From owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Tue May 30 06:18:01 2000 Return-Path: Received: from lists.io.com (majordom@lists.io.com [199.170.88.15]) by pyramid.sjgames.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id GAA23119 for ; Tue, 30 May 2000 06:18:01 -0500 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by lists.io.com (8.9.3/8.9.1a) id GAA23367 for in_nomine-digest-outgoing; Tue, 30 May 2000 06:16:19 -0500 Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 06:16:19 -0500 Message-Id: <200005301116.GAA23367@lists.io.com> From: owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com (in_nomine-digest) To: in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Subject: in_nomine-digest V1 #1649 Reply-To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com Sender: owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Errors-To: owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Precedence: bulk in_nomine-digest Tuesday, May 30 2000 Volume 01 : Number 1649 In this digest: Re: IN> Love amongst Superiors Re: IN> Celestial physics expertize required... IN> Religeon in In Nomine IN> The Love Fiction Re: IN> Religeon in In Nomine Re: IN> Live Gaming (was: LRP in England) IN> Mythological underground IN> Very silly question Re: IN> Mythological underground Re: IN> Very silly question Re: IN> Pentagrams (was: In Nomine Dice) Re: IN> Pentagrams (was: In Nomine Dice) Re: IN> Pentagrams (was: In Nomine Dice) Re: IN> Fundies (Re: Pentagrams) Re: IN> Religion in In Nomine Re: IN> Celestial physics expertize required... Re: IN> Very silly question RE: IN> Very silly question IN> Love amongst superiors Re: IN> Mythological underground Re: IN> Mythological underground Re: IN> Love amongst superiors IN> Another Silly Thing Re: IN> Another Silly Thing Re: IN> Another Silly Thing Re: IN> Celestial physics expertize required... Jesus' stats (Re: IN> Pentagrams) Re: IN> Religion in In Nomine Re: IN> Religion in In Nomine Re: IN> Religion in In Nomine Re: IN> Another Silly Thing Re: IN> Mythological underground Re: IN> Live Gaming (was: LRP in England) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 17:49:54 -0400 From: Whistling in the Dark Subject: Re: IN> Love amongst Superiors At 3:59 PM -0500 5/29/00, David Edelstein wrote: >Whistling in the Dark wrote: > > I don't remember author or location, but it *wasn't* Derek Pearcy, I > > don't think. It lacked bite, though it was good. > >I'm pretty sure it was Derek. I can't find the dang thing on the SJG IN >site or the INC, though. Well, I can admit when I'm wrong, and I'm wrong here. Mr. Pearcy it was: - -- Eric Alfred Burns - Habbalite of Belaboring the Point ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 18:16:33 -0400 From: neelk@cswcasa.com Subject: Re: IN> Celestial physics expertize required... O. S. Kerr wrote: > - --- Laurent wrote: > > David wrote: > > > Uh, if you find a map of the NSA (by which I assume you mean > > > an internal layout), then there will be some important > > > government people who will want to know about it..... > > > > Well, not the official map, of course. Just something someone > > would have used for a campaign, and that I could use for mine. > > Though you DID work there... > > > > so how much would it be for a rough map?? > > What's the point? It's basically a secured office space. > > Decide on your own how big it is and how many people work there, > and make your own maps. Not worth getting arrested over... Yeah. One of my friends works there, and says the inside is basically military-bureaucracy standard: drab narrow hallways with one numbered door after another. The only thing that distinguishes it from any other military office space are the little touches of total paranoia: for example, every office has alittle spinning red light on the ceiling. If you bring in someone who doesn't have security clearance into the room, you're supposed to turn it on so anyone who comes in knows there's someone uncleared. Since people are generally the weakest link in any security system, I'd guess the NSA headquarters has probably has much the same security of any corporate or government office, except that a) the guards are more numerous and have really big guns, and b) the human level security discipline (don't bring papers/disks/electronics in or out, background checks on janitors/cafeteria staff/etc) is much more stringent. It's unclear how well-protected they are against a serious interested demon -- they can enter physically very easily, if they are in celestial form, and compromising humans is what they specialize in. Though if I were an IN demon, I'd just skip the action-movie infiltration and go straight for one of the high-level bureaucrats and subvert them in a dream. Then they could find out whatever I want to know through perfectly legitimate channels. Though, honestly, I can't imagine the NSA knowing anything really useful -- military and diplomatic communications are generally irrelevant to a demon. - -- Neel Krishnaswami neelk@cswcasa.