tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post2886226043118707556..comments2024-03-29T10:34:22.739-04:00Comments on Delta's D&D Hotspot: Top Secret and SprechenhaltestelleDeltahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-34266152990200359252023-08-29T06:43:15.514-04:002023-08-29T06:43:15.514-04:00Celebrating Top Secret, the 1980 RPG that tried to...Celebrating Top Secret, the 1980 RPG that tried to go beyond 'D&D but you're spies' - and Merle Rasmussen's wonderful, maddening introductory module, Operation: Sprechenhaltestelle<br />http://www.fenorc.co.uk/home/operation-top-secret-rpgFenOrchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05427867377723747179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-43705930659784363402019-12-04T00:01:42.974-05:002019-12-04T00:01:42.974-05:00That's awesome, thanks for that! Highly recomm...That's awesome, thanks for that! Highly recommended.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-44165087592523382192019-11-26T15:20:42.550-05:002019-11-26T15:20:42.550-05:00Old post, I know - but just in case anyone stumble...Old post, I know - but just in case anyone stumbles through while Googling for clues to how the NPCs in Sprechenhaltestelle relate to one another, here's a link to an excellent piece of legwork that puts a lot of the pieces together: https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/top-secret-module-001-sprechenhaltestelle-analyzed.734257/Christopher Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17368794259249607299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-10084538084963688022015-12-26T00:40:05.261-05:002015-12-26T00:40:05.261-05:00Well put, I'm in. :-)Well put, I'm in. :-)Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-74549335395478398792015-12-23T17:27:35.004-05:002015-12-23T17:27:35.004-05:00Merle, it also bears mentioning that one of the re...Merle, it also bears mentioning that one of the reasons I love Sprechenhaltestelle so much (and probably the reason most of the rest of us do, too) is that it does something that virtually no espionage adventure does - it provides a naturalistic, ongoing setting with several "embedded" adventures that can be adventitiously discovered by players. If it needs a little clean-up before its usable... well, nothing's perfect. But it is honestly the closest analogue to B2 in a modern-day game that I can think of. So, seriously, good work, man.<br /><br />Think anyone would go for a "cleaned-up" version, written with better information presentation and more up-front explanation of what's going on? Like for nostalgia, if nothing else? 'cause, frankly, I think Dan and I are halfway to writing one right now...LWSCHURTZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06635573516962732975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-86759391043983807242015-12-23T12:58:54.465-05:002015-12-23T12:58:54.465-05:00Hey, Merle, I wasn't bagging on you, please be...Hey, Merle, I wasn't bagging on you, please believe me. I'd hate to think what my game notes looked like at 22 - or would look like if I didn't have the ease of electronic desktop publishing at my fingertips, either.<br /><br />Sprechenhaltestelle IS a mess, but it's a lovely mess, and we're still talking about it as we close out 2016, so you did something right, my good man, with both the adventure and the game. We wouldn't spend this much energy trying to figure it out if there wasn't something compelling about it.<br /><br />All the love allowed by my clearance level!LWSCHURTZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06635573516962732975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-10549988941730163112015-12-23T10:53:53.410-05:002015-12-23T10:53:53.410-05:00That's great! I was kind of hoping that was th...That's great! I was kind of hoping that was the case; thanks for the info.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-11716128680994266282015-12-23T10:48:30.373-05:002015-12-23T10:48:30.373-05:00Merle, thanks for that insight!! I bet that was a ...Merle, thanks for that insight!! I bet that was a busy and exciting time.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-84252001085818128192015-12-22T20:57:29.745-05:002015-12-22T20:57:29.745-05:00I was 22 years and 8 months old when TS was publis...I was 22 years and 8 months old when TS was published. TSR wanted a module in the box. They sent me D&D Module G1: Steading of the Hill Giant Chief as an example. The rest is history!