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Following on from Which Call of Cthulhu books do I need to get started?, I would also like to get into Delta Green.

Similar questions, then:

  1. How useful will the core book be on its own?
  2. Are any other books essential? If so, which?
  3. Are there any non-essential, but particularly good, books that you'd recommend?

Since I'm familiar with Call of Cthulhu, it would also help me if you could explain how Delta Green differs from it.

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The overview question is really better as a different question. – Adriano Varoli Piazza Nov 22 '10 at 23:08
I've rephrased it slightly. I think it's a useful point. – Graham Nov 23 '10 at 22:43

4 Answers

up vote 7 down vote

Just a Call of Cthulhu rulebook and the Delta Green basic book.

My favorite version of the Delta Green book is the bi-system BRP/D20 one (now out of print). I think the D20 rules for Call of Cthulhu (also out of print, but easily available via Amazon) offer a nice format for playing a more action/adventure themed Delta Green game than might be suggested by using the BRP rules, and there are a couple of nice ideas in there that a solidly BRP GM might find useful too.

Usefulness: The DG sourcebook is probably the most impressive setting book produced for Call of Cthulhu. The wealth of stuff in there is astounding. I don't necessarily think everything the authors did with it follows my own vision of The Mythos And How It Works, but it ain't shabby by any means and I highly recommend it whichever rules you want to use.

Other books: There are other materials produced in the DG line, but they aren't necessary to get started, or to play for months. They refine and expand the materials in Delta Green.

Overview? Think X-Files meets Call of Cthulhu.

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up vote 3 down vote

  1. The basic book is very useful on its own. It can be used with pretty much any system, as it is high on substance and low on crunch.

  2. Not essential, but useful. The original DG book has conspiracies aplenty and a set of good adventures to get started with.

  3. Agree with Roxysteve's tagline: this is X-Files crossed with Cthulhu.

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Which other books are useful? – Graham Nov 23 '10 at 22:25
up vote 2 down vote

All you need is a CoC rulebook and a DG sourcebook, but DG: Countdown is also really great work. DG: Eyes Only is not at the same level, I would say. And I don't know yet DG: Targets of Opportunity.

To improve the atmosphere and your background knowledge (and also for fun), you can try the novels and short stories.

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up vote 2 down vote

It's not out yet but Pagan Publishing has announced they will be releasing a standalone Delta Green game that should still be compatible with existing DG products. This game will also deal with the changes in the real world since the mid-90s and how Delta Green (and the other conspiracies) have adapted/changed. No release date has been given but it's likely to be sometime in 2012 at the earliest. You can listen to the Delta Green panel from GenCon 2011 discussing that here.

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