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 18:21:33 -0400 From: "Charles Phipps" Subject: IN> Religeon in In Nomine As a minister in RL (or at least training to be one) I've stayed out of this conversation at my own danger to my soul...and am paying for it. Specifically by being forced to read a bunch of posts about how whiny are dishing a game I for once found treated God as a interesting puzzle to solve with humor and pizzaz. Ergo I am invoking my superior +6 for idiotic mistakes about his message Yawhew aka Brahmen, Alanis Moirsette, Jesus, The One, Allah, Ahura Mazda, The All, The Big Guy, a man named Steve who runs the local doughnut shop in the highest heaven Effectively Steve's message is simply that while pagans, christians, men who worship at the altar of Mickey, and the Devil himself (John tesh-fear him). People choose their path to god for different reasons and if the Hindu community complains about Xena showing Krishna as a character on the show (also showing the Ark and Jesus) it just goes to show that some people are tight about some subjects. Neither group has any different means on it. In RL I state that we are all simply being tried to reach by a guy who wants us to be nice to each other and who embrace him are in. However this a forum and hardly the place. Now shall we get back to discussing if Gabriel gives burning kisses? - -Charles Phipps ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 18:46:11 -0400 From: "Charles Phipps" Subject: IN> The Love Fiction Well for the life of me I can't find the link myself but I was referring to a fiction where Michael chastises his warrior for getting pregnant and basically removing her from the War. I was under the impression he wasn't especially happy about her having a kid and gave her up at the tether to a soldier to raise. However she was just happy she was going to be a mommy. In the modern In Nomine I think Michelle was just trying to cover up this whole incident before Dominic got wind of him and caused his warriors even more grief. Also not wanting to see some poor kid get involved either... (though in all likelihood the half-Celestial will end up as a mortal soldier anywho). - -Charlemagne ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 19:04:50 -0400 From: Whistling in the Dark Subject: Re: IN> Religeon in In Nomine At 6:21 PM -0400 5/29/00, Charles Phipps wrote: >As a minister in RL (or at least training to be one) I've stayed out of this >conversation at my own danger to my soul...and am paying for it. > >Specifically by being forced to read a bunch of posts about how whiny > are dishing a game I for once found treated God as a >interesting puzzle to solve with humor and pizzaz. > >Ergo I am invoking my superior > >+6 for idiotic mistakes about his message [Whistling looks around his apartment. He fails to see said Superior's entrance. "Hm. Blown die roll." He moves on to the next message.] The message implied by the above should be self evident. Have a good day and enjoy the bon bons. - -- Eric Alfred Burns - Habbalite of Belaboring the Point ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 17:04:42 -0600 From: "ben" Subject: Re: IN> Live Gaming (was: LRP in England) > What if you're in a wheelchair, but want to play a martial artist? What if > you're vision impaired, but want to play a sharpshooting gunman? What if you're > 6'5" (like me) but want to play a Shadowrun dwarf? One of the most beloved members of our club is 6'somethingawfullytall" and as massive as a brick wall, and his persona was a forest brownie. We all nodded and ran the other way. Ben ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 19:14:16 -0400 From: "Charles Phipps" Subject: IN> Mythological underground Hey the more I think about this "Underground" railroad for saving creatures and other beings from Uriel's purge I'm kinduv wondering exactly what type of beings we're wondering about saving. Would it just be benevelent supernaturals or would even the "arrogant" gods who would lower themselves to join heaven. I was kinduv thinking the beings most helped would be... 1:) Unicorns: Obviously 2:) Eastern Dragons: Wise and benevelent 3:) Muses: Greek myth but underserving of the fate Uriel proclaimed 4:) Valkyries: I doubt somehow they would accept though... Any other ideas? How about righteous pagans (ala Dante) would any angels be concerned to their ultimate Destiny? Enough to try and take them to Heaven (or convince them to join) even as their heavens and hells are burned to ashes by a being from said realm? (I'd love to be there to have a Seraph convince them God is love). In fact for my characters history I think I'll have him confront a Malakim of Uriel and convince him to spare a group of shivering souls as he takes them to Heaven. Earning him undying enmity of in the process (it's always fun to have enemies in backgrounds). It might be curious to wonder where these Ethereals would be taken? Baladine's realm? Heaven itself? Earth? - -Charlemagne ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 16:33:27 -0700 (PDT) From: Maurice Lane Subject: IN> Very silly question Has anybody out there played around with an IN campaign using soap opera motiffs? (Hey, I told you it was silly...) :) Morgan (FAW) Kyriotate of Destiny Petitioner for the Word of After-School Specials* *_Another_ really twisted motiff. ;) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Kick off your party with Yahoo! Invites. http://invites.