Folks on the Demon thread over at RPG.Net are discussing the Demon House Exploit. Since it’s Halloween, I figured I’d post the text of that Exploit, so you can see how you can be a haunted house in Demon: The Descent.
Demon House
The God-Machine occasionally gives angels non-human, even inanimate, Covers. They might become weapons, objects or buildings in addition to people or animals. As noted on p. XX, while a demon can, theoretically take such a Cover, it isn’t usually worth the trouble since the rating is low and the ability to interact with the world is limited. Some demons, though, find a work-around — they merge a human Cover with a building associated with it. This might be the house that a Cover identity owns or the office where he works, or even the factory where he (supposedly) died. The demon merges with the building, aware of everything that happens within it and able to use Embeds and Exploits on inhabitants at will with a much-reduced chance of compromise.
Example Prerequisites: Hush, Like I Built It
Dice Pool: Presence + Stealth + Primum
Action: Instant
Cost: 1 Aether
Roll Results
Dramatic Failure: The demon’s Cover merges with the building, but the demon is trapped in the structure, unable to bring any influence to bear or reverse the process. The only way out is to assume Demonic Form, but this demolishes the building entirely. At the Storyteller’s discretion, a demon with another Cover might be able to switch to it instead.
Failure: The demon does not merge with the building.
Success: The demon merges with the building. The demon’s body disappears, but he can, if he wishes, appear in mirrors or as a disembodied voice in the building. While possessing the building, the demon can sense everything that happens inside it, seeing all points simultaneously. He can listen to any phone calls made on a land line inside the building (and can still listen to at least half the conversation if someone uses a cell phone), and can read and data coming through an internet connection, provided that the connection is wired into the house. He can use any Embed or Exploit that he knows on the inhabitants of the building, and any compromise roll made as a result of these powers receives a +3 modifier.
The demon can remain thus ensconced as long as he wishes, but he must take care. For every day he spends in the building, he risks compromise. If he becomes Burned while this Exploit is in effect, he is trapped in the building, a living ghost, unable to escape until the building is destroyed.
Exceptional Success: The demon has direct physical control over electronics and objects in the house. He can open doors, turn devices on and off, and throw lightweight objects around (as the Telekinesis Numen; each use costs 1 Aether, roll Strength + Primum).
Comments
19 responses to “Happy Halloween – Here’s a Haunted House”
OH YES THAT’S SO COOL
Well…That’s pretty freaking sweet. Is there anything that lets them posses a car in the same way? I know you mentioned that embeds and exploits are easy to create as well, so if it isn’t it could be made.
I really like the whole building possession. Might use it to mess with some Sin-Eaters I know…
First thought about perhaps possessing a car – awesome!
Second thought. ..all my players will be cars.
I’d give the advantage to the Demon, he merges with the building the Sin-Eater has to meditate there.
As written I’d say this sounds weaker than The Boneyard.
Sin Eaters are physically vulnerable, since they have to meditate in the middle of the place, they can be easily found, a Demon is the building, great way to avoid a angel or other people pursuing you.
As written, there’s no Exploit that allows doing this with a car, but there’s no reason you couldn’t make one.
I meant possession of various mechanical objects , i forgot to elaborate further. but thanks for the reply
I’m so looking forward to this game. Seriously, great job guys. When’s the KS coming our way?
The Kickstarter’s coming soon, Lee. We’re working on the video and page text right now, then it all gets submitted to Kickstarter for approval, then we set a launch date.
Rose,
Will we have to wait for the Kickstarter to be done before we can purchase the PDF version? I ask because you said the Styrix Chronicle should be out in December, and I thought Demon was much further along in the process.
Yes, that is terribly cool. While the rules suggest that there are limitations and that it might not always be practical (for the lack of worldly interaction), the very fact it is even an option really speaks to the depth to which you guys have thought this out.
THE IDEAS. /gleeful finger tapping
Awesome! I particuarly like the tech focus of this. I do have one suggestion though, when you say at the storytellers discression the demon can switch covers. I would just say you can do that.
In many ways this is a charachter defining ability, you’re choosing to play as a haunted house. In such a case I think the benefit of the book clearly setting out what you can do outweighs any loss in flexibility.
On an unrelated point can I ask the same question I asked the forums? Can you have an imobile demonic form?
If a player wanted an immobile demonic form, I’d allow it.
Merging with a Prince’s office building could earn a lot of favors in a very short period of time.
That is beautiful….
So cool- would make a great plot hook if there was an NPC demon stuck as a building (as per staying too long rather than dramatic failure so that going into Demonic Form isn’t an option), constantly trying to get the attention of demons and other potentially useful people and begging them to destroy the building… only problem is that the building is a hospital, nuclear power plant or other problematic place…
Woah, I just realized what this means – you can stat up *every AI ever* as a Demon. So happy slash desperate for the game to come out and take my money already.