Homebrew Demon Merits

[Vent0]

Vent0

I am liking the ideas behind Phoenix Pattern. It's very interesting.That said, allow me to give a few suggestions...

* Prerequisites: Demon, Primum 3 or 5
* From the Ashes (••••): When Going Loud, a Demon can harvest some of the fading cosmic power to reconstruct a Cover. The Scene after the one where they went Loud, the Demon can create a new Cover at a rating equal to a number of Aether points spent to use this benefit.

Problem with that: Aether expenditures go up to 15, and Cover doesn't. Primum, however, does. The only real issue is if it is broken giving a Primum 10 Demon a max Cover after Going Loud - on the one hand, it trivializes Cover acquisition and some of the cost of Going Loud (you still get a Glitch and are down a Cover for two scenes), but on the other hand, Going Loud itself trivializes already having Primum 10.

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Allied Power • [Seriously can't figure out a good name for this]
Prerequisites: Demon, Show of Power, Context Matters, peaceful association with selected supernatural type
Effect: Sometimes you need to utilize the supernatural powers of your allies and associates. This can lead to problems when their very observation interferes with your effects. But you've figured out how to bend their goodwill (or at least tolerance) towards a kind of screen protecting your supernatural mimicry from their disruption. This merit is tied to a particular kind of supernatural being (such as Mages, Vampires, etc.). With prior agreement, these individuals do not penalize your rolls for the Show Of Power Exploit when used to simulate their abilities.

Synthesis of Power •
Prerequisites: Allied Power •, Merge
Effect: This merit is tied to a single individual per instance. Whenever you successfully use Show Of Power to emulate an ability of their type (such as a Mage's Sight, or a Werewolf's Gifts), they can make a Reflexive roll using their Supernatural Tolerance trait to augment the Exploit's effectiveness. Successes on their roll add to the effective successes that Show Of Power gained (typically 1 or 3), augmenting its effectiveness.


Thoughts on modifications?

[Deionscribe]

The first of a few Merits which deal with the Nephilim minor template from Demon Storytellers' Guide.

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Potent Form (oo)
Prerequisites: Nephilim, Conviction 2
Effect: Perhaps you inherited more of your Demons parent's nature, or perhaps both of your parents were Demons. Alternatively, repeated exposure to Aether from different sources may have altered your body and soul in fundamental ways. Whatever the reason, you raise your effective Primum by half your dots in Conviction, rounded up.

Drawback: Your Unstable Soul still cannot channel Aetheric energies effectively, and the increased power of your demonic form only makes it more difficult to contain as you grow stronger. For every additional two dots you have in your effective Primum, you gain an extra Brand. This is cumulative with the effects of low Integrity, making it more difficult to mask your inhuman nature even from the God-Machine's angels.

[MrParaduo]

This isn't so much a merit as it is a mechanical tweak, but lemme know what you think:

If a demon acquires both the Cultists merit, and Mystery Cult merit, he can acquire the usual supernatural merits, so long as he is the focus of worship. Ingame, this is an unsolved mystery (no pun intended) among the Unchained, some theorizing it has something to do with faith and their own origins as ephemeral beings. Plenty of demons take advantage of this to acquire an edge over their rivals, even creating multiple cults, or "gods" that are all really just one demon.

I like it just because you could play with the idea of basically creating an infernal god, but where you'd have to micromanage all your cults to avoid losing power at a crucial moment.

[Vent0]

