A new fantasy TTRPG campaign, Defy The Gods, created by Chris Sellers, has hit Kickstarter. Players can play as characters vying for power and romance and create the cast of gods conspiring against them.
The Defy The Gods TTRPG Campaign
According to the campaign page, Defy The Gods is a sword and sorcery Powered By The Apocalypse TTRPG packed with passionate romance, cursed power, and bold adventure. Its inspirations include Conan, Clash of the Titans, and Princess Mononoke.
The game is set in a fantasy version of ancient Mesopotamia, one you build at the table. its ancient cities, its pantheon of gods, its untamed wilds, its fate in the Underworld, all are made at the table.
In addition, Defy The Gods, is a game about queer love. It is a game of universal visceral attraction. A game where players can win anyone’s romantic interest. Alternatively, you can use that attraction to your benefit, using that attraction to distract or thwart them. In this sense, it is similar to another story of queer love, Thirsty Sword Lesbians.
This queer theming is key to the intended experience of Defy The Gods. This world’s pantheon of Gods hates you, and the rulers of the City wish to push your character to the margins. As impressive as your characters are, they will struggle against the forces conspiring against you. Simply living a free life in this context is defiance.
In fact, players are given the chance to introduce those complications to their characters through World Scenes. In between adventures, players take on the role of World Forces. These can be City officials or even the gods themselves. In these scenes, players can get the Game Master’s imagination rolling with where they want the story to go in these scenes.
The pledge tiers for Defy The Gods are as follows:
- PDF + POD Edition for $20: A PDF of the Core Rulebook and a code to print-on-demand an at-cost physical copy of the Core Rulebook.
- Standard Hardcover + PDF for $40: A 6×9 hardcover copy of the core rulebook and everything in the PDF + POD tier.
- Special Edition Hardcover + PDF for $80: A special edition Core Rulebook with alternate art by Thalie Shelen, and everything from the PDF + POD tier.
- Daring Rogue Bundle for $90: Everything from the Standard Hardcover + PDF tier, two cuneiform dice, four sorcery dice, four art postcards, and an enamel pin.
- Burning Hearts Bundle for $140: Everything from the Special Edition Hardcover + PDF tier, two cuneiform dice, four sorcery dice, two unique enamel pins, and four art postcards.
- Big Bundle of Doom for $250: Everything from the Burning Hearts Bundle, the chance to create a unique character, and joining a three-session game of Defy The Gods GM’d by the creator.
It must be noted that, likely in response to the turbulent trade tariffs, shipping costs for the game will billed separately for backers via the pledge manager.
At time of writing, the campaign for Defy The Gods has raised $11,757, which is barely one-quarter of its initial funding goal of $47,000. The campaign concludes May 29.
