) is essential for immersing players in the Delta Green universe. Each NPC should have a distinct personality, motivation, and backstory to feel authentic. Whether they are allies, antagonists, or neutral figures, NPCs should serve a clear purpose in the scenario, such as providing clues, hindering progress, or offering moral dilemmas. For Delta Green, NPCs often embody the grim and secretive nature of the setting, such as shady government officials, cryptic informants, or even rival agents with hidden agendas. To enhance the horror element, consider giving NPCs unsettling traits or mysterious connections to the Mythos. Avoid making NPCs one-dimensional; instead, give them personal stakes or secrets that players can uncover. This adds depth and realism, making interactions more engaging. Additionally, NPCs should reflect the bleak atmosphere of the game—few can be fully trusted, and even allies may have ulterior motives. By crafting memorable and complex NPCs, handlers can enrich the narrative and deepen the sense of paranoia and dread that defines Delta Green.
Balancing Horror and Espionage
Balancing horror and espionage in Delta Green requires a delicate interplay between psychological tension and high-stakes covert operations. Horror elements, such as the unknown, cosmic dread, and personal trauma, should weave seamlessly with the espionage themes of infiltration, sabotage, and intelligence gathering. Handlers must create scenarios where agents face not only supernatural threats but also the moral ambiguity of espionage, such as betrayals, double-crosses, and difficult choices. The horror should amplify the stakes of the mission, while the espionage mechanics provide a framework for investigating and confronting the unknown. To achieve this balance, focus on pacing: alternate between moments of eerie atmosphere and intense action or problem-solving. Use the environment to evoke dread, while mission objectives keep players grounded in the espionage narrative. NPCs and plot twists should blur the line between ally and enemy, adding layers of paranoia. By merging these elements, handlers can craft a unique experience that captures the essence of Delta Green: a world where the horrors of the Mythos collide with the gritty realism of espionage.
Running the Game as a Handler
As a Handler, masterfully weave espionage and horror to create immersive experiences. Prepare detailed scenarios, manage player decisions, and maintain a chilling atmosphere, ensuring each session blends tension, mystery, and strategic gameplay seamlessly. Guide your agents into the unknown.
Preparing for Sessions
Preparing for a Delta Green session is crucial for creating a cohesive and immersive experience. Handlers should thoroughly research the scenario’s setting, develop detailed non-player characters, and outline key plot points. Establishing the atmosphere is essential—use props, music, and descriptive language to evoke the eerie, conspiratorial tone of the game. Handlers must also anticipate player choices and adapt scenarios dynamically, ensuring flexibility while maintaining narrative integrity. Additionally, prepare handouts, maps, and clues to enhance investigation elements. Balancing horror and espionage themes requires careful pacing, so plan moments of tension and downtime strategically. Finally, review player characters to integrate their backstories and motivations into the session, making the experience deeply personal and engaging. Proper preparation ensures a smooth, thrilling adventure that captures the essence of Delta Green’s unique blend of mystery and terror.
Managing Player Agency
Managing player agency in Delta Green requires a delicate balance between guiding the narrative and allowing players to shape the story. Handlers must be flexible, embracing unexpected decisions while ensuring they align with the game’s tone and themes. Preparing multiple branching paths for key choices can help maintain the illusion of freedom without derailing the scenario. Trust and communication are key—encourage players to express their intentions and collaborate on meaningful outcomes. Use the game’s investigative nature to empower players, letting their decisions drive the uncovering of secrets and confrontations with the unknown. At the same time, subtly nudge the story back on track when necessary, using the setting’s ominous atmosphere and impending threats to create tension. Remember, Delta Green thrives on player-driven drama and existential horror, so fostering agency enhances immersion and investment in the grim, high-stakes world.