Demon Gunner [Name? Something with a pop-culture or media reference?] • to ••••, Style
Prerequisites: Ranged Weapon Demonic Form ability (such as Rivet Arm, Acid Spit, Laser Cutter, or Eliminator Cannon)
Effect: You have refined your inherent ranged combat abilities beyond your peers.
Flash Draw (•): You can now partially transform fast enough to fire a quick burst then transform back without anyone noticing. Spend 2 Aether, and make an attack with the Form ability as normal. After the attack, you revert to your fully human Cover as normal for Partial Transformation. The attack occurs so quickly no one notices your arm momentary became a cannon, though you roll for Compromise as normal for an unobserved Partial Transformation.
Embedded Shot (••): You can infused your ranged attacks with Embeds, as if you were rapidly Installing each attack as a One-Shot Gadget. Spend 1 Aether and Roll for the Embed normally before making the ranged attack. Whatever the attack hits becomes the target of the Embed (this even includes Embeds that normally require touch contact). [Under consideration for overhaul]
Barrage (•••): For the rest of the turn, you can spend 1 Aether to treat your ranged Form abilities as if they were capable of medium bursts, or 2 Aether to give them the ability to make long bursts. [Under consideration for overhaul]
Controlled Blast (••••): You've achieved the ability to super-charge your ranged attacks with Aether, giving them destructive blasts, arching beams, or shaping explosions. Spend 3 Aether before making an attack. The attack is capable of striking an number of additional targets equal to your Primum with the vicinity of the attack as if it had a blast area of 3. Alternatively, if it already had a blast area, you can exclude up to your Primum in targets within the blast area.
[Comments: I always wanted to make a Style than takes into account the Demonic Form. The first ability is kind of like Quick Draw, though it requires Aether. Costly, but sneaky. You may have to come up with a good explanation why they suddenly have rivets sticking out of them though. The second ability I'm kind of Meh on - maybe I should extend or switch it to any "touch" abilities, so you can shoot Hellhounds bullets, or Essence Drain rounds? The third ability seems natural to extend the various Auto-fire fun tricks to your Form Abilities. Not too certain on the implications, though - what does a Long Burst Eliminator Cannon look like? The fourth ability was simple for added damage fun, but also for more tactical use - you can now drop Eliminator Cannon blasts behind or on top of someone using a human shield and leave the shield completely unharmed. And if you combine it with Flash Draw (for 5+ Aether...), your target simply explodes leaving you and your allies unharmed with none the wiser.

As always, feedback is appreciated.]

Inhuman Enhancement •• or ••••
Prerequisites: Inhuman Strength, Inhuman Dexterity, Inhuman Intelligence, or Inhuman Beauty Form abilities
Effect: You inhuman characteristics are beyond even that of your peers, effortlessly breaking the bounds of mortal ability. The two dot version gives you an additional +1 to the bonus your Inhuman Form ability does, while the four dot version give you a +2.
Note: This merit can be taken multiple times, once for each Form ability applicable.
[Comments: Incorporated GibberingEloquence's suggestions. I'm not entire sure if you upgrade the 2 to 4 for 2XP or 4XP, or if you would possess both at the same time (6XP for a +3 Attribute). Same limitations as the previous version apply - you are using a Form Ability, which risks Compromise.]

And some for Nephilim Merits from me as well:

Second Skin ••••
Prerequisites: Nephilim, Integrity 7-, Resolve 3+, Occult 3+
Effect: Through occult knowledge, iron will, and begging, borrowing, or stealing the Infrastructure, you can now don Covers like Demons can. This greatly reduces the risk to your soul, as you can resolve Compromises just like the Unchained (at the cost to the Cover) instead of suffering applicable Breaking Points, and transform without such horrific damage (though it still inflicts a point of Bashing damage, due to pain).
Drawback: This Merit lowers your maximum Integrity by 1 + 2 per instance, due to ongoing metaphysical strain. This, thankfully, ensures the Nephilim's Primum is enough to support such Covers, but it takes its toll in other ways.
Note: This Merit can be taken up to 4 times (capping maximum Integrity dangerously at 1), each time representing a different Cover. Nephilim normally lack the ability to make Pacts of their own, and thus must acquire them from Unchained (or odder sources). Repairing or improving such Covers requires further trading or living in them, as normal. Nephilim cannot burn their Covers to Go Loud.

Insulate Soul ••••
Prerequisite: Second Skin
Effect: You can hide inside your Covers, protecting your own fragile mind and soul from harm. You gain a +1 bonus to Breaking Points per Primum while in Cover. The Nephilim can also choose to sacrifice their Cover to automatically protect their soul from any power that would affect it.

Project Instability ••
Prerequisites: Insulate Soul, Integrity 4-
Effect: You've figured out how to project the instability of your own mind onto your Cover. While in Cover, instead of rolling for a Breaking Point, you may instead choose to be treated as if you failed a Compromise roll.
Drawback: The cost to your Cover(s) is obvious. You are trading the risk of lost Integrity, for the guarantee of lost Cover. Still, for Nephilim teetering on edge with Integrity 1, the option of certain survival vs the chance of total dissolution become much more attractive.

(Antagonist material ahoy. Also self-referencing an old plot idea.)