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 18:43:19 -0500 From: David Edelstein Subject: Re: IN> Mythological underground Charles Phipps wrote: > How about righteous pagans (ala Dante) would any angels be concerned to > their ultimate Destiny? Enough to try and take them to Heaven (or convince > them to join) even as their heavens and hells are burned to ashes by a being > from said realm? Canonically, pagans _can_ go to Heaven (though they're probably a little shocked and not altogether happy when they get there). > It might be curious to wonder where these Ethereals would be taken? > Baladine's realm? Heaven itself? Earth? The Far Marches. There are places out there no celestial has ever gone. - -David ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 19:47:04 -0500 From: "Tafka J." Subject: Re: IN> Very silly question At 4:33 PM -0700 05/29/00, Maurice Lane wrote: >Has anybody out there played around with an IN >campaign using soap opera motiffs? You're a very-very sick-sick-sick person. We like that. Continue with these thoughts, and you shall go far. . . };;;> - - - Eventually, a GM (or the players, kicking and screaming the whole way) will fall upon the dreaded soap-opera style motiffs. They exist to keep the group mildly interested in the plotline, while at the same time letting the players kill the Villian again, again and again. I recommend the movie 'SoapDish' as required watching, for those of you who wish to run a highly political game. Heck, I could _so_ see that entire movie being something the Media cooked up. Just translate all the various actors and actresses into their Celestial counterparts, and you see what I mean. Though I prefer the Anime-styled Space Opera myself. . . (And if you're interested, I'll whisper in your ears what evil little things I did to completely change the course of Robotech, just to make things interesting. . .) Be seeing you, - - Tafka J. = tafkaj@thrifty.net # Balseraph of Fate, Marquis of Delusions of Grandeur ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 21:16:48 -0400 (EDT) From: Emily Dresner Subject: Re: IN> Pentagrams (was: In Nomine Dice) > So what? A minority of gamers are Christians who would probably be > offended to see Jesus Christ used as a gaming character (particularly > the way he's used in the original INS/MV game). Jesus as an NPC? Do we get his stats? I want Son of God/6! - - Em ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 21:19:59 -0400 (EDT) From: Emily Dresner Subject: Re: IN> Pentagrams (was: In Nomine Dice) > I won't even get *into* the Knights Templar.... Go ahead. Get into the Knights Templar. I dare you. I see you one Jacques de Molay as the face on the Shoud of Turin, and I raise you one Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia! ( In Nomine always needed two things: A. Wacky secret societies pretending to be the Priory of Zion B. Wacky occult conspiracies But, alas, I must go to my local bookstore for these things.) - - Em ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 21:27:24 -0400 (EDT) From: Emily Dresner Subject: Re: IN> Pentagrams (was: In Nomine Dice) > > Buttons or no. We know a number of Christian roleplayers who will not play > In Nomine because it offends their religious sensibilities. Screw 'em. I'm serious. Screw 'em. They were unlikely to be customers in the first place. I was always a strong advocate of going the _other_ way, away from blandness and seriously into poking holes, fingers, sticks, and other sharp pointy bits into organized religion. There's no kitsch like religious kitsch. It's like high art, religious kitsch. And of all the bad kitsch in this world, Catholic kitsch has a special place in the world. What other religion would have nuns and monks selling badly made St. Christoper medals out of paper cups next to a register at a church gift shop for $1.25 a pop? There's so much _material_ there from the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas to the conquests of the Islamic Moors in Africa to the Protestant Reformation that it would be impossible to run out in this lifetime. But, ya know, I ain't the Line Editor. I don't call that shot. - - Em ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 21:30:02 -0400 (EDT) From: Emily Dresner Subject: Re: IN> Fundies (Re: Pentagrams) > Actually, I figure some nice controversial bible-thumping "Thayas hearah > book is EEEEEE-VIL" promotion might be interesting. But I've never got > up the gumption to send a book to the fundies. And the one I'd want to > send would be, like, the APG and I don't know if they'd get righteous > enough about it. You want the Trinity Broadcasting Network, Beth. - - Em ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 21:33:41 -0400 (EDT) From: Emily Dresner Subject: Re: IN> Religion in In Nomine > Just like some Christians would have a cow about the game (my grandfather > comes to mind), while others enjoy it highly and come up with comments > like, "We all have our own ways of being annying in the service of God." > (Actual quote from Christian gamers we game with. Along with things > from the Kyrio of Jean like "You can't dodge your underwear.") My GOD! Christian GAMERS! THOSE BASTARDS! How dare they play In Nomine! Next thing you know, they'll be WRITING In Nomine! Agads! - - Em (Sheesh.) