A Guide to Covert Ops

Covert Ops.jpg
A Guide to Covert Ops
Product information
Type Sourcebook
Development Herbert A. Beas II
Randall N. Bills
Primary writing Herbert A. Beas II, Warner Doles, Camille Klein, Chris Hartford, David L. McCulloch, Christoffer M. Trossen (writing)
Diane Piron-Gelman, Michelle Lyons (editing)
Pages 158
Cover Artwork Kevin McCann (art)
Anton Zaleski (design & layout)
Illustrations Les Dorscheid
Chris Lewis
Matt Plog
Publication information
Publisher FanPro
Product code 35008
First published 1 May 2004
ISBN-10 1-932564-15-2
ISBN-13 978-1-932564-15-0
MSRP $24.99
Content
Era Civil War era
Timeline ca. 3067

Description[edit]

A Guide to Covert Ops is a sourcebook that is designed to help Classic BattleTech RPG gamemasters run a story that features characters who are special forces and/or intelligence operatives. It includes a plethora of RPG rules, including covert ops-oriented sub-affiliations, traits, skills, equipment, and life paths. It also includes an adventure that makes use of covert ops characters and their abilities.

The product also includes information on every government intelligence agency in 3067-era BattleTech, from the Inner Sphere powers to the Clan Watch, to the Periphery states, ROM, and even Wolfnet. It also offers synopses some independent organizations such as the Black Dragon Society and Free Capella.

From the Back Cover[edit]

SHADOW WARRIORS

A space armada slowly takes shape a hundred million kilometers above the ecliptic plane of a star; the target planet does not have the military to stop the massive BattleMech invasion about to be unleashed on their world. Instead, a handful of men slowly maneuver in disguised, pressurized, polymer bags towards their targets. After attaching to the ships, they cut a hole in the bulkhead and sneak towards the fragile Kearny-Fuchida core that makes interstellar travel possible. Knowing death is the only outcome, they disable the fleet, aborting the invasion before it has begun, changing the course of history. They have no name, no history, no life beyond their service to the State. They are covert operatives.

A Guide to Covert Ops provides detailed information on every intelligence agency in the BattleTech universe. Additionally, extensive Life Paths covering everything from DEST to Lohengrin and Valkyrie to guerrilla insurgents are included. Finally, new specialized espionage gear, campaigning rules and a complete adventure provide all the information and tools players and Gamemasters alike will need to enter the covert world of special ops.

Contents[edit]

  • Introduction
  • Character Creation
    • Traits
    • Skills
    • Affiliations
    • Double Agents
    • Additional Paths
    • Stage 1: Early Childhood
    • Stage 2 and 3
    • Stage 3: Higher Education
    • Stage 3 and 4
    • Stage 4: Real Life
    • New Fields
  • New Equipment
    • Elective Enhancements
  • Covert Ops Campaigns
    • Running Adventures in Covert Operations
    • Types of Games
    • Security/Spy-Hunters
    • Covert Ops Characters
    • Player Character Double- and Triple-Agents
    • Covert Operations NPCS
    • Covert Operations Encounters
  • Operations Backstab
    • Calculated Risk
    • Classic BattleTech RPG Rules
    • How to Run Operation Backstab
    • Overview
    • Help Wanted
    • Warning Shots
    • Needle in the Haystack
    • Crossfire!
    • Bulls in the China Shop
    • Betrayal in the Void
    • The Scene of the Crime
    • Break-In
    • Warp-up
    • Research
    • Cast of Characters

Notes[edit]

  • The book was done on a rushed timetable, so the printer did not have the time to correct their use of a font not usually seen in BattleTech products.
  • The spine of the book displays the product code of 10978, though the front cover and the title itself are categorized with the official product code of 35008.
  • The front cover appears to illustrate a scene from Chapter 10 of the novel Imminent Crisis where a member of the Rabid Foxes is sent to assassinate George Hasek.