Basic Information
As the name implies, the term Conspiracy Theory refers to theories and explanations that certain historical or current events were not the result of innocent coincidence, lone nut assassins, or other prosaic explanations. Instead, a conspiracy was involved, with people plotting to bring specific events about, and then cover up their mutual involvement.
On the small scale, conspiracies happen all the time, as many crimes have accessories and accomplices. Whether or not large-scale conspiracies, the likes of which are generally meant by "Conspiracy Theory", occur (and if they do, which ones are legit) is often claimed to be debatable, although the Watergate break-in and it's related cover-up certainly provides some evidence in a particular direction.
Because of how ridiculous some of the theories get, the term "Conspiracy Theory" is sometimes used as a pejorative - as in "I don't buy it, it's all just a bunch of conspiracy theories" - in fact, it may be argued that the term itself has become a form of blackwashing. The converse of this is to point out that Evolution and Gravity are both Theories as well (that is, just because it is called a theory, doesn't mean that it is incredible, unsupported or substantially untrue).
List of Conspiracy Theories
- AIDS Conspiracy Theories
- Apollo Moon Landing hoax accusations
- Barack Obama Citizenship Conspiracy Theories
- Bible Conspiracy
- Bielefeld Conspiracy
- Clinton Body Count
- Chemtrail Theory
- COINTELPRO
- Dulce Base New Mexico USA
- Electronic Banking Conspiracy
- Eurabia
- Global Warming Conspiracy Theory
- High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program
- Jesus Bloodline
- Kennedy Assassination Conspiracy Theories
- Masonic Conspiracy Theories
- MKULTRA
- Montauk Project
- Majestic 12
- New Coke
- New World Order (Conspiracy)
- October Surprise
- Paul Is Dead
- Phantom Time Hypothesis
- Philadelphia Experiment
- Protocols of the Elders of Zion
- QAnon Hoax
- SARS Conspiracy Theory
- The Mysterious Death of George S. Patton
- UFO Conspiracy Theory
Groups accused of Conspiracy
- Aliens
- Bilderberg Group
- Black Dragon Society
- Black Ocean Society
- Bohemian Grove
- CIA
- The Cincinnati.
- Club Of Rome
- Committee of 300
- Council on Foreign Relations
- The Turkish Deep State
- Frankfurt School
- Freemasons
- Government Conspiracy
- Illuminati
- "The Jews"
- Knights Templar
- Le Cercle
- Nazis
- Phoebus Cartel
- Pilgrims Society
- Priory of Sion
- Reptilians
- Rosicrucianism
- Secret Team
- Shadow Government
- Skull & Bones
- The Thule Society
- Trilateral Commission
- US Government
See also:
- Apophenia - the source of many conspiracy theories
- Area 51
- The Antichrist
- Coded Myth
- Conspiracism
- False Flag Operation
- Government Conspiracy
- List of Assassinated People
- Lone Nut
- Lunatic Fringe
- Machiavellianism
- Moon Walker Claims Alien Contact Cover Up
- Putin - The dark rise to power
- Seven Riddles Suggest A Secret City Beneath Tokyo
- Sibel Edmonds Deposition - Ignored by U.S. Media
- THE Conspiracy
- Watergate Scandal and CSI - Watergate
RPGs utilizing Conspiracy Theory
Conspiracy Tropes
- Ancient Conspiracy
- British Conspiracy Thriller
- Conspiracy Kitchen Sink
- Conspiracy Placement
- Conspiracy Redemption
- Conspiracy Theorist
- Consumer Conspiracy
- Cult (especially if it's a Religion Of Evil)
- Government Conspiracy
- Milkman Conspiracy
- The Schizophrenia Conspiracy
- Trahison Des Clercs
Sources
Game and Story Use
- One of the beautiful things about gaming is the willing Suspension of Disbelief. You aren't limited to basing a campaign on only the chillingly-plausible conspiracies. Instead, you can pursue the most bizarre of notions, or even frame a campaign where multiple seemingly-contradictory conspiracy theories are true.
- Some characters may be inclined to believe every Conspiracy Theory presented to them, no matter how outlandish.
- Others will remain skeptical no matter how much evidence you provide them with.
- Some players may as well, especially if described as "rumors" or denied by official sources.
- Why should the modern day get all the fun? Elaborate conspiracies can happen in earlier historical eras as well - in fact, they're less likely to be exposed in an age with no cameras, internet, etc.
- The key to a good conspiracy is to ensure that you include all sides of the political divide - a partisan conspiracy (see, for example, Watergate) has political opponents who will be eager to expose it, whilst if you organise, for example a conspiracy of the Media-Political Class against the productive members of society or create a Deep State you have members in all camps who can sabotage attempts to expose the conspiracy - especially if you have also infiltrated the media by which any allegation would be expected to be broadcast.
- Done properly you can even have members of your conspiracy openly and cheerfully admit their crimes and still have your opponents denounced as conspiracy theorists. This also qualifies as gaslighting on a national (or even international) scale.