Maintaining Atmosphere and Pacing
Maintaining atmosphere and pacing is crucial in Delta Green to immerse players in its eerie, espionage-infused world. Handlers should use descriptive language to evoke the unsettling ambiance of the setting, employing sound effects, dim lighting, and vivid descriptions to create tension. Pacing must balance action, investigation, and quiet moments of dread, allowing players to absorb the weight of their mission. Timing is key—know when to ramp up suspense and when to let the players catch their breath. Use downtime to let the weight of their discoveries sink in, fostering a sense of creeping horror. Avoid overloading scenarios with too much combat or complexity, as this can disrupt the game’s rhythm. Instead, focus on building anticipation and delivering impactful, climactic moments. By mastering atmosphere and pacing, handlers can craft a game that feels both gripping and unnerving, keeping players on edge and fully engaged in the Delta Green experience.
Appendices and Resources
The appendices provide essential tools for handlers, including scenario hooks, NPC stats, and rules summaries. Additional resources offer further reading and inspiration, helping handlers expand and enrich their Delta Green campaigns with ease and creativity.
Essential Tables and Charts
The appendices contain a wealth of reference materials, including essential tables and charts that streamline gameplay. From skill resolution and combat mechanics to sanity and trauma effects, these resources provide quick access to critical rules. Handlers can reference tables for weapon stats, investigative procedures, and Mythos creature traits, ensuring smooth session pacing. Additional charts cover equipment availability, bureaucratic red tape, and the unpredictable results of magical rituals. These tools are designed to save time during sessions, allowing handlers to focus on storytelling and atmosphere. The tables also include random generators for scenario hooks, NPC motivations, and environmental hazards, offering inspiration for improvisation. Whether resolving a tense firefight or unraveling a mysterious conspiracy, the essential tables and charts in the Delta Green Handler’s Guide are indispensable for maintaining consistency and enhancing the gaming experience. This section is a cornerstone for handlers seeking to master the intricacies of the Delta Green universe.
Scenario Hooks and Ideas
The appendices of the Delta Green Handler’s Guide are packed with scenario hooks and ideas to spark creativity. These concise setups provide handlers with the foundation to craft unique and engaging stories. From mysterious disappearances in rural towns to clandestine operations in foreign nations, the hooks cover a wide range of themes and settings. Each idea is designed to be adaptable, allowing handlers to tailor scenarios to their players’ preferences and the ongoing campaign narrative.
- Investigate a series of bizarre occurrences at an abandoned military base.
- Infiltrate a secret society masquerading as a charity or corporation.
- Uncover a conspiracy involving a new technology with occult connections.
- Rescue an asset with critical information about an alien entity.
These hooks are complemented by tips on how to expand them into full scenarios, including suggestions for NPCs, plot twists, and climactic confrontations. Handlers can mix and match elements to create stories that blend horror, espionage, and mystery seamlessly. The guide also encourages improvisation, offering ideas for adapting scenarios based on player choices. With these resources, handlers can keep their players engaged and immersed in the eerie world of Delta Green.
Further Reading and Resources
To deepen your understanding of the Delta Green universe and improve your game, the Handler’s Guide provides an extensive list of further reading and resources. These include official Delta Green sourcebooks, supplementary materials, and inspirational works that capture the essence of cosmic horror and espionage.
- Official Sourcebooks: Explore additional scenarios, character options, and setting details in books like Delta Green: The Role-Playing Game and Delta Green: Countdown.
- Supplementary Materials: Discover new organisations, artifacts, and enemies in expansions like Delta Green: The Star Chamber and Delta Green: Control Group.
- Inspirational Works: Draw from fiction and non-fiction that inspired the game, such as the works of H.P. Lovecraft, espionage thrillers by John le Carré, and real-world conspiracy theories.
- Online Communities: Engage with forums like the Delta Green Mailing List and social media groups to share ideas and learn from other handlers and players.
These resources offer a wealth of inspiration and tools to enhance your Delta Green campaigns. They provide depth, complexity, and fresh ideas to keep your players immersed in the world of espionage and cosmic horror. Use these materials to craft unique stories, expand your setting, and delve deeper into the mysteries of the Mythos.