Devour Demon •••••
Prerequisites: Nephilim, Merge, Cannibalization, Usurp Control, Poison Pill
Effect: You have become a bogey-man to the Unchained - able to consume them for power when they foolishly try to integrate with you. Whenever a Demon takes you as a Cover, you can begin the process of consuming them. Take control as normal for Usurp Control, then up to once per day, roll a Clash of Wills against the Demon (using Primum + Resolve). If successful, you reduce the Demon's Primum by 1. You can spend Willpower to prolong the Sleeve Integration (though you must reroll to retain control each day, ending the merger upon failure). If you reduce the Demon to 0 Primum, you have consumed them completely - increase your Primum by 1, you can take one of their Covers (if you can hold it, as with Second Skin), absorb one of their Form abilities (as per Cannibalization), and employ any other "end of merger" Sleeve Integrator effects.
Drawback: You had better not let any Unchained spread word of your abilities - you are certain to hunted down as a terrible threat. Consuming a Demon lets off vast amounts of distinct Aetheric radiation - equivalent in amount to an Unchained assuming Demonic Form, but easily recognizable to any who have encountered the process before. Additionally, you gain a demonic version of the Tainted Condition (from Vampire 2E, replacing Blood Potency with Primum).
[Comments: At standard, you are a frightening honey trap. With Hollow Vessel, you become a certifiable nightmare to the Unchained, able to sniff them out through Cover, take them over, and slowly digest them.]

(This one is more for general Demon-Blooded or even Stigmatics with Aether Syphon. You could also just houserule it as an automatic option.)

Aetheric Fuel •
Prerequisites: Stigmatic or Demon-blooded, access to Aether, any one Supernatural Merit
Effect: You have figured out how to spend Aether to power your paranormal talents. You can spend Aether instead of Willpower for Supernatural Merits on a 1-for-1 ratio.
Note: This merit does not give you an Aether Pool - you must either already have one from another source, or be able to use Ambient Aether.
[Comments: Standard Fuel-Sub mechanic. Except for Ambient Aether - a Stigmatic with a Demon buddy nearby could theoretically never need to spend Willpower on their Supernatural Merits, provided they keep succeeding at the Ambient Aether roll.]

[Vent0]

This isn't so much a merit as it is a mechanical tweak, but lemme know what you think:

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I like it just because you could play with the idea of basically creating an infernal god, but where you'd have to micromanage all your cults to avoid losing power at a crucial moment.

Well, I could see a one dot Merit that requires Cult 4+, and Mystery Cult 1+ that spells out and "unlocks" the benefits. If you didn't want to just house rule it as automatic.

[Vent0]

I hate to triple post in one day, but I did update the 2nd post before this one extensively. Thoughts Deionscribe, lladas, GibberingEloquence?

[GibberingEloquence]

Vent0: The Ranged Weapon Style raises some questions. The Embedded Shot Maneuver sounds like it would complicate matters for the sake of looking cool. It makes the normal Installation of Embedded Gadgets seem obsolete in terms of pure speed, even with the caveat of Aether Expenditure and Compromise. If a Demon knows an Embed that is normally used only in close range, it's safer in the long run to put said Embed into a Gadget that "fires" it, and then the Demon can buy the Subsumed Gadget Merit to make it more subtle. Drawing a Subsumed Gadget does not require Aether expenditure or Compromise, and it's a reflexive action too.

As for the Maneuvers that give medium and long bursts, I don't think those modes of fire make sense for all Demonic ranged weapons. Besides, the description of the Rivet Arm gives the impression that it can work like an assault rifle, so coming up with a Maneuver for something that can be given through re-fluffing sounds redundant to me. Also, nobody said that there can't be another Modification that is like Rivet Arm but works more like a sniper rifle. In fact, I believe Korogra wrote a Demonic Sniper Rifle in the Angelic Form abilities thread.

However, I do like the idea of mixing the Rivet Arm, Eliminator Cannon and such with other parts of the Demonic Form. I would make this a single Merit worth 3 or 4 dots with a Primum prerequisite of 4. I would change it so that only two advantages can be combined, and it requires additional Aether + 1 willpower point. This way, you can combine Rivet Arm and Voice Of The Angel to create a sonic cannon. I would say that your ranged weapon cannot be combined with Propulsions, and that combining it with Processes costs more Aether than a Modification or Technology. This opens up a lot of interesting options, but most of them are very flashy and the tons of you Aether you have to spend would draw a lot of attention. I am not sure of exact amount of additional Aether, though. How about 1 for Modifications and Technologies, and 3 for Processes?

For the most part, you can improve your ranged weapons with Firefight and Marksmanship, as well as Embeds and Demonic Form advantages that enhance your senses.

For the pricing of Inhuman Enhancement, I'd make •• give +3 and •••• give +4. The total cost is 6 Experiences, which is 2 Experiences less than what you'd spend to raise your Attribute by 2 dots normally. Considering that Demonic Form abilities which increase Attributes give points instead of dots (i.e. the derived traits are unaffected), and the Aether Expenditure and Compromise, I'd say it's fair.

