Sprite World is, at a most basic level, instructions on how to create an 8-bit inspired adventure using the Paragon system. The 37 page setting gives you character types, modified combat rules and scenario suggestions to create an 8-bit world all your own.
Opening one’s eyes after falling asleep can mean different things to different people. For most, it means awakening to reality. For a few rare individuals, it could mean awakening to a dream; a lucid experience limited only by imagination, but still belonging to the world we know as reality. But when a dream is reality, how does one tell the difference?
Paragon is a whole new take on the HDL system, with dramatically expanded rules, a complete magic system, integrated cybernetics rules, and most importantly, a totally revamped Active Delay combat system. Under the hood, it’s still the best of the original HDL system, with point-based character creation, customizable characters with Backgrounds and Weaknesses, cards for both character-building and in-game effects, and the underlying HDL dice mechanic. But the new Paragon rules take the game to new heights, expanding rules to 334 full-color pages.
You can now download the latest Paragon Errata update from our Downloads page.
The newly revised Demongate High 2 setting is well underway! While we have yet to determine an exact release date, we wanted to share some of the long-awaited developments we’ve been working on for the past five years now. To begin, here is a preview of the 19 new and improved character archetypes available to students at Demongate High!
Alchemist
Alchemists have the ability to impose their will on the physical world, using spirit energy to alter the shape and makeup of materials and objects. They can turn one substance into another, turn creatures into other things, and even create autonomous, animated objects. Their ability to craft substances of great power is unmatched, and they can repair damage and injuries with a mere touch.
Artificer (formerly known as Warder)
Artificers are crafters of supernatural artifacts, ranging from paper tag wards to inscribed circles to fully-functioning objects known as talismans. While typically suited to background support, as their crafting takes significant time, if prepared, Artificers can dominate a battlefield. Even without preparation, they can activate or drain power from existing wards and talismans.
Breath Stealer
Akin to spiritual vampires, Breath Stealers feed on the spirit energy of others. Ageless, breathless and soulless, Breath Stealers have only what power they have stolen from their enemies. While initially limited, Breath Stealers are some of the most versatile individuals, able to use the powers, skills and memories of humans, demons, and other supernatural beings alike.
Cambion (formerly known as Half-Demon)
The direct descendants of demons, Cambions vary in both appearance and power, and are relatively common at Demongate High School. Most have combat-focused powers, and are trained primarily as warriors, though many possess support abilities as well. Cambions are vulnerable to holy power, and stand out from normal humans, but find a place where they can belong at Demongate High.
Demon Artist
Though directly tied on a spiritual level to a specific demon, Demon Artists have the ability to tap into the power of virtually any other demon, gaining incredible versatility in power. While only able to sustain a limited amount of power at one time, Demon Artists can steal power from demons on the fly, even forcing the demons to pay some of the Energy cost of each ability they use.
ESPer
The ever-versatile ESPer is a master of psychic powers, able to assume nearly any party role. ESPers possess a range of abilities both mental and physical, and can even harm invulnerable demons and teleport across dimensional barriers. They excel at both offense and defense, as well as recon and interrogation. However, the cost of this versatility is a lack of focus, and extensive time training to use such varied abilities.
Holy Chosen
The chosen of the Heavens wield holy power against the foes of humanity, be they demonic or terrestrial in origin. Holy Chosen radiate celestial energy which protects them from demons and also causes the flesh of the unholy to burn away. Holy Chosen are excellent in support roles, and have miraculous healing abilities, and can even bring back the dead for a short time (and at considerable personal cost).
Inheritor
Inheritors wield artifacts passed down through their lineage, inheriting with them a keen awareness of the supernatural world. Some inherit swords or other weapons, while others may inherit less combat-oriented items such as boxes of power, scarves or sandals that bestow flight, or any number of such items.
Mystic
Mystics are the “witch doctors” of legend, using brewed infusions, supernatural rites, and otherworldly beings to accomplish their goals. Mystics are versatile, able to dabble a little in many different supernatural arts, and overlap to a limited extent with Artificers, Petitioners, Summoners, and bits and pieces of other archetypes as well. Naturally, this diversity results in a loss of power, balanced by special abilities unique to Mystics, such as the ability to bestow curses on their enemies and boons on their allies.