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 21:07:38 -0500 From: "Prodigal" Subject: Re: IN> Celestial physics expertize required... From: > > Though, honestly, I can't imagine the NSA knowing > anything really useful -- military and diplomatic communications are > generally irrelevant to a demon. Michael, Baal, Dominic and Asmodeus could probably find relevance... ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 13:41:37 +1000 From: "Patrick O'Duffy" Subject: Re: IN> Very silly question > Has anybody out there played around with an IN > campaign using soap opera motiffs? Actually, yes. My one-and-only IN campaign (not a very long one) drew a lot of cues, characters and situations from MEDIVAC, an Australian TV soap/medical drama of a couple of years ago. (Never watched the show, either; just thought it'd be fun to set a game in a hospital). Of course, that game also involved the head of John the Baptist, Quentin Tarantino, a jade enema pump, Japanese cancer researchers, clones and a trip to the local movies studios in a Mr. Freeze costume. (And yet I still tell people I don't run comedy games. All of the above was played absolutely straight.) I think you can still find the adventure online - look for 'Too Too Solid Flesh' on the INC. - -- Patrick O'Duffy, Brisbane, Australia ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 13:36:23 +1000 From: "Leath Sheales" Subject: RE: IN> Very silly question Patrick wrote: > Actually, yes. My one-and-only IN campaign (not a very long one) drew a > lot of cues, characters and situations from MEDIVAC, an Australian TV > soap/medical drama of a couple of years ago. My God that was a horrible show. I watched it three times from memory (I usually give a series three chances). I gave up in disgust when two 'doctors' trapped in a small town where everyone was getting poisoned took a water sample, put it on an agar plate, put it in the _oven_ for about 20 minutes, came back and had heaps of bacterial growth on the plate, nodded to each other and said "That looks like botulism, all right". I mean, WTF???? (As a microbiologist, I'm particularly sensitive to things like this on TV). To get some obligatory IN content: Ummm...., doesn't everyone think Kobal is cool? Umm. Actually, on a pseudo-scientific IN note, IMC the main Human 'Bad' guys (Humanity First, the group behind Off-Topic Inc and headed by Father John Eden) have decided to start fooling around with the genetics of celestial vessels. I mean, the Archangels build them with DNA included, and they're a lot tougher than ordinary human bodies, so they're trying to discover the gene responsible for the 'tough-yet-supple' flesh. If my PCs could ever follow the clues and stop arguing amongst themselves they may actually learn to dislike these guys and may try and stop them before it's too late. Leath (Microbiologist to the Stars... well, at least to the slime). ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 23:56:28 -0400 From: "Charles Phipps" Subject: IN> Love amongst superiors >Does it matter if he's really God or not? The persona of Eli >has definitely gone a few rounds... ever hear that God is Love? >:) True but I imagined God was always waiting for the right woman.... Eli finds the right woman quite a bit...nice fellow he. >Novalis? Safe sex always? Heaven's answer to the Earth Mother? >No(Be Friutful And Multiply)valis? Nah. In general, possibly. >In specific, it's more of a guideline than a rule. Okay Okay we'll keep it as part of Dominic's group (whose motto is no sex is safe sex-last time I checked), Lawrence is torn...as usual (Catholicism says sex is supposed to procreate yet yet...ooooo), and Jean (oooo look at this new electronic circuit-be just a few minutes honey!) >Jean???? The Emotionless One? No Way! Janus, maybe. Jordi, >maybe. Eli, sure. I could even see Dominic. But Jean??? Nah. Dominic I think's last great love was when he was a she and likely she and Uriel were shacking up (Domino? Dominque?). Janus I could definatley see-however he blows in and out a lot. Jordi just likes Tummy rubs. Christophers not legal....Khalid...too stuffy (four wives already too). hehehe this is fun. >"...doubt he cares..." Wrong. He goes over the sex lives of >his minions with a fine-toothed comb. And there had better be >dirt, depravity, and total lack of concern for one's partner. Okay this I will believe though his followers can likely get away with "I'm setting her up for the royal fall" bit for a long long time. Like "Roaming Roy" who might be the most charming man imaginable for a long long time until he sets up things so he can leave a girl at the altar with no finacial support whatsoever and pregnat with his demonic offspring. >"...be very disturbed..." Um, yah. It's called "dissonance >conditions." It's The Main Thing He'd Be Disturbed About. >"...get out the flaming sword..." Oh, no, my pet... swords are >so... gauche, if phallic in a crude way. I leave the swords to >Larry's cuties. For my punishments... well, start with a slow >evisceration with chopsticks... LOL...hehehe yeah Andre is likely very...."special" about his punishments in his palace of doom. Probably why he enjoys taking so many people into his dark little womb. >Consort = committment >Committment = lack of freedom >All bad. Lucifer-Big geas over head. Big geas over head-Do what he wants *Grumble* > I'd really appreciate some ideas for the rest of the > Superiors if anyone can spare the time please...thanks. >Gimme a