Let’s learn about Elohim – The Powers, a Choir of Angels 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
- 0:26 About the Choir
- 0:37 Resonance
- 1:36 Dissonance
- 2:06 Manner and Appearance
- 2:53 Game Mechanics
- 3:35 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
Please don’t mistake them for being heartless.
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, Elohim – The Powers, a Choir of Angels.
Discussion
The Elohim are often found resting dispassionately between thought and feeling. They are often calm and self-restrained, seen as the middle-Cs of the Heavenly Chorus.
Resonance
Resonance is both the supernatural power an angel wields, and their very nature. For the Elohim, they are able to feel the psyche of an individual, their very emotion in the moment. In the best of cases this is done without personal prejudice, as the Elohim’s perception is truly objective. They use their resonance to predict how an individual will react to a given action, barring outside celestial intervention. They never stoop to taking a side, only acting dispassionately as their Archangel instructs.
As the Elohim are the very incarnation of balance, they have no inherent conflict with another Choir. They understand the purpose of each Choir in the Symphony. This leads the other Choirs to see the Elohim as boring in their reserve, empty of passion, and frustrating in their inability to take a stand with a single subject. They seem to focus too much on the forest at the price of seeing the trees.
Dissonance
Dissonance is the result of acting against your nature. For Elohim, they will earn notes of dissonance by expressing subjectivity! Their opinions are derived specifically from facts and observation, and while they are able to feel passion for action, to indulge in it is beyond their capacity. If the Elohim were to alter the nature of the Symphony out of selfish desire, they risk falling from grace and stepping closer to damnation!
Manner and Appearance
While the Seraphim in heaven are often seen as the final arbiters in a celestial debate. The Elohim are sought out for their council before the final word is reached. The Elohim do not hold delicate sensibilities. They may be as likely found in a brothel as a library. They are above judgment of an individual’s choices, seeing any location as good as any other.
When in the celestial realm, the Elohim are typically fond of vaguely human shapes with smooth idealized features. They have long slender necks and hairless scalps. They prefer to appear androgynous in their appearance, though their corporeal vessels may not reflect their celestial natures. They resonate with the sounds of bells, chimes and xylophones in the Symphony.
Game Mechanics
The Elohim’s resonance for emotion presents a strangely objective vision of the human experience. The check digit of a successful resonance roll signifies the degree of precision with which the angel has read the target’s emotions. It ranges from understanding a general sense of the emotional state to the very specific in addition to how they will react to any two actions! In game terms, an action means anything done in one combat round.
As you can see, the E lohim are more of a passive player choice but could be a great asset in an investigative, chase or combat situation. I would recommend giving them a shot in your next game.
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!