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15444620776617666406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-6768620365560443402015-12-22T14:51:41.234-05:002015-12-22T14:51:41.234-05:00Also, I should point out, my "Rectified"...Also, I should point out, my "Rectified" Contact List only "rectifies" all the times cross-contacts were left out. For instance, in numerous occasions, someone will have a two-way face to face contact with someone else, but it's only listed under one character, or the like. This contact list makes clear ALL connections indicated in the original.<br /><br />What it DOESN'T do is represent the relationships as they are described in the module text. The example I gave above about S12-S14 would require a whole different chain of connections than what the chart shows. I haven't done that. That's a whole OTHER project!LWSCHURTZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06635573516962732975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-69420331609464392832015-12-22T01:27:16.757-05:002015-12-22T01:27:16.757-05:00I've played several games of RD with Merle at ...I've played several games of RD with Merle at GayCon and North Texas RPGCon, and he runs the games using 1e TS. <br /><br />Allan.grodoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11800184312511280050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-13985930137498123982015-12-21T16:11:06.570-05:002015-12-21T16:11:06.570-05:00My pleasure. I see from your most recent post that...My pleasure. I see from your most recent post that both of us have been a little consumed by this, albeit with different aspects of the mystery. ;) Maybe together, we'll finally solve the real puzzle of Sprechenhaltestelle! Hahahha.LWSCHURTZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06635573516962732975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-8509981404828578722015-12-21T02:24:56.259-05:002015-12-21T02:24:56.259-05:00Thanks for that work! Really excellent observation...Thanks for that work! Really excellent observation. Obviously thousands of us have glossed over that table unable to see those problems.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-38104270110772393572015-12-21T02:22:44.920-05:002015-12-21T02:22:44.920-05:00I've been thinking the same thing; adapting it...I've been thinking the same thing; adapting it to an urban thief adventure that I seem perennially stuck on constructing. I really like the layout. Supposedly Rasmussen spent time sneaking/studying the tunnels at his college; I must say, Sprech. has the most realistic sewer system I've seen in an adventure.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-29610540152370620002015-12-21T02:20:07.380-05:002015-12-21T02:20:07.380-05:00Lee, thank you so much!! That's exactly the ki...Lee, thank you so much!! That's exactly the kind of work I was hoping someone had done so I wouldn't have to redo it myself. But I couldn't get an internet search to show it up.<br /><br />That said, I'll take Landon's word that there's some deficiencies (or made-up additions) there. If you can construct an updated contact list, boy, that would be great!Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-42092340090480197762015-12-21T01:58:56.569-05:002015-12-21T01:58:56.569-05:00And I also wonder about running it again to see if...And I also wonder about running it again to see if I could do any better with it as an adult. I wonder if Rasmussen still runs these rules, or some later variant?Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-66273832623223909002015-12-21T01:57:22.740-05:002015-12-21T01:57:22.740-05:00desmondwarzel recalls correctly. Here's the qu...desmondwarzel recalls correctly. Here's the quote (listed as the first, true, entry in the rumor table):<br /><br />"The name of this district is Sprechenhaltestelle. Literally translated this means 'the speaking stopping place'. It refers to all the secret information that is exchanged here often by word-of-mouth only." (p. 7)Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-75834072150005070392015-12-21T01:54:31.039-05:002015-12-21T01:54:31.039-05:00And it's probably not a typo, because his code...And it's probably not a typo, because his code does correctly synch with multiple indexed tables at the back of the book.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-35527074926593088482015-12-21T01:51:30.659-05:002015-12-21T01:51:30.659-05:00I don't know, he actually lives in a lean-to o...I don't know, he actually lives in a lean-to on the rooftop of a warehouse and I don't think he has any job or appearance elsewhere.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-52917498681225341942015-12-21T01:49:47.499-05:002015-12-21T01:49:47.499-05:00Ooh, those are good hypotheses.
