Not a Demon
A downloadable tabletop RPG
You are a guardian spirit, sent to the realm of humans to help them in their mortal experience.
Unfortunately, Fate has decided that you would manifest as a frightening shapeshifting creature.
Your very existence brings terror to the heart of men.
But you have a mission. You embrace your eerie essence, and you use it to aid those feeble mortals, even though you know they are unable to comprehend your ways.
What is this game?
Not a Demon is a game about perseverance and creativity, about seeing beyond appearances, and being true to who you are.
You play as a shapeshifter guardian spirit manifested in the human world as a demon-like creature. Despite your honorable calling, the common folk see you as a monster, and they treat you as one.
Your supernatural essence stops you from communicating directly to them. You are uncapable of mundane actions, such as talking or interacting with the material world. Whatever you do, it is both miraculous and terrifying for the people of these lands.
Everything in this world will tell you to give up and return to the spirit realm, or become the demon they say you are. But you know your truth, and you are determined to be a guardian and a helper of these people, even if they never recognize you as such.
Press Kit available here: https://bit.ly/notademon
Highlights
- Zero-prep: the stories are created as you play them!
- Solo or coop: play alone or in a group, without the need of a GM!
- Rules-light: based on Dash, the simple d6-pool mechanic is easy to learn and fast to apply!
- Pre-made characters: 6 unique guardian spirits you can pick from and start playing right away!
- Toolbox: a custom map with 8 locations, featuring description, 6 people of interest and 6 troubles each, plus an assortment of random tables to spice up your stories!
Your purchase includes:
- 82-page, full-colored, richly illustrated, totally hyperlinked and bookmarked PDF
- At-cost print-on-demand coupon for the pocket book (4.25 x 6.875 in | 108 x 175 mm)
- 6 character playbooks, both in full color and printer-friendly formats
- Custom map with easy access to each of the 8 unique locations
- Rules-reference document with all the mechanics you need during play
- Every purchase adds +1 community copy!
► This game was made possible by the support of my amazing patrons. Join today and get all my future games for free!
Purchase
In order to download this tabletop RPG you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $14.90 USD. You will get access to the following files:
Every purchase = a new community copy
Support this tabletop RPG at or above a special price point to receive something exclusive.
Community copies
If you're in need and can't afford a copy of the game, help yourself to a community copy.
• Every PDF sale adds 1 extra community copy
Development log
- Fixed some typosDec 20, 2024
- Now available in Italian!Sep 23, 2024
Comments
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I played this game and it kick-started some of the coolest world building and story I've made to date!
Oh, that’s awesome! I’d love to hear more :)
For sure! I created my initial setting using The Quiet Year by Avery Alder, and then used Not A Demon to explore it. I hacked the places from Not A Demon to be places I created in The Quiet Year, instead of the suggestions from the playbook, but otherwise I played the game as written.
I LOVED the premise of playing as a spirit who just wants to help, but can't be known, and can even be hurt by that misunderstanding. It brought up so many interesting interactions in asking why things might be that way, where misunderstandings might lay, what cultural pieces might be in place from the human perspective against spirits, what the structure of the spirit's culture might look like on their end etc...
Not a Demon really primed me to think outside of the box within a set problem. If I can't be seen, and it will hurt to be discovered, but my prime objective is to be helpful, what tactics can I employ with the tools I have, and how creative can I get in trying to resolve the Problems? And how effectively can spirits even help the problems for another species & culture in the first place?
Like, one of my favorite interactions was when my "demon" used the FOLD domain to make it so that a certain lawbook would constantly find itself on top of the lawmakers desk, sometime already helpfully turned to a relevant page, so that it was always top of mind for the lawmaker, with the intent to encourage new laws in that area of society.
It's my favorite interaction because I had such limited domains available that I had to get really creative with how I could try to affect lasting positive change for something as sweeping as social policies. I can honestly say I, as a player, would NEVER have thought to enact this kind of helpful mischief outside of the Not A Demon game. The game helped me explicitly explore ideas for solutions I wouldn't have thought of otherwise!
Definitely one of my favorite games I played.
This is fantastic and made my whole day. Thank you very much for sharing! ^^
Any chance of a community copy to kick start my solo cravings? Thanks ✌️
hi there fabulous creator. Just curious if there’s any more community copies available? I really appreciate game creators like you who do generously offer these community copies to people going through a hard time. It really helps out.
Thank you in advance
hey, do you know when/ if more community copies will be up?
Thanks
This game looks really amazing! Are there new community copies soon? I would love to play it!!
There are some more up!
Thank you so much!! I cannot wait to start today! Will definitely leave a review afterwards!
Hello! I was wondering if this game is kid-friendly? I’m looking for take-home writing activities for my struggling students for this year and don’t have the $ to purchase all the options to review. Thanks.
I need a community copy! So bad!
Another amazing game created by a favorite designer of mine. I love the map and locations in this: packed full of ideas for compelling NPCs and adventure seeds.
Thank you so much, Brian! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Absolutely great game! Concise and action-packed, love it
Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Hey, just finished reading the book - it's great, I love it. I'll write a review later on today, but I have a (small) question. In the section about advancement, it says:
"Subtract the MP spent from your total score, but do not change the Total value on your playbook."
Why? To give a general idea of how far the character has come?
Thank you so much!
Yes, the main reason for now is that. I've considered "retirement" rules (reaching a threshold would allow you to return to the spirit realm with your calling fulfilled), but decided to leave it for future consideration. :)
I see, that is interesting!