In Nomine (role-playing game)

In Nomine is a role-playing game designed by Derek Pearcy and published in 1997 by Steve Jackson Games, based on the French game In Nomine Satanis / Magna Veritas. In Nomine won the Origins Award for Best Graphic Presentation of a Roleplaying Game, Adventure, or Supplemement of 1997.

Players typically assume the role of angels and demons in a setting that draws heavily on the traditional Christian mythos. It combines the supernatural with mundane reality, with campaigns often set in the modern world. Supernatural characters take on human (or other mundane) form to further their various agendas. Although individual campaigns can focus on combat or direct conflict, Heaven and Hell more usually battle indirectly by drawing humans closer to their respective sides. Celestial antagonism is costly, and rarely the most efficient option. This gives In Nomine a psychological and philosophical tone.

Angels and demons, collectively termed Celestials, are sorted into different Choirs (angelic) or Bands (demonic). This musical theme runs throughout: for example, existence is termed "The Symphony," and Celestial "spells" are termed "Songs." Each choir or band has two primary defining traits: "resonance" and "dissonance." The former is a reflection of their inherent nature, expressed as a supernatural ability; the latter is something anathema to their being that they are loath to do. Celestials can acquire "notes of dissonance" through such actions, as these actions (or perhaps more accurately, the mindset that produced them) reflects a disruption of that Celestial's being. Dissonance impedes a Celestial's abilities in certain ways, and is psychologically painful. For example, Seraphim see lies plainly (Resonance) and in turn cannot bring themselves to lie without anguish (Dissonance.)

The bands and choirs are in many ways reflections of one another. Angels who Fall become demons of their complementary band - e.g., Seraphim become Balseraphs, Elohim become Habbalah, etc. (And vice versa, when demons Redeem.) Whereas angels are selfless, demons are selfish. Whereas angels use perception to understand the Divine order, demons are more concerned with using their willpower to reshape reality to their liking.

The Choirs of angels, in descending order of divinity:

• Seraphim (Seraph) - "The Most Holy." Truth; heavenly 'nobility' that are sometimes awkward on Earth. In their true forms, appear as bird-winged serpents with six eyes.
• Cherubim (Cherub) - " The Guardians." Protection; "guardian angels." Appear as winged animals, typically those of the stockier variety.
• Ofanim (Ofanite) - "The Wheels." Motion; twitchy, impulsive angels. Appear as wheels of flame.
• Elohim (Elohite) - "The Powers." Objectivity; impartial judges of character. Appear as androgynous humans, not too different from "Grays."
• Malakim (Malakite) - "The Virtues." Honor; often warriors. Incapable of Falling. Appear as human silhouettes with wings.
• Kyriotates (Kyriotate) - "The Dominations." Omnipresence; can possess many forms at one time. Appear as an undiffrentiated and shifting cloud of body parts.
• Mercurians (Mercurian) - "The Friends of Man." Society; socialites - "No one likes humanity as much as the Mercurians - not even humanity." Appear as humans with wings.
• Grigori (Grigori) - "The Watchers." An outcast Choir, which may or may not still exist. Reputedly appeared as large humans.

The Bands of demons are, in descending distance from humanity:

• Balseraphs (Balseraph) - "The Liars." Whereas Seraphim seek Truth, the Balseraphs create their own truths, and draw others into them. Appear as seraphim, but with bat rather than bird wings.
• Djinn (Djinn) - "The Stalkers." Cherubim who have grown cold and cynical become Djinn. Appear as winged predatory animals.
• Calabim (Calabite) - "The Destroyers." Ofanim whose natural movement has been twisted inwards against themselves become Calabim. Beings of entropy, they can use these pent-up energies to destroy with a touch. Appear as the stereotypical demon, with horns, talons, and wings.
• Habbalah (Habbalite) - "The Punishers." Whereas Elohim epitomize objectivity, Habbalah are extremely subjective - to the point where they usually believe they are angels. They often are bent on seeking out the weak - and anyone they can break with their supernatural abilities is "weak." Appear as humans purposefully marred by any peircing or other disfigurement they can muster - anything to show they are not the weak ones.
• Lilim (Lilim) - "The Tempters." Sometimes considered the parallel to Malakim. They only originate in Hell, although they can Redeem, becoming "Bright Lilim." Earn supernaturally-binding favors, or Geases. Appear as green humans with tastefully small horns.
• Shedim (Shedite) - "The Corruptors." Unlike Kyriotates, Shedim only possess one individual at a time, and seek to progressively corrupt that individual. Appear as indiscriminate clouds of body parts.
• Impudites (Impudite) - "The Takers." Like Mercurians, Impudites adore humanity - but in a needy, self-centered way. They drain spiritual energy ("Essence") away from their victims. Like Lilim, their true forms are basically human with tastefully small horns, but the coloration is red.

Within the core rules, there are thirteen Archangels and fourteen Demon Princes that can be selected from. These are powerful Celestials attached to a "Word," or fundamental concept. For instance, Michael is the Archangel of War. Angels and demons usually work for Archangels and Demon Princes, and this shapes their nature, personality, abilities, and restrictions as much as their Choir or Band. Words can change subtly if a Demon Prince Redeems or an Archangel Falls - for instance, Lucifer was once the Archangel of Light, and Andrealphus, the Demon Prince of (selfish) Lust, was once the Archangel of (selfless) Love. Both Heaven and Hell (especially the latter) are divided on some matters. For instance, Michael's approach is much different from that of Novalis, the Archangel of Flowers. Most Archangels are indifferent about various religions, but, for example, Dominic (Judgment) and Laurence (the Sword) have a declared preference for Catholicism, while Khalid (Faith) is avowedly Muslim.

There is no canon as to which side is the "good guys." One can play the game as the heroic forces of Hell fighting for human freedom just as easily as angels seeking the triumph of all that is good in the human spirit, although the default assumption probably runs strongest in the middle. Game literature often describes a morally gray universe, where angelic and demonic forces sometimes work together for mutual benefit. Both Heaven and Hell are dominated by political schemers and secret police.

Supplements to the line include books on humans (mundane or supernaturally recruited) and ethereal spirits (creatures born of dreams), which can be player characters or non-player characters.

Rule System

The default mechanic of the system is the "d666." This consists of a roll of three six-sided dice; the first two are added together and compared to a target number to determine success or failure, the third determines the degree of success or failure. In addition, rolling all 1s or all 6s results in an "intervention" - divine or infernal, respectively - essentially filling the role of a spectacular success or failure.

Though there is a prodigious amount of powers one can buy, the rules at a level of simplicity perhaps inverse to the baroque cosmology. Most agree that this results in "In Nomine" achieving flexibility and simplicity, but not game balance.

External Links

• Official Site (http://www.sjgames.com/in-nomine/)
• ORC List (http://www.sjgames.com/in-nomine/ORClist.html): MUSHes and the like