Wonderful game, Rich lore, Diverse in playable creatures and classes the book also has beautiful artwork. Mechanics of the game are different and at the same time comfortable, the contesting rolls are one of my favorite feature and while a lot of games have a min max feel this one has some luck invovled with the gift rolls creating interesting play styles. the exploding dice has also been a crazy fun

Honestly so glad i added this game to my collection

Demon Gate is a great system with a familiar d20+modifiers combat system, a dice ladder system for skills and a combination of multipliers and exploding dice that make for great memorable moments at the table.

The setting is dark and gritty fantasy, and the mechanics really support the tone of the setting. Even the toughest adventurer can be killed in a single blow if the attacker is skilled or lucky enough. In practice that's very rare, but not rare enough that you can ever feel invulnerable - perfect for a world where evil is a constant, powerful threat.

If you're looking for a system which does dark fantasy really well, look no further.

My group and I got into this game a couple months back and have been loving it! The core mechanics are pretty straightforward (opposed d20 for combat, dice ladder for skill and ability checks) so it is fairly easy to pick up, but there is ton of "crunch" in terms of rules options - character races and classes, skills, abilities, spells, etc. There are well developed subsystems for stuff like alchemy, rune magic, etc. It is definitely more "rules heavy" than many recent games, but everything is intuitive and well-though out so the game plays pretty smoothly at the table. The setting is excellent and really nails the dark fantasy/ sword & sorcery vibe. The game world feels grim and dangerous with enough depth and detail to support a dozen campaigns that never cover the same ground.

This system makes wonderful use of tables. The companion adds a great Life Path system which creates a rich depth to your PCs(or NPCs). Also gives players new options for classes etc. Dark and gritty with a unique twist on a metaverse in the deep history of the lore. I hope I'm still playing this system in 50 years! Our games have never produced more amazing RP nor have I ever been so invested in my character. Can't wait for the upcoming KS

My new favorite system. Combat is exciting due to how deadly the mechanics are, social skills are well developed and the lore....well the lore is the heart and soul of this system. Guarantee you will enjoy it!!!

If you're constantly on the hunt for a truly epic, yet dark, fantasy realm that combines all the best parts of Conan and Lovecraft with the shadowy nexus of well-researched historical lore, mystical imagination, and clever design, then your quest is at an end. Demon Gate is the perfect storm! This is a system that I can see myself enjoying for decades to come.

A labour of love from a design team that puts tremendous effort into every product they create, the entire Demon Gate pantheon of products is a sumptuous tapestry that will fire the forges of Game Masters and players alike.

I bought the deluxe hardcover, and I'm so glad that I did. The book is gorgeous, with stunning artwork, and professional design. Many a night I've curled up by the lamp, and let the pages lure me into the depths of infinite, dark possibilities in the world of Koth.

In addition to a few new classes, the DemonGate Companion adds a complete Life Path system to character generation. This optional component to chargen can really make your campaign shine.

A setting like DemonGate thrives when relationships, geography, and history is integrated into your character concept and the Life Path system makes this happen.

Moreover, it's not mechanically just fluff. Based on your life path, your skills, attributes, or more may be altered (usually improved!) and you may gain an NPC ally or arch enemy.

All this is really fun stuff and I highly recommend the DemonGate Companion.

My group has played DemonGate for a few years now and completed more than one campaign. We play many systems, but it's consistently one of the most requested and generates the most excitement.

With the addition of the DemonGate Companion (reviewed elsewhere), DemonGate is a game that can be large and sprawling and grand (after all - you can play an angel!) or small, gritty, and private (the combat can be bloody and lethal).

The options at character generation are limitless and the production and feel of the book, coupled with the races and cultures that populate the world of DemonGate, makes it a very immersive game.

I suggest you put down D&D for awhile... try this one on for size.