second, and I can give you my .02, for what it's >worth... THANK! Can't wait to see them. - -Charlemagne ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 00:19:58 -0400 (EDT) From: Richard Gant Subject: Re: IN> Mythological underground On Mon, 29 May 2000, Charles Phipps wrote: > Hey the more I think about this "Underground" railroad for saving creatures > and other beings from Uriel's purge I'm kinduv wondering exactly what type > of beings we're wondering about saving. Would it just be benevelent > supernaturals or would even the "arrogant" gods who would lower themselves > to join heaven. Check out the Angel of the Dragon Court on my In Nomine page. He (and his "Dragon Court") are my campaign's take on this idea. > I was kinduv thinking the beings most helped would be... > > 1:) Unicorns: Obviously Obviously? The original unicorn was a pagan symbol of sexuality (and sometimes rape). They could be bloodthirsty. It wasn't untill well into the age of Christianity that they got an image remake as gentle and loving Christ symbols. Modern Unicorrns would probably be smuggled through. Some of them are on the Dragon Court's list for official rerelease to Earth (in my campaign). > 2:) Eastern Dragons: Wise and benevelent And worshipped as gods. And destructive and violent (they brought earthquakes, tidal waves and typhoons, too). Perhaps not. > 3:) Muses: Greek myth but underserving of the fate Uriel proclaimed Really? Why? They *were* pagan gods, stealing the Essence of the Most High from Heaven. > 4:) Valkyries: I doubt somehow they would accept though... Valkyries? They served Odin directly, and chose the souls of valiant warriors to fight in Valhalla. In In Nomine terms, they took (stole?) the souls of the deceased into the Ethereal realms instead of allowing them to go to Heaven or Hell or reincarnate. A Malakite might respect their dedication and honor, but they still serve false gods... > Any other ideas? It's hard to say. If you start looking at mythological beings (Ethereal spirits), few of them are really the kind of things Heaven would want to associate with. Ethereals created or reshaped by modern interpretations would be best. Modern unicorns, gargoyles, some fairies, and so forth would be a good place to start. > How about righteous pagans (ala Dante) would any angels be concerned to > their ultimate Destiny? Enough to try and take them to Heaven (or convince > them to join) even as their heavens and hells are burned to ashes by a being > from said realm? (I'd love to be there to have a Seraph convince them God is > love). If you're running anything near a canonical campaign, there are no real pagan heavens or hells. There's just Ethereal domains, which some Ethereal worshippers can go to at death. Even if you're not, why would a Seraph convince them that God is love? Why would the Seraph even talk to them? Another of God's attributes is wrath, after all. And by rejecting God even after death, to "whore after false gods", they have earned His wrath. > It might be curious to wonder where these Ethereals would be taken? > Baladine's realm? Heaven itself? Earth? In my campaign, the Dragon Court smuggled them into the Corporeal realm. Incidentally, who says that they need to be released on Earth? They could be released on other worlds, where they can grow and develop without attracting the wrath of Heaven or Hell (because they are not really players in the War). Richard Gant - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Gant's Gaming Ghetto: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dunes/4656/ The Returners Final Fantasy Role-Playing Game Site: http://returners.simplenet.com/ or http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Matrix/5758/ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 22:20:21 PDT From: "Jo Hart" Subject: Re: IN> Mythological underground >From: "Charles Phipps" >Reply-To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com > >How about righteous pagans (ala Dante) would any angels be concerned to >their ultimate Destiny? Enough to try and take them to Heaven (or convince >them to join) even as their heavens and hells are burned to ashes by a >being >from said realm? Oh yes, absolutely. Now, most good pagans will end up in Heaven anyway -- just like every other deserving mortal soul. But the few who are led astray from heaven by ethereal spirits and choose to stay in the Marches with their 'gods' are still always welcome in Heaven if they change their minds. Blandine still sends out angels to talk to these dream-shades, if any are located, to try to persuade them to accept their real destinies ... jo ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 22:25:06 PDT From: "Jo Hart" Subject: Re: IN> Love amongst superiors >From: "Charles Phipps" >Reply-To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com >Janus I could definatley >see-however he blows in and out a lot. Well that's an interesting mental image. jo ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 22:36:24 -0700 (PDT) From: Maurice Lane Subject: IN> Another Silly Thing Don't you hate it when you can't get something out of your head?* I just whipped this up, so it needs polishing. I think she's kinda cute, though. :) Felicia Angel of Soap Operas Ofanim of Destiny Corporeal Forces: 4 Strength 8 Agility 8 Ethereal Forces: 4 Intelligence 7 Precision 9 Celestial Forces: 5 Will 12 Perception 8 Word Forces: 9 Vessel: Human/1 (Charisma +1) Role: Felicity Randall, Writer/4 (Status 4) Skills: Artistry/6 (writing), Artistry/1 (Videotaping), Dodge/1, Emote/1, Fighting/2, Knowledge (Daytime Television industry)/1, Language (Spanish)/3 Songs: Harmony (Ethereal/3), Healing (Corporeal/3), Light (Celestial/3), Motion (Celestial/3), Shields (Corporeal/2, Celestial/2). Attunements: Ofanim of Destiny, Ofanim of Lightning, Divine Destiny, Vassal of Destiny. Special Rites: Help a human forget his or her troubles for a moment while they watch something that you've written or acted out; Help a soap opera actor/actress achieve legitimate professional respect for their talents. Felicia used to be one of Nybbas' up-and-coming stars. She made her bones in Perdition, pushing out the requisite drivel that fuels the Media's saturation of humanity. She kissed boots and stabbed backs with the best of them. Eventually she got rewarded with a nice job on Earth, running herd on a minor Spanish-language soap opera. Everything seemed to be going her way: she seemed on the short list for the Infernal Word of Melodrama. There was just one problem. Felicia was a good writer. Too good: the material that she put out was invariably high quality, and her stint on Earth merely gave her work a depth that she had never had before. She even started to listen to the hairless monkeys when they offered her tips on improving her writing, and before too long, she began to start rationalizing that possibly some humans weren't really all that worthless. In short, Felicia decided to choose quality over quantity. This is the kiss of Death for a Servitor of the Media. When agents of the Game appeared, she frankly ran like Hell. Being a Renegade with an unbroken Heart is harrowing, especially when your Superior is filming your chase for propaganda purposes. If it weren't for a lucky Intervention that smashed her Heart, Felicia would never have made it away long enough to convince a Seneschal of Trade that she was really seeking Redemption. After she made her way to Heaven, Felicia began to serve Yves (though, if Eli was around, she probably would've have preferred him instead). Her experience with Earthly matters stood her in good stead, and she rose quickly in the ranks, receiving her Word quite recently. She persuaded Yves that the art form known as "soap operas" could actually benefit Heaven, as long as it was done subtly. She's also on good terms with Jean, for some odd reason. Rumors that the Archangel is using videotapes of the soap that she's currently writing for as part of his research into human motivations have been sternly denied by Servitors of Lightning. Felicia currently holds down a job as Felicity Randall, one of the writers for a generic North American soap opera. Under her observation, the show has won three daytime Emmys, launched the careers of half a dozen actors and actresses into "serious" drama, and is the despair of the tabloid newspapers (they have to now completely invent scandals involving the cast). Eventually some bright demon in the Media will notice this trend: Felicia has no idea whether Nybbas will go for "Traitor Hunt II" or not, as her numbers _are_ very good right now… Personally, Felicia is generally a very nice person these days, if you like bubbly whirlwinds. Several decades of writing soap opera scripts have had an effect on her speech patterns, and her dress sense, and she does have a tendency to dramatize her every action, but she's still fundamentally decent, and much more effective than she looks. She occasionally gets flack for writing material that condones sex and a certain amount of violence, but you can tell the heroes from the villains in her show, and Good Triumphs In The End (after a suitable amount of struggle, naturally). She also has a certain soft part for demons seeking Redemption, but she won't hide them from Triads. From her point of view, If Your Soul Is True, Then It Will All Turn Out Right In The End. Morgan, (FAW) Kyriotate of Destiny *I mean, I don't even _watch_ soap operas... :) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Kick off your party with Yahoo! Invites. http://invites.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 01:50:38 -0400 From: Mason Kramer Subject: Re: IN> Another Silly Thing > From: Maurice Lane > Reply-To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com > Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 22:36:24 -0700 (PDT) > To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com > Subject: IN> Another Silly Thing > > Don't you hate it when you can't get something out of > your head?