I haven't read enough about the Nephilim yet, but those Merits sound terrifying. What about a Merit that lets one or more of the Demonic lesser templates find and control Echoes? Aether Fuel looks fine, but what is the maximum they can hold and spend per turn?

[Vent0]

Thanks for the feedback.

It makes the normal Installation of Embedded Gadgets seem obsolete in terms of pure speed, even with the caveat of Aether Expenditure and Compromise.

Well, this only works with ranged attacks, and only for the Demon, and like you recognized, risks Compromise and cost Aether. Gadget are better in the long run, but sometimes you need a Knockout Punch or Shatter shot without the time to do an installation. Admittedly niche, though.

If a Demon knows an Embed that is normally used only in close range, it's safer in the long run to put said Embed into a Gadget that "fires" it, and then the Demon can buy the Subsumed Gadget Merit to make it more subtle. Drawing a Subsumed Gadget does not require Aether expenditure or Compromise, and it's a reflexive action too.

You can? It wasn't real clear to me how subsumed Gadgets work.

As for the Maneuvers that give medium and long bursts, I don't think those modes of fire make sense for all Demonic ranged weapons. Besides, the description of the Rivet Arm gives the impression that it can work like an assault rifle, so coming up with a Maneuver for something that can be given through re-fluffing sounds redundant to me.

Eh. I doesn't list it as possible, while this is explicit. I understand that if you rule it as allowable by default, this dot is pointless. I also thought about a range extension (so Acid Spit and Laser Cutter are more effective).

However, I do like the idea of mixing the Rivet Arm, Eliminator Cannon and such with other parts of the Demonic Form. I would make this a single Merit worth 3 or 4 dots with a Primum prerequisite of 4. I would change it so that only two advantages can be combined, and it requires additional Aether + 1 willpower point. This way, you can combine Rivet Arm and Voice Of The Angel to create a sonic cannon. I would say that your ranged weapon cannot be combined with Propulsions, and that combining it with Processes costs more Aether than a Modification or Technology. This opens up a lot of interesting options, but most of them are very flashy and the tons of you Aether you have to spend would draw a lot of attention. I am not sure of exact amount of additional Aether, though. How about 1 for Modifications and Technologies, and 3 for Processes?

Hmm. You can technically pull this off already* via Evolved Form (Homebrew some posts previous, which lets you integrate Lambdas as if they were normal Demonic Form abilities). Just make a Lambda with those Form Abilities, then reintegrate.

For the most part, you can improve your ranged weapons with Firefight and Marksmanship, as well as Embeds and Demonic Form advantages that enhance your senses.

Yeah...

For the pricing of Inhuman Enhancement, I'd make •• give +3 and •••• give +4. The total cost is 6 Experiences, which is 2 Experiences less than what you'd spend to raise your Attribute by 2 dots normally. Considering that Demonic Form abilities which increase Attributes give points instead of dots (i.e. the derived traits are unaffected), and the Aether Expenditure and Compromise, I'd say it's fair.

I'll switch it to 2 and 4 tomorrow, then. Though do you have to spend the full 4 XP for getting an upgraded version of a merit?

I haven't read enough about the Nephilim yet, but those Merits sound terrifying.

The Cover ones mitigate the downsides Nephilim face at the cost of making it very risky when you aren't "Covered". There are real cost-vs-value considerations there.

Devour Demon is just straight up scary, though. It is intended for antagonists, however.

What about a Merit that lets one or more of the Demonic lesser templates find and control Echoes?

Now that's scary.

Aether Fuel looks fine, but what is the maximum they can hold and spend per turn?

Whatever they are otherwise able to. This just clarifies the "can spend Aether on Supernatural Merits" niche. It doesn't confer any Aether Pool itself, just lets you spend it in different ways. And with Ambient Aether, you don't technically need a pool...

[MrParaduo]

Anyone here got suggestions on how to make the Lair mechanic from Beast into a (expensive) merit for Demon? I just like the idea of having a domain that's malleable to the character, especially if it can play to the Inferno-style narrative. Like, maybe each chamber is tied to a malus loci, or similar.

[Vent0]

Anyone here got suggestions on how to make the Lair mechanic from Beast into a (expensive) merit for Demon? I just like the idea of having a domain that's malleable to the character, especially if it can play to the Inferno-style narrative. Like, maybe each chamber is tied to a malus loci, or similar.

I actually have some notes lying around for re-skinning Beast in the vein of Inferno. The mechanics are largely unchanged, just with a focus on Vice/Sin, instead of Fear.