I am a writer that helped to develop some of the content of this book. I have also been involved with playing and playtesting products of Arcanum Syndicate as well. This is easily my favorite roleplaying game ever developed in its base form, but The Companion adds many great new options on top of the existing base game. The addition of non-combat focused classes offers a different playstyle for those more interested in political, economical, or subterfuge-based campaigns. The Life Path is a random-roller's dream for character creation along with a plethora of new options, and mutations can create even more unique playstyles with the many advantages and disadvantages they bring. I highly recommend The Companion to enhance your Demon Gate experience.

I have been able to read a lot of this release by Arcanum Syndicate, and what can I say besides this is an incredible supplement for a great game. If you are looking for more options for character creation, combat, and much more -- this is your book. Forget D&D, OSR, and other fantasy RPGs, none compare to Demon Gate in my opinion. You will not be sorry you jumped to a fantastically darker ship! Demon Gate is a great RPG, and the Companion is a must have for those looking for more options -- Not to mention are mini campaign. This is a can't miss book.

An excellent introductory adventure for Demon Gate. You definately get your money's worth as well, as the adventure has a lot of meat to it for a very low price. I love the fact that there's a prelude part to the adventure that can be skipped, or played, depending on the GM's desire.

You really can't beat Demon Gate, and this can help you get started.

Demon Gate is the zenith of dark fantasy RPing. Koth is grim and grisly, with danger at every turn. No review I leave can do it justice. I suggest purchasing this book and finding out for yourself.

The system is both familiar and totally unique. Skill checks are, I dare say, innovative. These check work on a dice ladder, where the better you are in a skill, the bigger your dice get (and more dice too, as you go up). Combat can be lethal, and magic is scary, both to the target and potentially to the caster. There's never a better feeling of ACTUAL tension in combat.

Demon Gate's systems and theme enhance RP, story telling, and character development. I 100% recommend Demon Gate to anyone. If you're looking for one Dark Fantasy RPG to put on your shelves, this is it.

Awesome book! The book contains everything you need to play. It contains a completely fleshed out world with it's own history. Very well done artwork. I have yet to play, but the ruleset is unique and seems very intuitive.

I thought about how to rate this book. In the end I had to admit, that it is simply utterly useless to me.

First let's have a look at how the content is presented:

Everything in this book follows an alphabetical order. Seems reasonable at first glance, if only the alphabetical order wouldn't be the only kind of structure for the whole document. That means the book is a complete mess of information - kingdoms, cities, and landmarks from all over the map are mixed up together. For example the description of the Aticraulian Empire as a kingdom is followed by the description of a trail in the country of Icobor and that in turn is followed by the description of Banner Burn, a moderate city in Narcadia ... it simply isn't possible for example to just concentrate on all information about the Aticraulian Empire. The only possible focus for all the content within those pages is the hyperlinked map at the end of the book. If you manage to hit your - all too often very small - mark correctly you jump to the corresponding entry. But alas! I don't want to jump back and forth from a map, just to collect the information on a single realm little by little!!! - not to mention, that those hyperlinks are invisible and you don't even know which detail on the map has one.

To me such a structure is not worth of discussion and it makes the book unusable.

Second let's have a look at the content itself:

To cut a long story short: It's not worth mentioning. All information is just some generic fluff-talk - not even a single bit of crunch! The leader of Brom for example being a 68th level minotaur barbarian is the highest level of ingame-information you get about the leader of that realm. And more often than not it's very lackluster: For example a given kingdom openly trades with this country but doesn't like that country too much. Each entry has a small paragraph - the kingdoms often a whole row of text. Within those descriptions you get a rough idea of the country, city, or landmark in question but nothing more. Concerning the kingdoms and cities the book promises "details on each" but I consider those "details" a simple idea at best. You do not even get some rough information about population numbers - persons of interest - history or timeline - level of education - resources, crafts, or trade goods - military strength or at least its military structure - or anything else like that.

A nice fluff-idea here and there.

The Tortured South opens up many possibilities for your Demon Gate campaign. There are more locations, more classes, and more races. With the Tortured South you cannot go wrong if you're looking for a little extra to add to the Demon Gate core book. It is highly recommended.