Petitioner
Petitioners are summoners of holy beings. In addition to calling upon some of the mightiest known beings in the multiverse to smite their evil foes, a Petitioner also has with him at all times a genius: a guardian angel that guides and protects him, providing even more protection than a Holy Chosen’s natural “field” of power.
Seer
Essentially highly-specialized ESPers, Seers use their mental powers to gather information and direct the tide of battle. They can see through lies, sense the presence of demons, and even spy on distant locations and read minds. Many of their abilities overlap with ESPers, but are more focused and potentially more powerful.
Shaman
Shamans’ powers are twofold. First, they can call upon the aid of nature spirits, bestowing special benefits and powers on themselves and their friends. Second, they have at their beck and call a Spirit Projection: a manifestation of their soul that fights on their behalf.
Songstrel
Songstrels wield the power of song to produce a variety of results, from illusions and mental control to tangible offensive and defensive effects. Highly focused, Songstrels reach their full potential quickly, and can then focus on secondary pursuits.
Soul Wielder
The Soul Wielder has complete control over the spirits of others, and can extract them from their bodies and forge them into objects of either a defensive or offensive nature. Soul Wielders are also useful in tasks such as repairing souls or rescuing the souls of the damned. While Soul Wielders can instantly bring a fight to a conclusion, they need to get close enough to their enemy to extract their soul.
Spirit Energist
Spirit Energists are masters of spirit energy, able to manipulate it within themselves and others. They can steal of bestow energy, generate blasts of raw power, or use spirit energy for defense. Spirit Energists are by far the most potentially destructive of the character archetypes, simply due to how much of their own spirit energy they can devote to a single task, overwhelming even the most steadfast of opponents.
Spirit Hunter
Spirit Hunters are newcomers to Demongate High, having long been trained by the reclusive Spirit Hunter Society. Now grudging allies of the Demongate Foundation, Spirit Hunters train with the rest of the students at Demongate High. Spirit Hunters have the ability to leave their bodies and enter a physical Spirit Form. In this form, they carry a special weapon forged from their own soul that also carries great power to slay demons and eliminate ghosts and other spirits. Spirit Hunters are highly focused on combat, though they may possess support powers, and can augment their already formidable powers with supernatural, spell-like incantations.
Summoner
Summoners deal directly with demons, calling them into our realm and striking bargains for their services. They can banish demons, but excel equally at bending them to their own will, forcing them to fight on the side of good. Summoners can be extremely dangerous, and, in truth, endanger themselves every time they summon a demon.
Touched
The rarest of students at Demongate High are the Touched: those who were not born with a supernatural gift, but were touched by the supernatural world, obtaining power that, in many cases, dwarfs that of those who were born into it. Touched vary in power across the entire spectrum, and can serve a variety of roles, though they are limited by an innate lack of supernatural awareness.
True Martial Artist
One part Spirit Energist, one part pure warrior, the True Martial Artist is combat honed to perfection. Whether fighting unarmed or with a weapon, the True Martial Artist has at her disposal an array of attacks and techniques, ranging from simple energy blasts to dramatic boosts in her innate abilities to seemingly magical spells.
In addition to these new and expanded character archetypes, Demongate High 2 includes more than 150 supernatural creatures, including over 100 demons, dozens of angels and heavenly beings, and new terrestrial spirits and other creatures. At over 470 pages and counting, this all-new book promises to be the definitive resource for the entire Demongate High universe, and our biggest book ever!
Today we’re proud to announce the new, free Paragon setting, Sprite World by Robert Ziefel! Sprite World is, at a most basic level, instructions on how to create an 8-bit inspired adventure using the Paragon system. The 37 page setting gives you character types, modified combat rules and scenario suggestions to create an 8-bit world all your own. Head on over to DriveThruRPG to snag this great Paragon setting for free!