D&D Equivalent to a CIA style organization?

[PangolinPie]

Just something I was considering for an idea still in development. Had an idea for a game where all the players were recruited from various professions (master thief in prison, retried soldier, etc) by some kind of underground organization similar to the CIA that runs covert operations for the greater good of all civilized society. They hold no allegiance to any one sovereignty or kingdom but function under the guidance of a council of sages type of group. The players would be transported about, carrying out various missions all against a similar organization bent on world conquest but have a very spy-movie style feel to the whole game.

What would be comparable to that or what organizations in the real world middle ages could be a good comparison to use for developing the idea?

[DMVerdandi]

Just something I was considering for an idea still in development. Had an idea for a game where all the players were recruited from various professions (master thief in prison, retried soldier, etc) by some kind of underground organization similar to the CIA that runs covert operations for the greater good of all civilized society. They hold no allegiance to any one sovereignty or kingdom but function under the guidance of a council of sages type of group. The players would be transported about, carrying out various missions all against a similar organization bent on world conquest but have a very spy-movie style feel to the whole game.

What would be comparable to that or what organizations in the real world middle ages could be a good comparison to use for developing the idea?

Secret societies.
Rosicrucians, Freemasons, ect.

Maybe religious sects.
christian knights during the crusades did MUCH for papal-run states. And much under silence.

Outside of europe, the ninja clans and even closer, the Oniwabanshu.

[Eldest]

I imagine the city would be quite alright. It would obviously be protected by all the magical powers flocking to such a city. The devils, mindflayers, dobbelgangers, the evil mage vizier, the bodysnatchers, thieves guild, and the occasional epic wizards summer residence.

Most of the population might actually be highly magical, everyone putting on a careful charade to maintain the “illusion” of a non-magical town :smalltongue:
"Quick! Someone's comming, act martial!"

(this refers to a city that is openly hostile to all magic, follow the quote for more info)

Please do this in at least one area of the gameworld!

[Turk Mannion]

We ran a similar idea in our weekly table-top game. The group was designed as a covert force, part of the Nyrond government that was sent to infiltrate The Great Kingdom. Good idea, but a different style of game than many expect, much more covert. It requires a lot of planning and stealth. This can reduce the variability of characters, as everyone feels like they need to have hide, bluff, etc.

[Zubrowka74]

Just something I was considering for an idea still in development. Had an idea for a game where all the players were recruited from various professions (master thief in prison, retried soldier, etc) by some kind of underground organization similar to the CIA that runs covert operations for the greater good of all civilized society. They hold no allegiance to any one sovereignty or kingdom but function under the guidance of a council of sages type of group. The players would be transported about, carrying out various missions all against a similar organization bent on world conquest but have a very spy-movie style feel to the whole game.

What would be comparable to that or what organizations in the real world middle ages could be a good comparison to use for developing the idea?

The Zhentarim ?

[CyberThread]

forgotten realms harpers

[WbtE]

Just something I was considering for an idea still in development. Had an idea for a game where all the players were recruited from various professions (master thief in prison, retried soldier, etc) by some kind of underground organization similar to the CIA that runs covert operations for the greater good of all civilized society. They hold no allegiance to any one sovereignty or kingdom but function under the guidance of a council of sages type of group. The players would be transported about, carrying out various missions all against a similar organization bent on world conquest but have a very spy-movie style feel to the whole game.

What would be comparable to that or what organizations in the real world middle ages could be a good comparison to use for developing the idea?

You probably want the Assassins or the Order of Preachers (Dominican Order).

[BWR]

the Circle of Eight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_Eight) might fit.

[ben-zayb]

forgotten realms harpers

Forget the harpers! The Blackhand-endorsed Tel'Teukiira is the real deal!:smalltongue:

The FR campaign setting has plenty of "good" covert organizations, really (and probably a dozen or so non-good covert organizations). Harpers (http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Harpers), Moonstars (http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Moonstars), Red Sashes (http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Red_Sashes), and Spysong (http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Spysong).

For RL... no idea, really, since the chances of knowing the existence of an ancient RL secret organization are pretty low for me. DC comics' Legion of Shadows come to mind, as well as the usual depiction and existence of groups such as the Freemasons, the Illuminati, the Knight's Templar, etc.

