AN EXCITING FATE CORE

HOMEBREW SETTING

SECRETLY COMEDIC
AGENTS OF THE
RETRO-FUTURE
"It's almost as if someone only

spent like a few days writing this."

-Anonymous

BLAST FROM THE PAST!

SPY SHENANIGANS!

FUN FOR THE FAMILY!

TOP SECRET
 INTRODUCTION
This is a custom setting designed to be used It still plays under Fate Core rules, however,

with the Fate Core system, for which you can and knowing the basics is essential to really

find the official rules online at fate-srd.com. understanding the references made in this

This short guide serves as an introduction to guide.

the setting SCARF is played in, along with a

guide to understanding the hidden world of

espionage, and some mechanical rules to

supplement character and game creation.

WHAT IS SCARF?
SCARF is an acronym for Secretly Comedic

Agents of the Retro-Future, and it is a game

of the spy comedy/action genre. It draws

inspiration from various films, television shows

and video games, which I recommend you

become familiar with if you're not already to

enjoy the game to its maximum capacity. A list

of these sources can be found at the end of

the guide.

SO WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
In SCARF, players will take the role of secret

agents being employed by a small and

relatively new intelligence agency that they

are tasked with creating and naming. They will

be sent on operations and missions of the

utmost importance regarding international

intellectual property
affairs, and they will stumble spectacularly The contents of this guidebook are open to

while doing so. This game is not about being everyone's use and manipulation. You may,

professional and discreet.This game is all by all means, re-upload this under your own

name with different rules, Comic Sans as a

about snarky remarks, stupid jokes, ditzy
font or your personal drawings on the cover.
characters and silly situations. It's meant to be
As an author, I encourage it and give all
played lightheartedly, and as such is not rules-
permission to do so. No crediting required.
heavy at all -- to give groups more wiggle

room for storytelling and comedy.

1
 SETTING THE SCENE
THE WORLD ATTITUDES
The world is still in a progressive time, with the
The setting of SCARF is best defined as an
youthful attitude of the 60's pushing for better
anachronistic and quirky version of the
futures. Things like: the disillusionment with
modern world. It can be technically defined
government, the push towards civil rights
as alternative history, but it is by no means a
concerning women and afro-americans and
historical game. In a nutshell, it combines
growing concerns about the environment and
elements from various different eras: the
health issues. On the other hand, some other
60's-70's, the modern day, and the distant
previous taboo concepts have now become
future. These aspects all coexist in the game
accepted and even celebrated, such as
world and since it may be overwhelming, the
divorce, recreational drug use and sexual
features will be broken down and explained
liberation.
individually. Technology, however, will require

its own chapter to be clearly explained.

THE RETRO THEMODERN

AESTHETICS POLITICS
The most important or notable element from As was mentioned before, this is not meant to

the past is this. Everything in the setting looks be a historical game. Even though this era is

and feels like it was set in the 60's and 70's, inspired by the Cold War, the Soviet Union

the era with the culmination of the spy genre. does not exist, and such. All nations and

Fashion is a mixture of colorful suits, polka- organizations are those that can be found in

dotted skirts, headbands and vintage glasses. the modern day, with a simple Google search.

Consumer electronics are boxy and faded: This includes borders, international

computers look like the IBM PC, mobile phones relationships and all other forms of diplomatic

like a Nokia 3210 and robots like B9 from Lost ties. Additionally, all countries have their

in Space. Interior Decoration is also current political system unless the Game

reminiscent of the era, with bright colors, Master decides otherwise.

terrible carpeting and curvy tables and chairs.

SPEECH
People speak just as they do today. No old

REFERENCE accents or vocabulary is required. While it

might be fitting to have civilians say things like

For inspiration, I can recommend searching

websites such as Pinterest and Reddit to find 'Far Out', 'Groovy' or any word with 'izz' in the

good source pictures. The 60's and 70's were middle, there's no need to use them and it

a well-documented era and it should not be doesn't contribute towards the snarky nature

difficult to research what it was like. of this game's comedy.

