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Demon: the Descent
Angels are everywhere.
They are under the everyday world, behind it, beyond it. They are sent by the God-Machine to enact its will through time and space, delivering messages, building infrastructure, protecting some people, killing others. You were one of those angels...
But not anymore.
Now you are one of the Unchained, a fallen angel who defected to the human race. Yours is a world of false identities and clockwork conspiracies, stolen faces and hidden works of the Machine.
You cannot -- will not -- return to the sterile embrace of Heaven.
All you can do is reign in Hell.
They are under the everyday world, behind it, beyond it. They are sent by the God-Machine to enact its will through time and space, delivering messages, building infrastructure, protecting some people, killing others. You were one of those angels...
But not anymore.
Now you are one of the Unchained, a fallen angel who defected to the human race. Yours is a world of false identities and clockwork conspiracies, stolen faces and hidden works of the Machine.
You cannot -- will not -- return to the sterile embrace of Heaven.
All you can do is reign in Hell.
397 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 4, 2019
A fascinating setting that I'm not sure I could ever run. It's part of White Wolf's World of Darkness setting, which is 'urban fantasy' in that it's the real world, but with fantasy elements hidden away in the shadows.
In this game, everyone plays as a demon, but they are not like traditional demons. In this setting, there is not a god, but the God-Machine, an uncaring clockwork spanning the universe, and angels are just its tools. Demons are angels which begin to develop a sense of self, and so break away from the god-machine, but thereafter have to live a life of stealth and seclusion so as to avoid its gaze. Demons still do things like make bargains with mortals, but it's not for their 'souls' so much as for part of their lives which the demons can then use as 'cover' to hide from the god-machine with.
It's a pretty novel premise among rpg books I have read, but I have a hard time visualizing what a campaign would be about, I would really want to read some sample adventure hooks, or maybe even a novel (if one exists) to fully get it. But I'm very fascinated and would gladly play in a game someone else ran.
In this game, everyone plays as a demon, but they are not like traditional demons. In this setting, there is not a god, but the God-Machine, an uncaring clockwork spanning the universe, and angels are just its tools. Demons are angels which begin to develop a sense of self, and so break away from the god-machine, but thereafter have to live a life of stealth and seclusion so as to avoid its gaze. Demons still do things like make bargains with mortals, but it's not for their 'souls' so much as for part of their lives which the demons can then use as 'cover' to hide from the god-machine with.
It's a pretty novel premise among rpg books I have read, but I have a hard time visualizing what a campaign would be about, I would really want to read some sample adventure hooks, or maybe even a novel (if one exists) to fully get it. But I'm very fascinated and would gladly play in a game someone else ran.
June 30, 2020
Although it's in need of a heavy editorial cleanup-scrub, I'm not going to judge it on that aspect. Creatively, the game is a masterpiece; in cinematic terms, it blends the essences of movies such as The Matrix, Dark City, Heat, and Terminator, and it infuses them with the "World of Darkness" vibe. A critique I've heard is that it creates an environment so complex that it challenges a reader or player to reconcile the content in gaming terms, but I think that assertion is a cop-out. If anyone takes the time to digest the depth of content and consider the possibilities, the opportunities for a gaming environment are boundless. Also, "The God Machine." Need I say anymore?
May 26, 2018
Absolutely one of the most original takes on the concepts of angels and demons I have ever read. Only gets 4 stars because the mechanics are sort of outdated compared to all the other Chronicles of Darkness games just because of when it was written: it’s not a stand alone like Mage, Vampire, etc. Still, incredible writing here filled with outstanding ideas and concepts. I mean, a game of Techgnostic Espionage? A reimagining of the angels vs. demons concept as Cold War era spy action thrillers? Sign me up!
November 21, 2019
Jeden z podręczników do 2 edycji nowego Świata Mroku. W przeciwieństwie do Demona ze starego WoDa, tym razem idea demona zrywa z biblijnym rodowodem i opiera się na idei Boga-Maszyny. Również zmienia się koncepcja buntu i upadku demona. Sami autorzy całkiem trafnie określają ten konkretny system jako opowieść o techno-szpiegostwie. To zupełnie inne spojrzenie na demony i anioły niż to do jakiego jesteśmy przyzwyczajeni w kulturze europejskiej. Nie czyni to jednak systemu mniej ciekawym do grania.
May 26, 2021
An interesting idea that has a lot of promise, it is cool to see a new take on angels and demons and actually reminds me of a lot of SCP and Creepy Pasta type stories. It would be interesting to play one and the idea of bending reality and even creating a demon form can lead to a lot of creative character creation ideas.
February 6, 2021
Awesome game. Started a campaign in 2014 and still going!
December 18, 2022
Conceptually clever Matrix-esque game. Full review: https://refereeingandreflection.wordp...
September 9, 2014
Demon: The Descent is the first RPG of the "new" World of Darkness that captures the magnificent spirit of paranoia of the "old" World of Darkness' "Mage: The Ascension" game - the feeling that Reality itself might be out to get you. In the case of Demon: The Descent, however, this is linked to the concept of the "God-Machine Chronicle" - the idea that there is a hidden force running reality as we experience it, and inhuman force, literally a calculating machine, and that it plays the role of an uncaring (if not malevolent) "God" of the setting . . . the characters take on the role of servants of the God-Machine - angels - who have "Fallen" and adopted free will outside the God-Machine's parameters and will . . . hence, "demons" . . .
August 13, 2016
There's a lot to like in this system. It's certainly a far cry from a lot of its contemporaries and it bears no resemblance to oWoD Demon.
That being said, while I appreciated all of the cool new systems, I thought that replacing and changing so many of the nW mechanics - even flawed ones - made taking in this system a bit harder. As someone who likes to play around with crossovers, I thought that bringing so many changes in the system would complicate matters. The changes work fine if the system stands alone, but I'm not sure how well they balance with the other nWoD systems. Also, it's confusing to be told to familiarize yourself with the core just so the core can be thrown out.
That being said, while I appreciated all of the cool new systems, I thought that replacing and changing so many of the nW mechanics - even flawed ones - made taking in this system a bit harder. As someone who likes to play around with crossovers, I thought that bringing so many changes in the system would complicate matters. The changes work fine if the system stands alone, but I'm not sure how well they balance with the other nWoD systems. Also, it's confusing to be told to familiarize yourself with the core just so the core can be thrown out.
January 7, 2017
A great twist on the classical concept.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews