in_nomine-digest Tuesday, January 14 1997 Volume 01 : Number 002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 16:37:00 -0600 From: dpearcy@io.com (Derek Patton Pearcy) Subject: Re: In Nomine Preorders fish asked: >Are preorders of In Nomine available from Steve Jackson Games, or must we >rely upon our local retailers? SJ Games is currently taking preorders for In Nomine. Please support your local retailers when you can, but if you feel like placing an order through SJ Games, go for it. You're assured of getting a copy. Right now, a good chunk of the first In Nomine print run has already been sold. I'm happy, because this means some people haven't completely given up on it. Lots of people still believe it's never coming out. For example, I was in a local hobby store this morning, and noticed they had one of the old Chessex Dragonskins for In Nomine -- one of those black plastic book covers with a really old version of the In Nomine logo (with something funky done to it on Chessex's end) and the angel/demon from the first posters in gold ink. I mean, I've got one, but I didn't really expect anyone else in the world to have one, and not just because they first went on sale over two and a half years ago. I joked about it to the cashier, a guy I didn't know. "Yeah," he said, rolling his eyes. "Now if they'll only get the book out." So if you want to order a copy from SJ Games, we won't stop you. Try: http://www.io.com/sjgames/catalog0/ for the SJ Games online catalog, or call SJ Games at +512-447-7866 from 10am to 6pm, Central Standard Time, to place an order. Ask to speak to Direct Mail. Alternatively, you could fax an order to +512-447-1144. Again, mark the order to the attention of Direct Mail. Thanks! The only drag about ordering direct is that all the distributors' orders are handled before direct mail orders. So it might very well still show up in stores before your copy comes by mail. Of course, a pre-ordered copy of In Nomine would show up before your local store could reorder it if they sold out quickly. What I'm saying is, you might still get it before it shows up in stores, but there's no guarantee of being the first on your block, just a guarantee of actually getting a copy. One more thing: even if you order direct, don't forget to go into your local store and tell people it's really, really coming out. No, really. Derek PS I just noticed they haven't even put In Nomine in the online catalog yet. Oops. Web people have been notified. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 16:58:09 -0600 (CST) From: fish Subject: Soldiers in latest version? IIRC, the first version of the In Nomine rules which were posted for playtest some years ago (wince, sorry for mentioning it) included rules for 'enhanced' humans, called Soldiers -- I seem to recall something about them being "Mass-murderers for the divine" or some such. I always thought this was a really cool idea, and for the playtest games which I ran with those first rules Soldiers always ended up playing a relatively major role, and my players all enjoyed it... However, they don't seem to be present in latest set of rules posted on the Web -- have they been removed? DP's notes in the latest news brief on the web (11 Jan) imply that they will be featured in the supplement Night Music -- which, I guess, is even better, because it should allow them to be covered in more detail than would be available in the primary rulebook. Am I right in understanding that this is the case? Just wondering. -- fish. PS -- out of idle curiosity, is anyone but me subscribed to this list yet? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 20:33:43 -0500 From: "Kahuna" Subject: Signing In - ---------- > From: fish > > > PS -- out of idle curiosity, is anyone but me subscribed to this list yet? > Kahuna signing in, I'm also curious about the soilders. I'm hoping it will all be included in the core rules, and then expanded upon in Night Music and the rest of the supplements. Personally, I couldn't get any of the players in the campaign I ran, to be very enthusiastic about playing non-celestials. Actually they didn't seem to be interested in playing anything but demons. Ah well. I'm sure once the book is in our hands I'll get a chance to re-boot the campaign and strong arm some Soilders, Spirits, etc... I have a very Kabbalah-esque kind of view of my game universe and tend to think that other entities are out there in addition to celestial beings. I'm curious, what kind of scenario did you run when you playtested it. I'm trying to get a feel for other peoples perception of the game. - - Kahuna ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 20:09:57 -0600 (CST) From: fish Subject: Re: Signing In On Sun, 12 Jan 1997, Kahuna wrote: > Personally, I couldn't get any of the players in the campaign > I ran, to be very enthusiastic about playing non-celestials. Really? All of my players seemed to enjoy Soldiers. And I also found that Soldiers made a very good introduction to the game for new players, as they could play a character who was only just recently introduced to the existence of the Divine and Diabolical... allowing us to teach them how the universe and system worked through in-character interaction. > I'm curious, what kind of scenario did you run when you playtested it. I'm > trying to get a feel for other peoples perception of the game. Well, my groups tend not to play in terms of 'scenarios' so much as extended campaigns. In addition, the first drafts seemed to emphasize non-Celestial beings more so than the current version does, as in Ethereals, and that also affected the entire gestalt of the campaigns. In any case, since those first few experiences were a learning experience for everyone