The game includes non-human character options that offer unique spins on classic fantasy archetypes. Aes, for example, are immortal elf-like heroes bound to phases of the moon, while Daimn are dwarf-like characters bound to different elements. These ancestries also include Nephilim, half-demon haracter created through merging humans and the strange Outsiders looking to make their own play on Erebos.

Death of the Old Gods: The gods of old are dead, slaughtered by the Oligarchs in their bid for godhood. Magic Misfire: Attempting to cast a Vitiation or a Spell requires an skill test, and critically or sublimely failing this test can cause some horrible effect to the target or the caster, depending on the spell. For example, attempting to magically empower a nearby weapon will instead destroy it on a critical failure, or destroy all nearby equipment on a sublime failure.

I was very nervous, but I was incredibly excited. And I was just like, you know, I just have to take this plunge; I have to do this thing,” Verniere said. “And it worked. The next day the work began on gathering a real team.”

The Elfwrought are humans twisted by the Aes art of Fleshcrawl, transformed into abominations like the vaguely-canid Cu-Sith and the many-legged Elfmount. Deal with the Devil: The one of the setting's main magic systems is Theurgy, whereby a Theurge bargains with an Outsider to exchange some service for magical power.

Blackbirds contains examples of the following tropes:

Each technique includes an Extinguish action that puts a pwerful narrative shift in the hands of the players at the cost of shutting the technique down for a while. These actions include combat enders such as flurry of blows from a master swordsman to a magic character calling in an imp to eat the remaining bad guy. Non-combat actions are also available here such as being able to sneak the group into a location unnoticed or extracting a juicy secret from a lover. Our Vampires Are Different: The Striga are oversized, intelligent, parasitic arthropods who kill humans and puppeteer their corpses, using them to masquerade as human and collect blood. Over time they grow larger and larger, until they fully shed their decaying shells and transform into the enormous Titan Casks. A final word on the artwork is due to the astoundingly diverse array of pictures and the talented contributors to this project, for while these richly illustrated and immersively atmospheric images sprawl throughout the book in many different styles, the entire opus as a whole feels piercingly cohesive, even transfixing aesthetically, where one genuinely feels present within the depictions of the stark characters, the riveting monsters and mysterious beings, as well as the devastatingly arresting environments. Gracious Compliance was forged from the body of an Aes diplomat by the ancient people of Corbellus before their downfall. The mind of the Aes lives on in the weapon, and is a deceitful, treacherous thing that seeks the death of all mortals. I'm an avid TTRPG fan, in the hobby for 20+ years. I own and have played tons of different games ranging from the common to the extremely obscure. This book is absolutely excellent and worth the high price tag. It's a beautiful book with fantastic artwork, high-quality construction, and deep and fascinating lore. The world the book takes place in is one of my favorites. I love the details around the dead gods and the new "gods" who slew the old ones and took over. I love how each of the new "gods" has a disease/condition that they inflict on their followers that transforms them in multiple stages, leading to new and interesting monsters in each of the intermediate stages (as well as cool transforming diseases that can be inflicted on the PCs). Character creation options are similarly amazing. Spells are a standout, all based around pacts made with outsiders (similar to demons) and all coming with a cost. While "power with a cost" is a common theme in dark fantasy scenarios, I've not ever seen it so well-executed before.

A new system for building fleshed-out characters, replacing races with ancestries, cultures, and secrets To sever this golden cord is to plunge all of creation into chaos, a world without gods or their justice, where rebirth is the only possible salvation, and to be reborn, Critical Failure: In general, rolling a natural 100 or a high multiple of 11 on any skill test will result in a critical failure as well. A natural 01 or a low multiple of 11 will instead result in a critical success. One during spell casting may summon Daemons of Chaos, render you impotent, render you and your party and your distant relatives impotent, or merely give you an insanity point. Guns tend to simply blow up. If you like your fantasy like I like my morning coffee… with a gauntleted uppercut to the jaw, you’ll love this world and you will love this system. I grew up loving Warhammer/grim dark fantasy and this is the spiritual successor. You are in good hands here people. 🤘🏼💀🔥 https://t.co/H9XC3v8LmU— JOE MANGANIELLO (@JoeManganiello) November 26, 2020In addition to a wonderful Patronage system which reinforces the theme of interweaving the characters with the world and its other denizens, spurring countless story ideas and in character interactions, to say nothing of adding yet more meat to the bones of the characters themselves, the magic system of Theurgy also hinges upon Patronage, in this case with the aforementioned Outsiders and their cryptic Courts, and with whom Odic, or magic practitioners must bargain carefully to receive and wield their powers, the Vitiations and other assorted pact-based abilities. Along the way, in either case, characters are deeply embroiled in the vicissitudes of Fate and the stories which will emerge thereby.