Let’s learn about Ofanim – The Wheels, 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
- 0:30 About the Choir
- 0:49 Resonance
- 1:46 Dissonance
- 2:20 Manner and Appearance
- 3:07 Game Mechanics
- 4:35 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
Ofanim are the Easy Riders of the celestial realm.
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, Ofanim – The Wheels, a Choir of Angels.
Discussion
The Ofanim are manic and fleet, tensed for action and wired to the gills. They are forged from the stuff of speed and madness, and widely known as Heaven’s swiftest instruments; once the Ofanim are set in motion, they are an implacable and unstoppable force.
Resonance
Resonance is both the celestial’s true nature, and the power they wield in the symphony. For the Ofanim, it is motion. It’s unclear if they are capable of stopping. They take their resonance by the reins with an abrasive insistence on action. And because of this, they create the most tangible short-term results. Whenever an Ofanim needs to go somewhere, their divine perception of the Symphony instantly reveals the quickest path. For them, there is no such thing as a scenic route. City-dwelling Ofanim are particularly useful, as they are able to navigate with miraculous results.
With this resonance of motion, they are known to be whimsical, some prefer the term insane. The typical Ofanim will watch television as they pace the room, one hand with a death like grip on the remote control as the channels fly by, simultaneously ranting and gesticulating like an amphetamine-laced spider monkey!
Dissonance
Dissonance is what a celestial earns when they act against their resonance, or nature. For the Ofamin, it is inaction. If they feel the urge to move, they are compelled to do so. There is nothing more fearful to an Ofanim than being restrained or confined from that motion. Worse yet, is if an Ofanite is physically free to act, and doesn’t. Not doing so, is darkly dissonant to them. This will lead to a note of dissonance and can put them on a pathway to Hell.
Manner and Appearance
When in Celestial form, the Ofanim appear as giant wheels of holy fire, whirling across the sky. The average Ofanim vessel reflects their nature in appearance. They will have wide eyes, thin lips, and gaunt, unkempt, and an otherwise disheveled presentation, as they radiate heat from a heart beating rapidly without fear. They are often racing from one edge of the world to another, transporting messages; they are truly the celestial workaholics. While some choirs of angels respect the Ofanim, others feel sorry for them.
Ofanim are creatures of percussion in the Symphony. In modern parlance, they would be heard as frequent, random cymbals crashing to techno-across-Europe at one-hundred and forty beats per minute.
Game Mechanics
While the Ofanim’s resonance is motion, it can be interpreted in three different mechanical ways for the game. First, the check digit of a successful resonance roll can be added to any Target Number for an Agility or related skill. There is no penalty for a failed resonance roll in this case, but failing in the associated roll after having used your Resonance will earn you a note of Dissonance when the check digit is six or higher! The Ofanite will also gain a note of dissonance if they fail to use their successful resonance roll before invoking it again.
Second, An Ofanite may use the successful resonance roll check digit to any area knowledge skill roll. With their understanding of the patterns in the Symphony, they are able to feel their way to a location. This only works for locations in the public consciousness, not for objects or people. And Third, the Ofanite may travel a number of miles equal to a successful resonance roll check digit in a single minute, when in Celestial form. This can be used sequentially, one after another. It means traveling significantly fast, but opens the angel up to the possibility of taking Celestial damage if seen.
As you can see, the Ofanim are an incredibly useful angelic choir for any player character, or PC, in nearly any style campaign. I would highly recommend trying your hand at an Ofanite in your next campaign.
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!