Welcome to the Bureau

External Containment Bureau is a game of paranormal investigation and bureaucracy using a lightweight, hackable version of the Forged in the Dark design framework.

You play as trained agents of the External Containment Bureau, an organization tasked with the study, identification, and containment of paranormal phenomena. The Bureau authorizes agents to make use of these phenomena to give yourself incredible powers (so long as the proper forms are in order). But take care: using paranormal energies inches you ever closer to joining the ranks of the paranormal yourself. Will you transcend humanity in the line of duty? Play to find out.

If you enjoy media like Control, Fringe, The Magnus Archives, Men in Black, SCP Foundation, or X-Files... you'll love External Containment Bureau!

• Written by Eric Brunsell and Michael Elliott

• Edited by Lexi Antoku

• Art Direction by Justin Ford

• Art by Julianne Griepp

• Production and Layout by Eli Kurtz

• ePub formatting by eskur

Your Purchase Includes

• Screen-friendly, hyperlinked PDF

• Print-ready PDF

• ePub format for e-readers

• Kindle format

• Fillable and print-friendly character sheet PDF

• REDACTED MATERIALS: Guide to hacking with the ECB license

• Mission template for the Affinity design suite

Quickstart Materials

If you want to try out the game before buying, we've got a FREE quickstart keeper document available through Google Sheets. Just click the graphic below:

Included in the Quickstart...

• A summary of all the rules you need to play

• Character sheet tabs for up to four players

• A GM tab with summary info on all player characters and a sample mission

The Quickstart makes use of some of Google Sheets' advanced features to automate your experience in exciting ways. Click around on the various tabs and try it for yourself!

Game Info

Format: PDF, Printed Zine
Genre: Supernatural Science-Fiction
Players: 3-6
Ages: 13+