* > Oh, I *know* that feeling. ;) > I just whipped this up, so it needs polishing. I > think she's kinda cute, though. :) > Looks good, with one quibble: > Word Forces: 9 *Nine* Word Forces? For *Soap Operas*? That seems a bit extreme, unless you're postulating that the soaps have heaps of influence over the majority of the people of the world... I'd scale this back to 4-5, m'self. ;) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 00:58:29 -0500 From: "Tafka J." Subject: Re: IN> Another Silly Thing At 10:36 PM -0700 05/29/00, Maurice Lane wrote: >I just whipped this up, so it needs polishing. I >think she's kinda cute, though. :) Nice! Just one problem though. . . >Ofanim of Destiny . . . _Ofanite_ of Destiny. };;;> Be seeing you, - - Tafka J. = tafkaj@thrifty.net # Balseraph of Fate, Marquis of Delusions of Grandeur ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 00:25:53 -0700 (PDT) From: "O. S. Kerr" Subject: Re: IN> Celestial physics expertize required... > > Though, honestly, I can't imagine the NSA knowing > > anything really useful -- military and diplomatic > > communications are generally irrelevant to a demon. > > Michael, Baal, Dominic and Asmodeus could probably find > relevance... Not to mention Marc. War effects trade. O. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Kick off your party with Yahoo! Invites. http://invites.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 09:57:09 +0100 From: "Laurent" Subject: Jesus' stats (Re: IN> Pentagrams) > Jesus as an NPC? Do we get his stats? I want Son of God/6! Considering the number of wounds he received and the length he walked with the cross on his back, I'd go for 3 or 4 corporeal Forces and a vessel 4. Role: messiah/6 Fast-talk/6 and Emote/6, obviously... Corporeal Motion/5 (walking on water) Corporeal Healing/6 ("stand up and walk") Now what about the bread rolls multiplication trick? Abracadabra attunment?? And the nets filled with fish... Call of the Wild? I'll call for a lucky 111 roll for the resuscitation... Laurent. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 02:41:46 -0700 (PDT) From: "O. S. Kerr" Subject: Re: IN> Religion in In Nomine > But like I said, most Christian gamers seem to be able to deal > with this just fine. It's only the pagans that go looking for > injury. I can't get *any* of my Chistian friends to play IN with me, so my entire group is a bunch of pagans. The Christians get a bit squidgy at the canon that only two AAs are Christian... What does that say about "most Christians" and "only pagans?" :) O. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Kick off your party with Yahoo! Invites. http://invites.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 02:45:25 -0700 (PDT) From: "O. S. Kerr" Subject: Re: IN> Religion in In Nomine > (I say metagame because my PCs are generally more concerned > with 'that Calabite has a really big bomb and if I step out > to do something his resonance will turn me into Mercurikibble' > than the mythic underpinnings of the game.) "Mercurikibble." Okay, you got me. I laughed and laughed. :) O. ===== ** Lead Playtester for Storyteller: The Colon ** ** I minored in behavioral psychology. Tragic irony and human suffering are just hobbies. ** __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Kick off your party with Yahoo! Invites. http://invites.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 02:45:28 -0700 (PDT) From: "O. S. Kerr" Subject: Re: IN> Religion in In Nomine > (I say metagame because my PCs are generally more concerned > with 'that Calabite has a really big bomb and if I step out > to do something his resonance will turn me into Mercurikibble' > than the mythic underpinnings of the game.) "Mercurikibble." Okay, you got me. I laughed and laughed. :) O. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Kick off your party with Yahoo! Invites. http://invites.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 05:28:07 -0500 From: "Ben Chism" Subject: Re: IN> Another Silly Thing > > > Looks good, with one quibble: > > > Word Forces: 9 > > *Nine* Word Forces? For *Soap Operas*? That seems a bit extreme, unless > you're postulating that the soaps have heaps of influence over the majority > of the people of the world... I'd scale this back to 4-5, m'self. ;) Are you kidding? you know how many people live and breath for their soap operas? I've heard people talking about characters on a show and thought they were talking about someone they knew! I swear, it's almost as bad as Talk Shows...but I would never have thought of an ANGEL of soap operas myself.....*G* I do love the fact she is a redeemed demon. Ben Chism - -----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK----- GATd--- s: a-->a?C++++>$UL++P+L++E W++N o+K++ w O-M-V- PS+++PE Y++PGP t 5+++X+R* tv++b++++DI+D+++G++e+h! r y+ ------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 11:11:56 +0100 From: "Liam Astley" Subject: Re: IN> Mythological underground From: Charles Phipps > I was kinduv thinking the beings most helped would be... > 1:) Unicorns: Obviously dunno. unicorns used to be seen as fairly nasty, dangerous beasties. the idea of them as lovely visions of purity didn't really come about (ironically) until after the Purity Crusade > 2:) Eastern Dragons: Wise and benevelent arrogant as well, though. i could see them telling helpful angels where to stuff it > 4:) Valkyries: I doubt somehow they would accept though... they're still hanging out with the remnants of the asgardians, i think. they pop up in the Marches sourcebook liam ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 May 2000 11:42:00 +0100 From: "Liam Astley" Subject: Re: IN> Live Gaming (was: LRP in England) From: Patrick O'Duffy > Sounds like the boffer weapons I used to play around with, waaaaay back when I > had an interest in the SCA. From memory, those can still cause injury. And > it's not even about hitting too hard - it's about accidents. Hitting