Devil's Bargain

PCs in Blades are reckless scoundrels addicted to destructive vices—they don’t always act in their own best interests. To reflect this, the GM or any other player can offer you a bonus die if you accept a Devil’s Bargain. Common Devil’s Bargains include:

• Collateral damage, unintended harm.
• Sacrifice coin or an item.
• Betray a friend or loved one.
• Offend or anger a faction.
• Start and/or tick a troublesome clock.
• Add heat to the crew from evidence or witnesses.
• Suffer harm.

The Devil’s Bargain occurs regardless of the outcome of the roll. You make the deal, pay the price, and get the bonus die. There might not be an interesting Devil’s Bargain in every situation. If one doesn’t occur to anyone right away, that’s fine.

“I know our gang is savage—if we leave them alone here with the hostages, who knows what they’ll do. I’m gonna get all up in their faces and Command them to keep their slaggin’ hands off.”

“Oooh, I have a Devil’s Bargain. You can take +1d but you go too far with your intimidation and threats this time. I’m gonna start a new 4-clock called... ‘The Gang Fights Back’ and tick it three times. Mess with them this hard again, and you’re gonna have a gang of savages on your ass.”

“Nice. I like it! Maybe I’ll try to un-tick some of that clock in downtime...”

Some players like to get a little fancy or creative with Devil’s Bargains, using them to re-write a bit of the situation, create something new in the flow of the narrative, or shine a spotlight on a character’s weaknesses.

“Someone here is a member of your old platoon—the one you left for dead.” “One of the cultists becomes obsessed with you.”

“Your character doesn’t realize it, but one of the boats moored at the dock you’re burning turns out to be your poor old uncle’s eel-fishing boat.”

“Spending this much time during a meeting at a drug den... seems like you would have to overindulge yourself here, yeah?”

Don’t push these bargains too hard if the player doesn’t like this kind of narrative sleight-of-hand. It’s fun for some and annoying for others.

The Devil’s Bargain is always a free choice. If you don’t like one, just reject it (or suggest how to alter it so you might consider taking it). You can always just push yourself for that bonus die instead.

If it’s ever needed, the GM has final say over which Devil’s Bargains are valid.