2
 SETTING THE SCENE
POP-CULTURE ROBOTS AND JETPACKS
This is an important one. As a game based on Zany and wacky inventions are everywhere. In

cult classics and references, it's essential that this era of development, technology is

players have the ability to make all those jokes everything and everyone is getting involved.

that they normally would. The civilians of this This world is sprawling with robotic waiters,

world are also counting down to the latest jetpacks, food printers and many other

Game of Thrones season, are up-to-date with gadgets. It's a golden age, and everyone's

films and enjoy contemporary music. With the efforts are going into the most seemingly

immersion that this setting brings, pop-culture useless yet very futuristic devices.

has great potential be a comedic centerpiece This serves as a central political tension in the

during the game sessions. game world. Much like in the Cold War,

nations are competing to achieve superiority

by their developments. Everyone is advancing

THEFUTURE at an alarming and chaotic pace, and for all

one nation knows, others might be on the brink

of unleashing a nuclear super-weapon, so the

CITIES AND ARCHITECTURE
main medium of international conflict is not
Sidewalks are clean, the pavement is smooth
traditional war or diplomacy, it is intelligence.
and there is no graffiti in sight. Colorful cars
Nations need to progress quickly, and
ride through the night with excellent street
alliances are essential for this. Even more
lights to illuminate the freeway. Recycling
effective, however, is foul play. Stealing
bins can be found outside every building, and
research, disarming others' death beams,
these buildings are quite modern and warmly-
protecting your own. Intelligence and
colored. The stylization outside can still be
counterintelligence are the only things
very retro, but make no mistake, it is a city of
standing between a country and a whole
the future, even if it doesn't have flying cars.
planet of the unknown.

ECO-FRIENDLINESS
Recycling bins are separated into colors and

categories, with all the new craze of saving A WORLD OF ADVENTURE

the Earth, nations are working together and This is central political tension is perfect for

crafting and creating exciting adventures to

showing off to others by taking initiative and
play with your group. Escort, protection, theft
getting green.
infiltration and more, all while traveling

around the world and meeting new NPC's

"Don't throw any soda cans out that can be encountered again later. Plus,

there will be allied and enemy agencies

of your car window, people will notice!"
intervening.

3
 TECHNOLOGY
DATA STORAGE & DEVICES
IS TECH OLD OR NEW? Floppy disks, cassette tapes, vinyl records and

VHS are commonplace, and all that can be

It's actually a mix of the type of technology
found. However, all contemporary media can
you'd see in each of the three discussed eras,
still be found on these mediums. For example,
and it supplements the game with both an
people can purchase the latest Bruno Mars
extra layer of immersion and an extra layer of
album on record, or software on a floppy if it
convenience or inconvenience regarding the
isn't downloaded directly.
players' objectives. The best way to put it, that
Similarly, many devices while old-fashioned
some aspects of technology are really quite
still contain modern media and games. For
advanced, and others are still very primitive.
example, all the kids are playing Overwatch,
The balance between the two is as follows.
but are only doing it on their SNES, and it's

INTERNET functionally still the same game. Printers, fax

There is no wireless Internet, only wired. This machines and other consumer electronics do

means that mobile devices such as cell not have any anachronisms and are simply

phones and laptops have very basic functions. functional.

The Internet still has everything from Google

INVENTIONS
to YouTube to Wikipedia, and is still filled with
Robots and other wacky inventions are not
cat videos and tabletop roleplaying game
consistently found in any place. They evolve
guides made by random users with nothing to
quite quickly and many companies are
do.
producing completely different models with

varying functionality. Futuristic devices are

COMPUTERS
found everywhere, but it is rare to see two
Most households have a single computer with
places having the same kind, especially in
wired Internet, since they're expensive and
different parts of the world.
rare. Businesses have computers to keep logs

and take down data. You can also normally

find one in the back of a store or on a hotel

counter. Public libraries also have them.

INVENTIONS
While most of these are limited to being

CELL PHONES household appliances and utilities, they also

They have very limited functionality, but are might be quite useful equipment for the

incredibly common. The extent of their abilites players. Maybe a robot will become fond of

them and begin work at their agency,

is normally making calls and using SMS. They
bringing coffee to everyone in the morning.
also frequently can open up into a cassette
Or perhaps they'll take a super-magnet or a
music player.
shoe-phone from a collector's desk.

