History TabletopGame / DarkMatter1999

* UnitedNationsIsASuperPower: True to UsefulNotes/ConspiracyTheory lore, the United Nations is working to create a OneWorldOrder with a secret army flying around in {{Black Helicopter}}s. It also started to secretly settle ''the moon''. Untrue to conspiracy theory lore, some of the descriptions paint them as [[WellIntentionedExtremist Well Intentioned Extremists]] with good reasons ''why'' they want a OneWorldOrder and a rather sympathetic vision of what kind of a state it would be.

* RareGuns: An especially rare one in the H&K [=MP2000=], a [=MP5=] variant with a selectable gas vent to help keep bullets subsonic. The Hoffmann Institute has more of them than Heckler & Koch ever did.

The ''Dark Matter'' setting, also called ''Dark•Matter''[[note]]Following the pattern set by the [[TabletopGame/StarDrive Star*Drive]] setting using punctuation in the middle of its title.[[/note]], was first published in 1999 for Creator/{{TSR}}'s ''TabletopGame/{{Alternity}}'' RPG, then recycled for its ''TabletopGame/D20Modern'' RPG. This is a world where [[ConspiracyKitchenSink every]] lunatic [[ConspiracyTheorist conspiracy theory]] is true. There really are [[TelepathicSpacemen psychic]] [[TheGreys grey aliens]] [[AlienAbduction abducting humans]] and [[AliensStealCattle mutilating cattle]]. [[TheIlluminati Illuminati type groups]] really are working to bring the entire world under their control. [[BigfootSasquatchAndYeti Bigfoot]]? He's out there too. And TheGovernment is [[GovernmentConspiracy covering it all up]]. The players are field agents for the shadowy private organization known as the Hoffman Institute, devoted to investigating the activities of psychics, cultists, and "xenoforms" and protecting humankind from the tide of dark matter seeping into the fabric of the universe that's the ultimate cause of all things paranormal.

* ApocalypseCult:
** The Final Church has vaguely defined goals beyond widespread murder and sacrifice, but it does seem to be leading to either world domination, or simply wiping out all life.

* BenevolentConspiracy: Several of the conspiracies located in the book can have fairly benevolent aims, as decided by the [=GM=], though the Hoffman Institute that employs the player is the foremost one. (Unless the [=GM=] decides otherwise.)
* BigfootSasquatchAndYeti:
** Sasquatch are a ServantRace created by the greys from DNA from neanderthals, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigantopithecus Gigantopithecus,]] or some alien species. They have ChameleonCamouflage which explains how they are so hard to catch on camera.
** The Yetis are are a variant of Sasquatch found in the Himalayas.

* TheGreys: A key part of the backstory, having been manipulating human advancement for ages. One disguised as a human called Dr. Itohiro Nakami founded the Hoffman Institute.

* LuckyCharmsTitle: Following the pattern set by the [[TabletopGame/StarDrive Star*Drive]] setting using punctuation in the middle of its title.

* MyGrandsonMyself: Nakami pretends to be his own son to transfer the leadership position of Hoffman Institute without becoming suspicious, being a Grey who uses illusions to appear as a human.

* BigRedDevils: Luciferans look the part (and are aggressively hated by the elohim), but are generally [[WhiteMagic Enochian practitioners]] and thoroughly distinct from actual demons. Then again, they're also responsible for introducing the technology for true suitcase nukes during the Cold War, so...
* BrainUploading: The first Internet Ghost was created when someone was experimenting with a neural array meant to replicate human thought processes. The process duplicates the conscious rather then changing it to digital form. The game leaves it open if other internet ghosts are duplicating the original experiment or duplicating themselves.

* TheGreys: A rather key part of the backstory, having been manipulating human advancement for ages. One disguised as a human called Dr. Itohiro Nakami founded the Hoffman Institute.

* {{Humanshifting}}: Sandman have a limited ability to change their appearance. There are also the dopplegangers from the Xenoform supplement who are of unknown origin even to themselves.

* KillAndReplace: Dopplegangers do this when deciding to imitate someone long term, usually to enjoy the wealth and perks that living that life may bring.

* NoBodyLeftBehind: Upon death, the nanites within a Sandman disassemble the body into dust.
* NoWaterProofingInTheFuture: Despite being an advance fusion of machine and biological material (which would contain water) the Sandman are damaged when immersed in conductive liquids.
* OurAngelsAreDifferent: The Elohim are speculated to be a race that lived on Earth before they [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence transcended to another dimension]]. They appear as tall, perfect humans but this seems AFormYouAreComfortableWith. Other types have been seen, such as a fiery flying wheel or a pillar of fire, but these still may not be their true forms. They have a bit of a AGodAmI complex around other races and they [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien have the tech to back their attitude up]]. When they speak, every [[TranslatorMicrobes listener understands regardless of what languages they understand]], which is rather impressive to the Greys. They also hate the Luciferians and arcane magic users with a passion.

* OurGhoulsAreCreepier: After a few generations, humans who engage in cannibalism degenerate into Ghouls. Ghouls have unnaturally sharp fingernails and stink of blood and decay, forced to small pockets on the edge of society and slaking their hunger from morgues or the occasional isolated person.

