The Demonsworn
Surely inspired by reading Code Geass manga ealier, I have the passing idea of a fantasy game which centers on a group of PCs who are able to rise above humble beginnings because they have entered into a pact (or pacts) with more powerful forces. Demons come for mind, naturally, for a fantasy game, but that's not necessary. It could be celestial powers. Or it might be more interesting to go with a source of power that is of more mysterious origins altogether.
Of course, the game would have to explore what it means to have such power and what was lost/gained along with it. While D&D is usually my fantasy game system of choice, this whole game concept feels like something more appropriate for a point-based advancement system rather than a level-based one - a system in which a character can excel in one area without improving across the board. Exalted already fits the overall theme pretty well, but I'd opt for something based less on specifial abilities overall (and probably fewer dice per roll).
The whole thing echoes a campaign I actually started work on at one point, in which the PCs acquire the ability to harm the big-bads via in-play events. Though that write-up involved happenstance more than choice.
Of course, the game would have to explore what it means to have such power and what was lost/gained along with it. While D&D is usually my fantasy game system of choice, this whole game concept feels like something more appropriate for a point-based advancement system rather than a level-based one - a system in which a character can excel in one area without improving across the board. Exalted already fits the overall theme pretty well, but I'd opt for something based less on specifial abilities overall (and probably fewer dice per roll).
The whole thing echoes a campaign I actually started work on at one point, in which the PCs acquire the ability to harm the big-bads via in-play events. Though that write-up involved happenstance more than choice.
Perhaps we're on the same wavelength, because I was considering Scion recently, and well, 'if Exalted crashes, we can try Scion'. Maybe you could adapt Scion to the game you want to run? I have the PDF if you want it.
ReplyDeleteAlternatively, you could use the nWoD mechanics, which are a lot simpler and faster.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine has similar concept, based on the Drakkengard game where the pacts you make are with mythic beasts (Dragon for the main character, but there's apparently a boy who's pacted with a golem, for example). When you make the pact, you get awesome power and the companionship of the beastie, but you give up something significant (Main character gave up his ability to speak, the boy gave up his sight, etc.) So the PCs make pacts with mythics, and give up something of themselves.
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