Let’s learn about the Superior: Baal, Prince of War in the tabletop role-playing game In Nomine. In Nomine is a role-playing game designed by Derek Pearcy and published in 1997 by @Steve Jackson Games. You can learn more on the official website here: http://www.sjgames.com/innomine/ or the Wikipedia page here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Nomine_(role-playing_game). You can buy In Nomine products here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/12199/Steve-Jackson-Games/subcategory/28908_30775/In-Nomine?affiliate_id=50797
Time Stamps:
- 0:00 Intro
- 0:28 About the Superior
- 1:23 Dissonance
- 1:50 Band Attunements
- 3:03 Servitor Attunements
- 3:40 Distinctions
- 4:20 Relations
- 4:38 Basic Rites
- 4:58 Chance of Invocation
- 5:39 Outro
About In Nomine
Written by Derek Pearcy + Illustrated by Dan Smith
Edited by Jeff Koke, Steve Jackson, and Susan Pinsonneault
Cover art by John Zeleznik (first printing) and Christopher Shy (second printing)
In Nomine is a modern roleplaying game in which the players take the part of celestial beings – angels and demons – as they struggle for control of humanity and themselves. The celestials, powerful though they may be, are merely pawns in a much larger game being played by their Superiors, the Archangels and Demon Princes. Based on the best-selling French RPG by the wonderfully diabolical Croc!
In Nomine won the Origins Award for Best Graphic Presentation of a Roleplaying Game, Adventure, or Supplement of 1997.
Transcript
Cold Open
The world is a war – and the demons are out to win it.
Intro
Welcome to In Nomine, a celebration of my favorite tabletop role-playing games. This In Nomine YouTube channel is a sister channel to Eviliv3. Subscribe if you’re new to the channel, because today we are continuing our In Nomine series with this episode, Superiors: Baal, Prince of War.
Discussion
About
Baal is first and foremost a Balseraph warrior, second he is an inveterate liar with a strange sort of humor. Unlike most images of warriors, Baal isn’t a brute, but rather, he is a cultured killer with more class than his fellow infernal royalty. For Baal, combat is a way of life, and he is trusted to lead, never second guessed, at least not in public. His appearance can vary between the respectable statesman, powerful alien forms, and normal charismatic humans.
Baal’s demons are instructed to encourage the self-destruction of humanity and to aid other demons against angels when encountered on Earth. He is not shy about checking in on them frequently, and he is known to impose discipline with an iron grip. The irony that he made a name for himself rebelling in Heaven, and executes his own demons for even threatening to rebel is not lost on the host.
Dissonance
Dissonance is the result of a celestial betraying their nature, or resonance. Servitors of a superior may even gain notes of dissonance by acting against the word or nature of their Superior. For servitors of Baal, retreating from any conflict without strict orders to do so, will earn a demon a note of Dissonance. The only way for you to leave is if you are beaten unconscious and dragged from the battlefield.
Band Attunements
A servitor of Baal is granted Band attunements, and can actually purchase non restricted band attunements from other bands that Baal offers. Attunements are supernatural abilities a superior grants his servitors. Balseraphs are the best at feinting with their attacks. Their opponents must subtract the demon’s number of Corporeal Forces from any dodge roll. Djinn are able to automatically detect any flesh, alive or dead, within a number of yards equal to their Corporeal Forces. Calabim’s attunement is restricted. They are able to add their number of Corporeal Forces to any resonance roll to tear flesh apart. Habbalah are able to feel any physical conflict within ten yards times their Corporeal Forces. Lilim prefer to spy and assassinate their opponents, and may add their Corporeal Forces to any attempt at charming someone. Shedim’s attunement is restricted. They add their Corporeal Forces to any Will roll which encourages their host into physical combat. And finally Impudites also have a restricted attunement. They gain no dissonance from killing humans in honorable combat!
Servitor Attunements
In addition to the aforementioned Band attunements, Baal offers Servitor Attunements which may be purchased by or granted to a servitor. Art of Combat grants an additional attack for each Corporeal Force plus each point of essence spent in its invocation, in a single combat round. State of Ophis allows a demon to spend two points of Essence with a Will roll to assume their celestial form without a disturbance in the Symphony! This ability is named after the celestial who corrupted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Distinctions
If you have served Baal well, he may grant you a title of distinction. These titles come with powers related to them, like Knight of the Black Order. By simply observing a person, they may determine if they have the will to fight, if not the skill. Captain of the Infernal Armies allows the demon to know the exact location and health of every creature under its command. Baron of Victory is able to predict the actions of an adversary, one round in advance! If their opponent becomes aware of this ability, they may make a Will roll at the top of each turn to change their actions at the last moment.
Relations
The demon prince of war has no allies. But he is associated with Asmodeus, Belial, Saminga, and Vapula. He is hostile to Andrealphus, Beleth, Kronos, Nybbas, and Valefor. And he is the enemy of Malphas.
Basic Rites
A rite is an act a servitor may perform once a day to gain one point of Essence. For Baal’s Servitors, Killing an adversary who puts up a fight earns them two Essence. And Entering into a duel with a Servitor of Michael, the Archangel of War will earn them an Essence as well.
Chance of Invocation
It is difficult to summon Baal with a base chance of just one. But there are invocation modifiers which may aid in the invocation. Having Brass knuckles, a pistol, a machine gun, a twenty millimeter cannon, a heavy tank or even a destroyer will each assist in increasing degrees.
As you can see, Baal is a no-nonsense Superior who expects all of his Servitors to stand up against the host and fight and kill angels. He provides ample opportunities, but he will check in on you to make sure you are doing your best. So if you want a combat forward character, Baal might be the best Superior for you.
Outro
Thank you for watching today’s In Nomine episode. Subscribe and ring the bell if you are new to the channel. Don’t forget to click the like button and comment to let others learn about this award winning role-playing game and this channel.
And as always, remember that evil spelled backwards is live, so get out there and Be Evil!