involved, a lot of time was spent simply exploring the world and its possibilities -- that is, mucking about on the different planes, meeting bizarre characters (one encounter with a Child of the Grigori springs to mind), stuff like that. One marked difference is that we all got the feeling that the world would include more direct confrontation between the angelic hosts and demonic hordes; Machiavellian manipulations and politicking are obviously better represented in the later ruleset, and the short stories "A Bright Dream" and "A Dark Dream" enhanced my understanding of the way the universe worked to a great extent. Clearly, any campaigns I run in the future will be pretty different from those first exploratory ones. Another idle curiosity question: what are peoples' (well... possibly that should be in the singular, since as far as I can tell it's just the two of us so far -- ) what is your impression of the supplement system, introducing a few important characters and their interactions each supplement? It sounds like an interesting way of doing things to me, and it should be fun to see how it works out. -- fish. (who has been eagerly awaiting this day since Pyramid 3...) "They are very much like us." ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 22:59:51 -0600 From: dpearcy@io.com (Derek Patton Pearcy) Subject: Re: Soldiers in latest version? fish wrote: >IIRC, the first version of the In Nomine rules which were posted for >playtest some years ago (wince, sorry for mentioning it) No problem. The last thing I'll do is shrink from the facts. It has been three and a half years between announcement and delivery. >included rules >for 'enhanced' humans, called Soldiers -- I seem to recall something about >them being "Mass-murderers for the divine" or some such. I always thought >this was a really cool idea, and for the playtest games which I ran with >those first rules Soldiers always ended up playing a relatively major >role, and my players all enjoyed it... >However, they don't seem to be present in latest set of rules posted on >the Web -- have they been removed? DP's notes in the latest news brief on >the web (11 Jan) imply that they will be featured in the supplement Night >Music -- which, I guess, is even better, because it should allow them to >be covered in more detail than would be available in the primary rulebook. >Am I right in understanding that this is the case? That's pretty much it. There're crude guidelines for creating Soldiers (for both sides) and Undead in the basic book. Since Laurence, Archangel of the Sword, is the organizer of the Soldiers of God, and since Saminga, Prince of Death, is the creator of the Undead, we're covering all four of these subjects in depth in Night Music, plus Soldiers of Hell (countering Soldiers of God) and Saints (to counter Undead). Sorcerors, completely removed from the initial book, also get a big chunk in Night Music, written by Sam Chupp (ex- of White Wolf). >PS -- out of idle curiosity, is anyone but me subscribed to this list yet? There are 12 people subscribed to the regular list; I don't know how many people subscribe to the digest edition. We're assuming this will pick up after the game's released. I notice that many of the early subscribers are people who've been sending me email for years. Hello everyone, especially those I'm mortally late in getting back to, and thanks for your patience. Derek ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 23:08:24 +0000 From: "John D. Fleming" Subject: Source material Thank you for the introductory post, Derek! I am one of the faceless legions of the soon-to-be-damned who've been awaiting the arrival of the book. I've have but one request. Would you post a bibliography of the source material you used in researching the game? I can think a few obvious ones: the Bible, the Divine Comedy, and Paradise Lost. What else would you recommend for religious-illiterate Gen-Xers such as myself? BTW, you may be interested to know that the impending release of the game has caused me to start reading the Bible. For the amusement of those on this list, I propose the first in a series of "Ways to Know You're Obsessed With In Nomine:" 1. You use the Bible as a sourcebook. John Fleming (jfleming@atcon.com) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 06:47:22 -0700 From: "CFS Jason" Subject: Ho there! Hey fish--I'm online with this list, too. I've been waiting for this game for quite the long time, myself, but I moved to a local ISP and dropped my IO membership WAY before any playtest rules were posted, so I'll keep my trap mostly shut till those babies slide through my local reseller's hands and into mine! Anyone want to tell a little about mechanics in this game? I'm an old hand at GURPS (MTM is still in my closet somewhere) so comparisons would be appreciated. Jaykay ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 09:55:57 -0600 (CST) From: fish Subject: Re: Ho there! > Anyone want to tell a little about mechanics in this game? I'm an old hand > at GURPS (MTM is still in my closet somewhere) so comparisons would be > appreciated. Much of the mechanics was (and still is, although the links have been removed) on the web, at least some of the more important points. I guess I can tell you a little without the Men In Black coming for me... The primary die-rolling system, while it also used three six-sided dice, isn't technically 3d6; it's called a d666. Basically it's a 2d6 roll (for success), with the third (differently-coloured) die, called the 'check digit', determining the degree of success or failure. The higher the target number, the easier the task will be to complete; a d666 roll of 116 is pretty much the best possible... Unless you're a demon, in which case rolling 666 gets the Powers That Aren't to come in on your side... sort of Diabolical Intervention. Likewise, a 111 for an angelic character (while it would normally indicate only a minor success, with a '1' on the check digit), indicates Divine Intervention. I'd tell you more, but I think someone would send some Undead MIBs after me... -- fish, Soldier of God. