Let’s learn about the Superior: David, Archangel of Stone 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
- 0:29 About the Superior
- 1:37 Dissonance
- 2:10 Choir Attunements
- 3:46 Servitor Attunements
- 4:14 Distinctions
- 4:47 Relations
- 5:09 Basic Rites
- 5:24 Chance of Invocation
- 6:07 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 strong and hard. Be harder, be stronger.
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: David, Archangel of Stone.
Discussion
About
David and his followers helped mold early humanity. He and his angels built the first human shelters. They taught humanity the arts of pottery and metal-working, in addition to building construction. He genuinely believes that as he helped mankind so much early on, he needs to finish the job. He teaches combat arts and he and his angels believe they are strengthening humanity by forcing them to endure terrible labors. It’s the only way they will survive the times ahead.
David’s servitors encourage individuals to join in unity together for protection. This even takes the forms of street gangs and militias. Even Skinheads are welcomed as followers. And while some angels believe the servants of David are too brutal, they don’t believe they are brutal enough! His servitors are blindly loyal and do not tolerate anyone questioning David’s decisions.
When in human form, David has a commanding presence. He has steel gray eyes, and a strong face. He rarely wears clothing, preferring to be as naked as stone. He is also known to manifest as rock, speaking through a humanoid shape with the sound of scraping stones.
Dissonance
Dissonance for an angel is only earned when you actively work against your nature, or Resonance. When you are a servitor, you also must follow the nature of your superior, or you will earn notes of dissonance from him as well. For David’s servitors, they may never start a fight, or attack first. Doing so will earn them dissonance, but they are expected to finish the fight if it is brought to them! They are also forbidden from sullying their hands with ranged weapons, preferring to stay in close combat. Using ranged weapons will earn them dissonance as well.
Choir Attunements
David’s angels are attuned to minerals like stone, metals, gems and sand, even in their altered forms of glass and asphalt. But grassy dirt, organic materials and artificial substances like plastic are barriers to their abilities. David will grant his servitors attunements, or abilities, that resonate with their choir. Seraphim teaches people to live off the land. They are able to detect minerals within a yard times their Corporeal Forces. Cherubim can create a pseudo-magnetic field which attracts any substance made of minerals within their Corporeal Forces in yards. This may be resisted with a strength roll minus the servitors Celestial Forces. Ofanim are able to move slowly through any sort of mineral matter. They are able to bring their Corporeal Forces times ten pounds in weight with them.
Elohim have absolute direction, and know exactly where they are at all times while in the Corporeal or Celestial Realms. Malakim are able to plant their feet on solid ground and become immovable and indestructible. This means they cannot communicate in other than telepathic means, but they may end the state with a Will roll. Kyriotates are able to manifest a vessel of stone. They must allocate Forces to the vessel, but do not suffer Trauma if the vessel is destroyed. And finally Mercurians are able to know a building by walking through it from its date of construction to any secret doors or hidden compartments.
Servitor Attunements
David may also grant or his servitors may earn additional attunements like Deep Gaze. This attunement allows its user to see through stone or earthly material at a distance of their Corporeal Forces in yards. And Cold Touch, which actually turns their target into unbreakable stone, leaving them conscious but unable to move or speak. This may be resisted with a Strength plus Corporeal Forces Roll.
Distinctions
If you serve David well, and protect and promote his word, you may be granted distinctions. These distinctions are like ranks or titles which grant certain powers. Vassal of Stone protects your vessel from earth and stone. Friend of the Subterranean World can automatically detect underground cavities within their Corporeal Forces times one hundred yards. And lastly, Master of the Granite Hand allows the angel to multiply any fighting roll by their Corporeal Forces.
Relations
David believes that he should be in charge of the War, but he is devoted and loyal to Michael. Privately he has instructed his Servitors to aid Gabriel, but to avoid all others unless it furthers his Word. This means that David is allied with Gabriel and Michael. He is associated with Jean, Jordi, and Laurence. And David is hostile to Marc.
Basic Rites
There are a couple of Rites that David offers his Servitors, which when performed will generate Essence. They may spend four hours resting in a mine or cave, or spend one hour praying in a church made of stone.
Chance of Invocation
David is more likely to be invoked by his Servitors than other Superiors with a beginning chance of invocation of three. But he also has modifiers which if leveraged, may help in the invocation. These range from holding a small, smooth stone, having a stone or marble statue. Gathering fifty gang members without guns around you. Being near a stone carving over fifteen hundred years old, or holding a rock that was used to kill a demon.
As you can see, David and his angels are not to be trifled with, and are fervent supporters and participants in the War. If you are looking for a combat based superior, you may want to consider David, the Archangel of Stone.
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!