[Red Fel]

Just something I was considering for an idea still in development. Had an idea for a game where all the players were recruited from various professions (master thief in prison, retried soldier, etc) by some kind of underground organization similar to the CIA that runs covert operations for the greater good of all civilized society. They hold no allegiance to any one sovereignty or kingdom but function under the guidance of a council of sages type of group. The players would be transported about, carrying out various missions all against a similar organization bent on world conquest but have a very spy-movie style feel to the whole game.

What would be comparable to that or what organizations in the real world middle ages could be a good comparison to use for developing the idea?

As others have mentioned, the Freemasons, Rosicrucians, the Thuggee Cult, the Oniwabanshu, etc., are all good real-world reference points. To build a society that parallels them, consider the fundamental elements of a secret society.

1. Why is it secret? Why do they operate in secret instead of in the open? There are many reasons for this. Perhaps they exist to exert influence on the rest of the world. Obviously, they need to do this in secret, as people resent being openly dominated, and would rebel. Or perhaps they are protecting something - a sacred relic, a secret knowledge. Perhaps they want to prevent society from reaching a certain location or attaining a certain level of understanding, or perhaps they want to keep certain knowledge to themselves for their own private gain. So they keep themselves secret as well, so that people don't even know there's someone stopping them from reaching something of which they're unaware.

2. What are they protecting? See above. Are they protecting themselves? An object? A place? A particular level of enlightenment or similar abstraction? The true heir to the throne? That last one's a real doozy to drop on your players - a secret society of murderers and thieves who are in fact all displaced nobles serving the rightful heir who seeks to overthrow his wicked brother. They'll never see it coming.

3. What are their methods? Secret societies tend to be extremely Lawful by nature. However, their specific methods vary. Are they killers for hire? Do they kill anyone for even being aware of them? Do they spread disinformation? Do they never strike women or children? Do they burn books? Do they operate out of churches? Do they have a network of spy contacts in various government agencies? Do they give out cool decoder rings or offer major world leaders a secret way to reach them? Are they, in fact, the A-Team?

4. Who are their members? This ties in closely with methods and what they're protecting. Are they displaced nobles seeking influence? The discarded dregs of society seeking revolution? A cabal of mages seeking "world optimization?" A group of cultists seeking the apocalypse? A clerical order seeking to protect the sad truth of their deity? Monkeys on stilts?

Each historic secret order had its own secret, its own membership, its own goals and secret handshake. They had a reason for existing. You have to have that upfront. A secret society generally doesn't last if it exists simply to exist. The key is to make it compelling and not cliched. An order of murderers and thieves protecting the rightful heir is a cool twist. An order of clerics protecting an abandoned, haunted castle which they have sworn never to enter but contains a splinter of their god makes for a great quest hook. An order of men in owl masks who exist just to make political leaders dance for their amusement can be okay, but kind of gets old. Keep it in mind.

Your organization is "for the good of all mankind." Who runs the organization? How do they define "good?" How do they define "mankind?" Is there a twist, or are you playing the altruistic secret society straight? How long has it existed? Do they recruit people randomly, or are the PCs "special?" (Of course the PCs are special. But why?) You want to keep these questions in mind as well.

And remember, green is the badger by midnight.

[Shining Wrath]

King's Lanterns, from Eberron's Breland, are actually pretty similar to this.

[Shadowknight12]

The church of the god of thieves/spies would be a natural fit.

You could also go Charlie's Angels on them and have them receive instructions from a mysterious voice.

[Ansem]

Make powerful NPC's and put them in Organization XIII and have them inquisition your players to hell and back :P

[NickChaisson]

It could be a secret society of psions who have secret control over a leading body of some type. They could use they psionic powers to influence the leader and could have non-psionic people working for them to do things that they dont want to draw to much attention to.

[TuggyNE]

As others have mentioned, the Freemasons, Rosicrucians, the Thuggee Cult, the Oniwabanshu, etc., are all good real-world reference points.

Some years ago, I met with a businessman from India, and realized my name sounds quite a lot like the old cult. Slightly awkward for a bit there.

"Thuggee" is the source for the English word "thug".