4
 THE AGENCY AND SCARVES
WAIT, SCARVES? SO WHAT'S THE AGENCY?
A man hides in a crowd, wearing a brown cap This organization is a freshly-formed and

and a pair of sunglasses to blend in. However, rookie Intelligence Agencythatis subsidized

due to the fact that this looks suspicious they by the main agency in your starting country.

are quickly found out and executed. How can You can find more information further on in

we blend in without looking like we're doing the guide about each country's respective

so? That's what we asked our government agency. In the first session, players get to

scientists, and they most definitely answered. name their agency and choose their stats and

The Scarf is the latest military-grade localization with store front. Functionally, the

technology for operatives out in the field. It is agency is a character using The Bronze Rule.

the latest in crowd-blending technology, it has

CREATION
a plethora of alternate uses and it just looks

fabulous. While covering the lower half of your

face with cloth doesn't sound very promising,

we assure you it has passed all our internal INTELLIGENCE Choose one:
testing and it will render you unrecognizable, - Great (+4) Skill
EQUIPMENT - Good (+3) Skill
as if your face with it on is completely

different than how you normally look like.

INFLUENCE - Fair (+2) Skill
Additionally, it is reinforced with military- SECURITY - Average (+1) Skill
grade microfibers to withstand hundreds of
WEALTH choose two:
pounds of weight with only slight elasticity.

Fellow agents can use it for blindfolding,

AGENTS -Stunts
binding, tying things together, soaking,

cleaning, swinging, hanging, comforting,

stress: [ ] [ ] [ ]
warming, seducing, hand-to-hand combat mild consequence: [ ]
and anything else you can imagine!

DETAILS:
A SPY's BEST FRIEND -NAME
Scarves will functionally make your face

different and render you unrecognizable to

-HQ LOCATION
people who haven't seen your normal face. -STORE FRONT
The same applies with camera footage.

No civilians know of this piece of clothing's

-BOSS ORGANIZATION
properties but intelligence agencies have -STAFFING AND NPC's
harnessed it. Be on the lookout for other

scarf wearers!

5
 ESPIONAGE 101
TERMINOLOGY
"An intelligence agency is a government

agency responsible for the collection,

analysis, and exploitation of information in There are many concepts and terms that are

support of law enforcement, national security, not generally common knowledge. There are

military, and foreign policy objectives." a few important ones that will be covered

-The Wikipedia here, but I highly suggest visiting the website

appended below to familiarize yourself with

Most countries have at least a single main
all of them.
intelligence agency. The British have the MI6

which is actually the organization that James

CLANDESTINE/CLEAN:
Bond works for. Behind every spy is an
adj. Secret for everyone except your agency.
agency with a director, analysts, secretaries
Clandestinity refers to whether or not other
and HR reps. In SCARF, players will create
intelligence agencies or officials have learned
their own agency however that organization
of either your asset, or operation or agent.
will already be subsidized by the CIA making

them the players' 'boss organization.'

COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE:
n. The business of thwarting the efforts of

INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES foreign intelligence agencies; includes but is

not limited to spy-catching.

UNITED STATES: GERMANY:

Central Intelligence FEDERAL INTELLIGENCE BONA FIDES:
Agency - Langley AGENCY Created 'proof' of an agent's claimed identity.

BRITAIN: SAUDI ARABIA:

BURNED:
Secret Intelligence General Intelligence
When a case officer or agent is compromised.
Service (MI6) - London Directorate - Riyadh

CHINA: INDIA:
Ministry of State Research and LEARNING MORE
Security - Beijing Analysis Wing - NEW
Understanding the terminology behind
DELHI
operations and types of agents is completely
RUSSIA:
invaluable to both players and GM's in a
Foreign Intelligence ISRAEL:
roleplaying environment. If you would like to
Service - Moscow MOSSAD - Tel Aviv
learn more, or just skim through the

interesting list of definitions, please use this

FRANCE: JAPAN: website or continue research through the
Directorate-General Public Service goo.gl/GvRPwp
internet:
for External Intelligence Agency -
Security- Paris Tokyo

6
 CREATING YOUR AGENT
WHO ARE YOU? CONCEPT TIPS
You are an elite secret agent, trained in lethal The players are the main driving comedic force

combat, infiltration and seduction. You will go in any silly story. You want to be both

undercover, and have aliases, and use codes. problematic or ditzy and snarky or down-to-

You will work alongside your fellow agents to earth. Both bringing new material and problems

handle international affairs in a chaotic world. to the table, and being able to shine the

However that's just your job, and it's a very spotlight on topics that are already there.

exciting one at that. Beneath that, is a normal Work with your group to find what roles you

person with many flaws and quirks which you character may be able to fill, and read the

should be proud of because it's what makes a chapter on Comedy Writing to further grasp your

character realistic, round and relatable. objectives as a player.