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 11:44:15 -0500 From: "Kahuna" Subject: Re: Signing In - ---------- > From: fish > To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com > Subject: Re: Signing In > Date: Sunday, January 12, 1997 9:09 PM > > > Another idle curiosity question: what are peoples' (well... possibly that > should be in the singular, since as far as I can tell it's just the two of > us so far -- ) what is your impression of the supplement system, > introducing a few important characters and their interactions each > supplement? It sounds like an interesting way of doing things to me, and > it should be fun to see how it works out. > > -- fish. I'm pretty excited about it. I like the way each supplement will deal with a different baliwick or aspect of the game universe and it will include those personalities that most directly deal in them. It's probably a better way to do it for one simple reason. It probably better to get a few totally fleshed out characters piece meal than to wait for a "Compedium of celestials". I like the universe to evolve a bit at the time, so as to avoid "Data Shock". But thats just me. Not that I'm trying to "Out" any of the lurkers to the mailing list, but I was wondering if what kind of feel everyone had for the game. It would be nice to hear what people have to say all through the process of the games release. Hey Derek! Are each of the supplements (including the Core Rules) going to have a significant contribution to the "Relics and Reliqueries" list. I for one, propose that when the In Nomine Campaigns get started that we post as many we can to the mailing list. We might even get a real Grimoire of Artifacts going. What does everyone think. - - Kahuna " To do aught good never will be out task, But ever to do ill our soul delight, As being contrary to his high will, whom we resis..... Uh oh run it's the Malakim; run!!! .. Aaaahhh." Milton "Paradise Lost" (took some license with it) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 21:25:51 +2 From: "Ella Lynoure Rajamaki" Subject: Re: Signing In On 13 Jan 97 at 11:44, Kahuna wrote: > Not that I'm trying to "Out" any of the lurkers to the > mailing list, but I was wondering if what kind of feel > everyone had for the game. It would be nice to hear what > people have to say all through the process of the games > release. I'm just happy it is finally printed (if you browse through In Nomine WWW-pages, you'll find out why I have waited so eagerly). Or, well, a little voice inside my head is trying to convince me it is not printed yet and that I will never see the game in reality, but I try to ignore that little voice for now. =) At one point I was convinced it will be published the day all the In Nomine T-shirts stop shining in dark, but it didn't take that long =) Lynoure Ella Lynoure Rajamaki-----------* lynoure@iki.fi * - --------------------------------*http://www.iki.fi/~lynoure* - ------------------------------------------------------------ a small chaotic multi-era creature.------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 16:58:48 -0500 (EST) From: KAHUNA Subject: What happen to Khalid? Hey Derek, Of what I've read about the celestial movers and shakers (in playtesting notes and on the web), Khalid, Archangel of Faith, seemed to me, to be a pretty big one. I was just wondering if he is slated to make an appearence in any of the supplements. I'd like to know how he fits into the political scene, since I consider his Word to touch just about everything in my game. - - Kahuna :) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 18:52:54 -0500 From: "Kahuna" Subject: Looking for Story Does anyone on the list have the story that describes how each of the Choirs woukd approach a soda machine? I seem to remember it being on the In Nomine web site, but it was removed as the release date approached. I'd really like it for when I start a campaign. Thanks. - -Kahuna ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 20:13:59 -0600 (CST) From: fish Subject: Re: Looking for Story > Does anyone on the list have the story that describes how each of the > Choirs woukd approach a soda machine? well, it's hardly a story, but try http://www.io.com/sjgames/in-nomine/sidebars.html it's there. -- fish. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 00:24:17 -0600 (CST) From: Donald G Bixler Subject: Re: Source material > I've have but one request. Would you post a bibliography of the > source material you used in researching the game? I can think a few > obvious ones: the Bible, the Divine Comedy, and Paradise Lost. What > else would you recommend for religious-illiterate Gen-Xers such as > myself? One that I'd suggest from what I've seen of the game would be "Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett. Of course, it's not the most serious book... ;'} > 1. You use the Bible as a sourcebook. 2. You've already tried making a Toon version. > John Fleming (jfleming@atcon.com) Oops da "Hi, Oblivion. How's the wife and kids?" Ogre ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 07:51:34 -0600 (CST) From: fish Subject: Re: Looking for Story On Tue, 14 Jan 1997, Donald G Bixler wrote: > > http://www.io.com/sjgames/in-nomine/sidebars.html > > I tried that HTML, but got the "File not found" bit... Oops. My kingdom for want of a capital... try http://www.io.com/sjgames/in-nomine/Sidebars.html let's hear it for case sensitivity... -- fish. