1992 “Proto-Dimensions Volume 1” Ad for the Dark Conspiracy RPG

If you’re unfamiliar with GDW’s Dark Connspiracy roleplaying game (find at Amazon.com*) then you’ve been missing out on a real treat. Published in the early nineties, it was easy to dismiss the game as a Shadowrun clone if you just looked at the cover. Once you got inside, though, the game turned out to be a dark future Earth where alien forces invaded — secretly — and the entire thing was a blend of cyberpunk sensibilities with a horror slant. It’s truly a fantastic setting, and if you’ve never read Mike Stackpole’s Dark Conspiracy trilogy (find at Amazon.com*) then read it now. Amazing work!

Above is a 1992 Journeys magazine advertisement for the Dark Conspiracy Proto-Dimensions sourcebook*. Loaded with rules for traveling between dimensions, as well as descriptions of dimensions, the saddest part of the book is the Volume One subtitle. There never was a second volume.

I’d love to see someone revive this game. The world was well-constructed and weird, Stackpole’s novels went a long way toward setting the tone, and with a newer game engine, I think the Dark Conspiracy RPG would make for a fun game for today’s market. It would never be a spectacular success, but it’s still a fun setting to explore.

Related articles

• 1989 Ad for Fasa’s Shadowrun (battlegrip.com)
• 1993 Newspaper Article Describes the Shadowrun RPG (battlegrip.com)
• 1992 Dark Conspiracy RPG Ad (battlegrip.com)