* UnwillingRoboticisation: The Etoile transform humans into what are called "Sandmen," fusing organic and metallic material via {{nanite}}s. They use the sandmen to infiltrate the industrial centers of Earth and fight their enemies.

* OurAngelsAreDifferent: The Elohim are speculated to be a race that lived on Earth before they [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence transcended to another dimension]]. They appear as tall, perfect humans but this seems AFormYouAreComfortableWith. Other more Biblical types have been seen, such as a fiery flying wheel or a pillar of fire, but these still may not be their true forms. They have a bit of a AGodAmI complex around other races and they [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien have the tech to back their attitude up]]. When they speak, every [[TranslatorMicrobes listener understands regardless of what languages they understand]], which is rather impressive to the Greys. They also hate the Luciferians and arcane magic users with a passion.

** The Final Church has barely defined goals, beyond widespread murder and sacrifice, but it does seem to be leading to either world domination, or simply wiping out all life.

* BigfootSasquatchAndYeti: Sasquatch are a ServantRace created by the greys from DNA from neanderthals or [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigantopithecus Gigantopithecus]] or some alien species. They have ChameleonCamouflage which explains how they are so hard to catch on camera.

* BrainUploading: The first Internet Ghost was created when someone was experimenting with a neural array meant to replicate human thought processes. The processes is duplicates the conscious rather then changing it to digital form. The game leaves it open to if other internet ghosts are duplicating the original experiment or duplicating themselves.

* HollywoodSatanism: The Final Church, THE worldwide conspiracy for demons and satanists. Basically, pretend that every paranoid rumor regarding Satanism was actually true and you get the gist. There was even a web book devoted solely to the group at the end of the game's run and the group makes a comeback in the ''[[TabletopGame/D20Modern Menace Manual]]''.

* TheIlluminati: The original Bavarian Illuminati is referenced but the Illuminati term is used as a blanket term for the many groups that know what's going on and have their own conspiracies including the Freemasons, CIA, the Bilderbergers, etc.

* TheMenInBlack: Given stats in the Bestiary. Three explanations are provided for what they are, including government agents, aliens disguised as humans (and doing a bad job of playing the part), or strange entities that are are attracted to paranormal events and the attempts to cover up events are actually a form of ReversePsychology to get people to talk about these events. Oh any of these could be true, even multiple types at the same time.

* OurAngelsAreDifferent: The Elohim are speculated to be a race that lived on Earth before they [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence transcended to another dimension]]. They appear as tall, perfect humans but this seems AFormYouAreComfortableWith. Other more Biblical types have been seen, such as a fiery flying wheel or a pillar of fire, but these still may not be their true forms. They have a bit of a AGodAmI complex around other races and they [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien have the tech to back their attitude up]]. When they speak, every [[TranslatorMicrobes listener understands regardless of what languages they understand]], which is rather impressive to the Greys. They also hate the luciferians and arcane magic users with a passion.
* OurCryptidsAreMoreMysterious: Several types of cryptid are addressed in the game.
* OurDarkMatterIsMysterious: The basis for the setting is that the Earth passes through a high concentration of dark matter. The total amount of magical and psionic energy increases and gates to other dimensions open up, allowing weird monsters to come through.

* StrawFeminist: In the CDC, there's a group called the Gynarchy (the name really says it all). But if you're interested what the Gynarchy is actually doing, they are looking to eliminate the need for sperm in the whole reproductive process because they think men are obsolete and once men are out of the equation, women can TakeOverTheWorld.

* UnitedNationsIsASuperPower: True to UsefulNotes/ConspiracyTheory lore the United Nations is working to create a OneWorldOrder with a secret army flying around in {{Black Helicopter}}s. It also started to secretly settle ''the moon''. Untrue to conspiracy theory lore, some of the descriptions paint them as [[WellIntentionedExtremist Well Intentioned Extremists]] with good reasons ''why'' they want a OneWorldOrder and a rather sympathetic vision of what kind of a state it would be.

* ApocalypseCult: The RealLife Aum Shinri Kyo gets a write up.

* BenevolentConspiracy: Hoffman Institute.

* ConspiracyKitchenSink: The game even gives different options of exactly what the different conspiracies are really up to.

* TheGreys: Yes. One disguised as a human called Dr. Itohiro Nakami founded the Hoffman Institute.

* TheMenInBlack: Three explanations are provided including government agents, aliens disguised as humans (and doing a bad job of playing the part), or strange entities that are are attracted to paranormal events and the attempts to cover up events are actually a form of ReversePsychology to get people to talk about these events. Oh any of these could be true, even multiple types at the same time.
* MultipleChoicePast: Most of the creatures are given vague or multiple origins to leave open story options.

* UnitedNationsIsASuperPower: True to ConspiracyTheory lore the United Nations is working to create a OneWorldOrder with a secret army flying around in {{Black Helicopter}}s. It also started to secretly settle ''the moon''. Untrue to conspiracy theory lore, some of the descriptions paint them as [[WellIntentionedExtremist Well Intentioned Extremists]] with good reasons ''why'' they want a OneWorldOrder and a rather sympathetic vision of what kind of a state it would be.