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 18:33:10 -0600 From: dpearcy@io.com (Derek Patton Pearcy) Subject: [none] Kahuna wrote: >Hey Derek! Are each of the supplements (including the Core Rules) going to >have a significant contribution to the "Relics and Reliqueries" list Oh yeah, we're going to include lots of neat holy and unholy gadgets and such in the meantime. (For example, since the main adventure in Night Music is set in Austin, I've demothballed the guitar of St. Stevie and its accompanying reliquary.) We'll add lots of other new Resources in supplements besides just artifacts, too. Guilt as a Discord, for the good Catholic angels. Addiction is another one I'd like to see added, and an appropriate one for the Demon Prince of Drugs (who may also make an appearance in Night Music). and: >Does anyone on the list have the story that describes how each of the >Choirs woukd approach a soda machine? I think fish correctly pointed it out. In print, we also included how the various Bands of demons would go about getting a backrub. It's not quite as cute, but it works. Derek ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 18:33:16 -0600 From: dpearcy@io.com (Derek Patton Pearcy) Subject: Re: What happen to Khalid? Kahuna wrote: >Of what I've read about the celestial movers and shakers (in playtesting >notes and on the web), Khalid, Archangel of Faith, seemed to me, to be a >pretty big one. I was just wondering if he is slated to make an >appearence in any of the supplements. Yep. I'm not sure where yet, but he's the only big guy we know of who wasn't at least mentioned anywhere in the book. In the modern day, Khalid is not merely the protecter of Faith, but the guardian Archangel of Islam. This puts him at odds with Laurence, Archangel of the Sword, who is the guardian Archangel of Christianity, and Dominic, the tight-sphinctered Archangel of Judgment. Almost 1500 years ago, Gabriel, Archangel of Fire, narrated the Koran to Mohammed and started Islam. Islam became an incredible threat to Christianity. Uriel, as the Archangel of Purity and that era's protector of Christianity, convinced Dominic that Gabriel's actions were heretical -- even though she'd been ordered to do so by Yves, the inscrutible Archangel of Destiny -- and tried to have her exiled from Heaven. Khalid (along with others, most notably Michael, Archangel of War) grew mistrustful of Yves, even though Yves moved with political machinations to stop Dominic's persecution of Gabriel. Gabriel left Heaven of her own accord, building a new mosque in the caldera of a volcano which sits on the edge between the ethereal landscapes of Blandine, Archangel of Dreams, and the furthermost edge of Heaven. It would be impossible for him to mass Heaven's armies to attack the volcano on their own perimeter; the Seraphim Council would not have allowed it. Uriel knew he would have to raze Blandine's end of the Marches as an excuse to get at Gabriel. At this time, both Laurence and Khalid were powerful angels of Purity in the service of Uriel. Uriel waged war on the Earth's creatures of myth, knowing the dragons to be a favorite of Gabriel, and eventually took the battle to the Marches -- the ethereal realm of dreams which lays between the celestial realms of Heaven and Hell, and the Earth -- and attacked the remaining creatures of myth while getting a head start on taking out the pagan gods. Many hid in the Far Marches, or the dark side of the ethereal realm (ruled by Beleth, Demon Princess of Nightmares); many were slain by the agents of Uriel. In a move that surprised everyone, Uriel was recalled to Paradise by God for his pains, leaving a power vacuum in the celestial hierarchy. Khalid was furious when Laurence took Uriel's place as leader of Heaven's troops and protector of Christianity, thinking himself to be a more experienced choice. Khalid, not only to snub his nose at Laurence but to show support for Gabriel, took up stewardship of Islam and became Archangel of Faith. He'll be included in the supplement introducing Islam, but I don't know when that will be. He may show up in an issue of Pyramid before then. He's a bad-ass and I'd like to see him in people's games; we just didn't seem to have the room to do justice to Islam and all the issues Khalid has to grapple with in just two pages. (By the way, Uriel gets a little play in Night Music, as we introduce the Purifiers, the Vatican's secret cult of Soldiers of God. You'll see Uriel up close and personal in The Marches, the supplement scheduled after Night Music, when we introduce the angelic Servitors of Purity who have retained contact with their Superior and continue to do his work in the lands of the remaining pagan dieties. The Marches also fleshes out the Servitors of Blandine, Archangel of Dreams, and Beleth, Demon Princess of Nightmares and shelterer of the surviving creatures of myth.) Whew! Did that all make sense? Derek ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 19:52:31 -0600 (CST) From: fish Subject: Demonic backrubs On Tue, 14 Jan 1997, Derek Patton Pearcy wrote: > >Does anyone on the list have the story that describes how each of the > >Choirs woukd approach a soda machine? > > I think fish correctly pointed it out. In print, we also included how the > various Bands of demons would go about getting a backrub. It's not quite as > cute, but it works. Is one of them convincing someone to rub ice cream all over your back, by any chance? -- fish. "Go with cheese? What's that supposed to mean?" ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #2 *****************************

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