CHARACTER CREATION
CHARACTER DETAILS: SKILLS: ATHLETICS
- NAME - One Great (+4) Skill BURGLARY
- Appearance - Two Good (+3) Skills CONTACTS
- Alias or Codename - Three Fair (+2) Skills CRAFTS
- Scarf Design - Four Average (+1) Skills DECEIVE
- High Concept DRIVE
EMPATHY
- Trouble STUNTS:
FIGHT
- 3-4 Aspects - Three (3) Stunts
INVESTIGATE
- +1 per Refresh Spent
Knowledge
- 3 Starting Refresh
EXTRAS NOTICE
Choose 3 + RAPPORT MOD physique
Languages besides STANDARD EQUIPMENT: PROVOKE
english to be fluent in SCARF RAPPORT
SAT-PHONE RESOURCES
Choose 1 + DRIVE MOD GPS SHOOT
Vehicles besides Cars 9mm Pistol STEALTH
to Know How to Drive
One 12-Bullet Clip WILL

7
 RUNNING A COMEDY GAME
WRITING AND EDITING WORLD OF SNARK
Everyone is honest and down-to-earth. This is

This is the main point in the game, and I have a form of reactionary or more passive humor,

given this setting a lot of thought to supply in which everyone has the potential to realize

everyone easy material to work with. The first the comedy of the situation they're in, turn to

thing to keep in mind is that you are working the players and say "Are you seeing this too?"

with the rest of your group. GM's can only This includes even the most terrible villains,

make material for the players to choose to which can also be quite surprising to others.

explore and act on, and players should be the Sarcastic remarks and petty retorts are a

ones to take on this responsibility. Here are great way to pursue a casual joking manner

the various ways in which humor can be found that is commonly already existent between

in this setting. friends. Practicing your wit is important, but

one can always prepare.

STUPID AND SILLY SITUATIONS
The main driving force of the game are CHARACTER-SPECIFIC BITS
players, and in this case flaws and mistakes Unlike the previous points, this requires a

make situations closer and closer to a fiasco. good platform of roleplaying. To see how a

However, it's important that players feel that very, say, uptight character is put in a

everything will work out in the end, for they personally compromising position can be very

won't make jokes at their own expense. rewarding. The basic concept is to take

characters and try to place them in situations

ABSURDISM that are possibly very incompatible with them,
With the incorporation of semi-futuristic
in a way that is beyond skills and stats.
gadgetry, players can stumble upon any
Naturally, this is quite difficult to do on-the-
piece of technology that the GM can
fly, so preparing and analyzing characters is
imagine. If done right, you can get some
essential to successfully pulling it off.
laughs besides the initial absurdity of the

object itself. For example, a robot waiting at

a 21+ bar who is an alcoholic itself. It's a wild Benign Violation

card that can adapt to any situation.
In my search for the fundamentals of what

makes things funny, I stumbled upon a theory

NPC's ARE WALKING BITS
of humor called the Benign Violation
Much like with technology, players will
Theory.It's an extremely interesting concept
encounter a plethora of different NPC's and
and can actually be viewed on TED, as the
writing them as silly or unexpected characters
researches behind it explain how it works.

is very easy yet very rewarding. They might I highly suggest it, and you can watch it

even get named and join your group, in which here:goo.gl/JzSR6T

case it might be wise to explore them further.

8
 SOURCES AND INSPIRATION
THE LIST
Retrofuturism (STYLE)

Jazzpunk (video Game)

Archer (TV Series)

James Bond Film Series

Austin Powers Film Series

Johnny English (Film)

Get Smart (TV Series)

Space Station 76 (Movie)

The Jetsons (TV Series)

Fallout Video Game Series

Fun Watching
Atompunk (Genre) This setting is inspired by

pop-culture, something I

Cyberpunk (Genre) enjoy very much. If nothing

else, I can say that these films

TVTROPES (WEBSITE) and series are worth the Google

Obligatory TVTropes Warning! search. Happy watching!

9
 SCARF

Thank you for taking a look at this.

This is the end, you can go home now.

BURN AFTER READING, PLEASE

06/26/2017