"... having...Ooh, those are good hypotheses. <br /><br />"... having a "skills list" essentially cribbed directly from a college course catalog was a peculiar choice..." -- LOL!Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-42028734432001411502015-12-19T11:11:17.428-05:002015-12-19T11:11:17.428-05:00Further reflections on Sprechenhaltestelle: I fina...Further reflections on Sprechenhaltestelle: I finally got frustrated at the "Personal Language Knowledge and Usage Chart," which includes the key to how the various characters are connected with one another, and created my own list (http://tinyurl.com/ot8evyq). Here's where I run into the fundamental problem with Sprechenhaltestelle. The list is useless, because it doesn't even come close to describing the ACTUAL relationships of the characters in the module.<br /><br />Here's an example. S120 is described by the chart as having a one-way, outgoing face-to-face contact with S12, who has a similar relationship with S13, who has a similar relationship with S14, who has a similar relationship with C210. Fair enough. Looking at the chart, it's easy to imagine how the network works: S120 knows where to find S12 (though the reverse is not true). He passes a message. S12 passes it to S13, who does not know where to find S12. S13 passes it to S14, who passes it finally to C210, no one link of the chain able to work backwards at all.<br /><br />Which is TOTALLY NOT how it is described in the module. S12-14 all LIVE at the flophouse operated by C210, so presumably they all know where to find each other, and the text (Street Level 29) indicates that S120 visits with C210 at night!! In other words, the contacts chart is not just badly organized, it's simply bad.LWSCHURTZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06635573516962732975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-85025853791573128322015-12-18T23:41:11.892-05:002015-12-18T23:41:11.892-05:00In my memory, the module itself translates the phr...In my memory, the module itself translates the phrase as "the speaking stopping place"--and it is indeed a place where spies of all stripes network with one another.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-67557256842396936872015-12-18T21:43:45.081-05:002015-12-18T21:43:45.081-05:00I sort of expect it for wargames, though I didn...I sort of expect it for wargames, though I didn't know about the use of codes in Aftermath. And besides, Top Secret's codes are particularly arbitrary.LWSCHURTZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06635573516962732975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-31525149545599646792015-12-18T19:20:51.309-05:002015-12-18T19:20:51.309-05:00> no other games to my knowledge had this sort ...> no other games to my knowledge had this sort of compulsion to use short-hand<br /><br />No, this was definitely a trend in the early 80s. In addition to Top Secret and Aftermath, the Avalon Hill wargame Firepower (1984) did pretty much the same thing. It's especially understandable when you look at the Firepower force lists for various scenarios -- each one is compressed down into a short paragraph through the aggressive use of equipment codes. For example:<br /><br />ALONG THE IRON CURTAIN (Germany, 1980s?)<br />West German Jaeger Squad (-): 4/2; 1S, 1A; 1xLMG5, 1xMPL6, 5xRFL11; 7xBDA, 1xBNC, 13xHGN1, 1xRGN1, 1xRDO, 3xMPL6AMO <br />East German Panzergrenadier Squad: 4/2; 1C, 1S, 1A: 2xLMG4, 1xMPL20, 1xPST4, 2xRFL1, 1xRLF19, 1xSMG11; 16xHGN3, 1xRDO, 3xMPL20AMOLeland J. Tankersleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17257381741308085613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170237526012357403.post-83318108594601394752015-12-18T18:17:22.146-05:002015-12-18T18:17:22.146-05:00Given that no other games to my knowledge had this...Given that no other games to my knowledge had this sort of compulsion to use short-hand, I suspect that it was just a quirk of Rasmussen's. But even that isn't the worst of it - for instance, I was going through the contacts list in Sprechenhaltestelle, and found that, for instance, a particular character is listed as having a two-way radio connection with some other character. In that character's entry, however... no two-way contact is listed. However, for other characters, a two-way contact is listed on both. Not only were the various networks not explicitly explained, the notation for who is connected to whom isn't even consistent!<br /><br />I'm working on a rectified contacts list, but it's an involved project.LWSCHURTZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06635573516962732975noreply@blogger.com