Dark•Matter is a well-crafted campaign setting that provides tons of information and inspiration for creating fun to play characters and adventures for them to experience. Like the episodes and seasons of The X-Files, it has an underlying story arc to unravel but also provides monster of the week style interludes as well. The authors really did their homework to give us a comprehensive primer on real world conspiracy theories, cryptids, UFOlogy, and paranormal activity. One reoccurring and appreciated feature are the alternative motives provided for the secret societies and other elements of the setting that you could use, ignore, or have the truth be somewhere in between. The offerings for "real" world magic and psionics (what Alternity calls SFX) is comprehensive and compelling as well, with spells and powers for ESP, telepathy, telekinesis, diabolism, Hermeticism, Enochian magic, monotheistic faith magic, shamanism, and Voodoo.
Additional Alternity rule supplements for the game include a "monster manual" of additional cryptids and threats called Xenoforms: Aliens, Demons & Aberrations and the Arms and Equipment Guide featuring cool new weapons and tech. A supplement about one of the secret societies featured in the core rulebook called The Final Church was planned but never printed, although Wizards eventually ended up giving it away as a free PDF download. Several tie-in novels were released as well during the Alternity Dark•Matter era.
In Dark•Matter, the default campaign setting assumes the player characters are working for the Hoffmann Institute, a mysterious organization that publicly claims to be an alternative energy think tank but is secretly investigating all instances of bizarre and unexplained occurrences that come to its attention. Like the other secret organizations featured in the core rulebook, it is highly detailed with multiple possibilities to choose from for its true motivations. It makes great resource for the player characters to turn to for mission briefings, equipment, and backup.
 |
| Etoile |
And I think there are several reasons for that. Sure, the d20 Modern Dark•Matter offerings didn't quite match the production values and presentation of the original Alternity game. But remember, Dark•Matter was set two years into the future when it was first released; the campaign starts in 2001. September 11, 2001 was a major cultural turning point in the United States, if not the world, after the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington DC. The world was now different and so was the way we perceived and consumed conspiracy. When Dark•Matter saw re-release after 2001, it no longer had the same impact. Fast-forward to 2016 until now where the ramblings of conspiracy nuts like Alex Jones get the same attention and consideration as mainstream media news outlets. Then again, maybe Dark•Matter was trying to warn us about something all the way back in 1999...
If I were to run Dark•Matter now in 2019, I wouldn't set it in the present day but keep it in that late 90s where it is definitely at home, a more "innocent" time to explore dark secrets, forbidden knowledge, and hidden truths as it were. I wouldn't use Alternity or d20 Modern either; instead I would opt for something like Fate Core or adapt and mash together several GUMSHOE games like Fear Itself, The Esoterrorists, and Night's Black Agents. It's still a great go-to if you are looking for something that feels like classic X-Files.
All in all, Dark•Matter still holds up today, and is worthy of a re-visit by longtime fans or a first look if you've never experienced it.
 |
| Mr. Sandman bring me a dream! |