someone in > the eye by mistake, falling over and hurting yourself by mistake; that sort of > thing. That isn't happening on my watch. i guess i have the advantage of playing with people who know how to use the weapons without hurting themselves. obviously this wouldn't be a universal situation > My other problem is that this is an exclusionary practice. In a 'theatrical > LARP (or whatever you want to call it), anyone can play anyone. The traits of > the player don't need to reflect the traits of the character. That's not the > case in 'act-out' combat games? yep. if you're not any good at swordfighting, neither's your character. the main way "skill" is represented is to allow characters to do more damage with a weapon the higher their level at it. but if you don't know which end of the sword to hold, don't be a swordfighter > What if you're in a wheelchair, but want to play a martial artist? What if > you're vision impaired, but want to play a sharpshooting gunman? What if you're > 6'5" (like me) but want to play a Shadowrun dwarf? the general consensus among the people i play with would be "tough". though someone with bad eyesight could still play a sharpshooter, as we don't use nerf guns or anything like that :) > Bluntly, you _can't_ in such an environment. And I think it'd be a shame to > lose that freedom. i know what you mean. i suppose for me it's about trading some pros for some cons. tabletop games allow you to have literally anything happen, because it's all in your imagination. whereas with LRP you can immerse yourself in the game and the environment more (in some ways) because you're actually *there* doinf those things, rather than talking about them. the cost is that it is you doing it, so however much i might want to play a tom cruise-lookalike at my next game it ain't gonna happen > If you like things the way you run them, great! More power to you. I'm just > explaining why I'll always prefer a different style of things. ditto > With this SR game, the writer has set it in an bar surrounded by toxic gases. > If a stray round punctures the wall, _everyone_ dies. So no guns. Oh, and > no-one _has_ any guns, because they're all in a sfae behind the bar. good idea. in several world of darkness games i've played in there were mages or lupines on hand using their dinky powers to stop any guns from working within the building. another game had people being serached as they came in by the in-character doorman, though obviously a few slipped in with their weapons > Anyway, dying _sucks_ in LARPs, even more than tabletop. At least in regular > gaming you can wander off and watch TV until the session ends. What are you > gonna do in a LARP context? Sit around and watch? normally i recruit the ex-player into my NPCs and give them some juicy roles to keep them happy. it can be irritating to get killed though. something i've been introducing into my games is the "killing blow". characters reduced to zero hits are unconscious and effectively out of it, but not dead yet. if someone wants to heal them up, they're ok. if someone wants to finish them off, they have to work up and perform a killing blow. this makes murder a conscious choice rather than a heat-of-the-moment thing > Frankly, I don't even both with SoD in LARPs. For that, I'd need a costume > budget, special effects for magic, a sound system, real alcohol behind the > bar... not doable, in my opinion. i have played in places with a sound system, but not run in one as yet. not really had a need for one. there is a costume budget of sorts, if i'm running a game i'll buy/make stuff for the NPCs. also the players are expected to provide any relevant kit for their characters. the games i've been in where alcohol has been a factor have had real alcohol in, people are trusted not to get blotto (again, i realise this isn't a universal situation, i'm in a position where i can trust my players not to do stupid stuff, and this isn't going to always be the case for others). as for special effects, sadly you've got me there. for that reason i try to keep magic fairly low-key in my games, though we do play in an ongoing fantasy campaign that features lightning bolts and the like flying around. >It's _always_ going to feel fake. Given > that, I'd rather conecntrate on producing fun fakery that not-as-fun, > still-largely-fake-fakery. there's always going to be an awareness of it being fake, sure, unless you're a scizophrenic or something (reminds me of that dodgy tom hanks movie). but i think you can get it to a level where you're more a part of the game. you can look around at the people you're with and think "he's a secret agent, she's an assassin, he's a wizard" or whatever and actually *believe* it to some extent rather than thinking "no they're not, they're a bunch of weirdos". i've been able to really get into my character while LRPing to an extent i don't think i could while sitting on a sofa eating some crisps. that's the major advantage of LRP over tabletop, to my mind. to that end i'm willing to abandon many of the freedoms we take for granted when playing tabletop games liam ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #1649 ******************************** The material here is (C) 2000 Steve Jackson Games, Incorporated. 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