As far as Descent, the nearest thing to Lair is Bolthole, which is implied to be a smaller, more personal thing. But you certainly could expand that out more into a larger domain of folded-space/elsewhere, or even set up something in parallel, such as a Suborned Facility. Talking about it like that, though, makes me think it would be more high-end, rather than a basic thing like Beast has it.

Descent with Inferno-flavor: You could recast the Lair as one's personal Domain or Bolge in Hell/Pandemonium/Abaddon/Inferno, grown through projecting/corrupting pieces of the world into it. Such Chamber areas would be permanently* Tainted (permanent in so much as someone collapses the Chamber or cleanses the Taint).

So you got your own Hell
Pros:
Source of Sin/Vice/Essence/Aether - stuff that happens in your corrupted locations feeds your realm, and thus you.
Extra Living/Storage Space - sometimes you just need a place to kick back and store your trophies.
Mobile Home - establish Resonance in a place with your Hell, and you can either head home for some R&R real quick, or truly make the location into a hellhole.
Cons:
Rude Neighbors - More places tied to your Hell means more places to defend or for intruders to enter.
High Profile - not only do you have fellow demons enviously trying to keep up with the Jones', your influence is easier to spot when you've staked out real estate.

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[Note to Self - Spec out Suborned Facility merit chain if MrParaduo doesn't. High-end. Additional dots/"chambers" require esoteric prerequisites plus more Suborned Infrastructure.]

[MrParaduo]

[Note to Self - Spec out Suborned Facility merit chain if MrParaduo doesn't. High-end. Additional dots/"chambers" require esoteric prerequisites plus more Suborned Infrastructure.]

I wouldn't know where to start. ^_^;

[Arcanist]

Well, I could see a one dot Merit that requires Cult 4+, and Mystery Cult 1+ that spells out and "unlocks" the benefits. If you didn't want to just house rule it as automatic.

A little something I threw together based on these musings- enjoy.

Ties of Faith (ooo)
Prerequisite: Supernatural, Cult Leader, Mystery Cult Initiation 1+
Effect: For whatever reason, this supernatural character has decided to invest a good portion of themselves into a given Cult- they truly believe in it, to the point that it acts as a Touchstone for them and their faith transcends normal limitations. They may gain Supernatural Merits conferred by Mystery Cult Initiation. If the Merit wouldn’t do anything for them, either because their own natural capabilities are superior or some other reason, they may spend the Experiences on other supernatural powers.
Drawback: Treat leaving or betraying the Cult as killing or injuring a Touchstone, respectively. For the Unchained, it triggers an immediate Compromise with a penalty equal to their dots of Mystery Cult Initiation.

[Vent0]

Concealed Signal (• to •••••)
Prerequisite: Demonic Form
Effect: Through discipline, or some quirk in your nature, your Demonic Form emits less of an Aether signal than most when revealed. Add the dots in this merit as a bonus to the Compromise roll when using a Partial or Full Transformation. If the bonus to the Compromise check ever reaches or exceeds +15 dice, you may instead entirely forgo the roll.

Angelic Favor (•••)
Effect: Angels occasionally need help with their missions, and some are inclined to even repay such aid with a service (as long as it doesn't interfere with their missions). Maybe the Demon saved the Exile's life, or the Stigmatic gave unasked for but needed assistance toward the Angel's key Project. Either way, the Angel owes the character one, and has vowed to return the favor.

The favor can be many things: the capture of a rival Demon, a week of freedom from Hunter on the Demon’s heels, safe passage to somewhere in the mortal world or any other realm for the Stigmatic and allies, etc. For something more permanent, the dots in this merit can be exchanged for dots in Merits appropriate to the power of the Angel, per the Sanctity of Merits (see p. XX). Given the power of Angelic temporal manipulation, this can even retroactively change details about the character's past.
Drawback: There’s nothing about calling on the God-Machine's loyalist for aid that can be easily explained to those hunted by them. Few Unchained aware of such an interaction will conclude anything good has happened, and words like Sleeper Agent and Compromised may become associated with your character’s name.

[Deionscribe]

Vent0

Now that is a nice addition you got there. But would it still work if an Angel happens to be nearby? Especially within sight of the Demon and vice versa?

[Vent0]

Vent0

Now that is a nice addition you got there. But would it still work if an Angel happens to be nearby? Especially within sight of the Demon and vice versa?

Angelic Favor? Well, does Faerie Favor still work in sight of another True Fae? This just represents another kind of deal with the devil. Yes, Ironic.