Through Monday, May 5 we present the new Defiant Bundle featuring Defiant, the Game Machinery RPG of supernatural aristocrats ruling modern-day Holdings. Defiant is an urban fantasy of mighty supernaturals who rebelled against destiny and, instead of destroying the world, decided to protect it. By enforcing a demanding set of rules, the Defiant aristocracy empowers protective seals around their cities, making them the only safe havens in a world ravaged by the Apocalypse. As a powerful Defiant blueblood leading the supernatural society of fallen angels, demons, ancient gods, and dragons, you empower your Holdings (like clubs or luxurious mansions) with the strength of your passions. You walk a thin line, gratifying your desires without violating the arcane laws of your society. What will you sacrifice to do what is right, and what rules do you bend to get what you want?
In an undefined near future, an ongoing Apocalypse is progressing entirely offstage. Inside your Domain, mystic seals called Sephirot maintain a perfect illusion of normality called the Carnival. Your characters can’t communicate with other safe havens, if those even exist; you have no idea of events outside the boundary. But in your own large city, supplies are plentiful, mortal mundanes think everything’s fine, and your Royal House’s authority is absolute, so you and a couple hundred other Bloodborn (Angels, Infernals, Leviathans, and Daeva) are partying like the end of the world.
Defiant has no zero-to-hero power curve – from Scene 1 you’re large, in charge, and probably gorgeous. Instead, Defiant focuses on soap-opera storylines that involve your goals, activities, and appetites. You’re hosting posh (or perverse) parties, forging alliances, maintaining Laws and Commandments, pursuing your Endeavors, and managing your subjects and your spouse. Oh yeah – you’re married. Your NPC Consort, assigned by your Princeps in a marriage of convenience, may assist you in your projects, but mainly joins with you to spark new Defiant into being. You also cope with political maneuvers by power-hungry courtiers, threats from Depraved and Corrupted Defiant, and the occasional incursion by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. None of these threats get game statistics; the Guide (GM) and players handle them all as story elements.
Character creation is semi-random. The Guide deals each player a hand of cards representing personal themes, House, Marital, Court, and Holdings. From these you choose descriptive Traits like “Athletic,” “Thrives during tournaments,” “Knows how to charm,” or “Acclaimed style.” You can spend Shard points to activate special rules and to influence the story by asking questions tailored to your chosen theme. A Gem character can ask the Guide, “How am I the center of this event?” A Shadow can ask, “Who here has a secret I happen to know?” – the Aegis, “Who needs protection?” – the Ars Amandi, “Who is desperate for true fulfillment?” The dice pool system starts with a roll of 3D6, and your Traits and Shards let you improve the dice to 3D10. Task resolution is all about the story, not just succeed-or-fail. There’s always a choice, an obstacle, or a setback, but also bonuses, unexpected benefits, and lucky breaks. Though your group of Royals is creating a tale of struggles, triumphs, tough choices, and intense relationships, the crucial question is not “How does this end?” It’s who your characters are, what they do with their power, and what they’re truly made of.
This new Defiant Bundle presents much of the Defiant game line – everything you need to enter a world of ruthless politics, demons from hell, extravagant parties, apocalyptic cults, royal marriages, blood feuds, reborn gods, fallen angels, personal Courts, and dragons. Pay just US$14.95 to get all six titles in our Defiant Collection (retail value $64) as DRM-free .PDF ebooks, including the complete full-color 630-page Defiant corebook (previously in our November 2022 Cornucopia offer) plus the free Awakening quickstart and five campaign supplements: Birthright, Bridgewood Guide, House Kamael, Subjects, and Van Heim Tower.
The Apocalypse finally breaches the Sephirot and ruins the Carnival when this new Defiant offer falls to the inferno Monday, May 5.
