Let’s learn about resources 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
- 0:25 Definition
- 1:54 Vessels
- 2:32 Roles
- 3:08 Skills
- 3:36 Songs
- 4:12 Artifacts
- 4:47 Servants
- 5:24 Discords
- 6:06 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
In their most basic form, resources are tools your character can use.
Intro
Welcome to Eviliv3, the live media commentary show that answers the question, Can you cast spells in In Nomine? Subscribe if you’re new to the channel, because today we are continuing our In Nomine series with this episode, What Are Resources?
Discussion
Definition
One of the most vague steps of creating a character in In Nomine is selecting your resources. This is because resources cover a number of different tools available to characters. They include Skills, Songs and Possessions among others, and each have varying levels ranging from 1 to 6. The cost associated with a resource depends on its level. In addition, like everything in In Nomine, they are also categorized by Force: Corporeal, Ethereal, and Celestial.
While resources are used by the Player Characters, or PC’s and Non Player Characters, or NPC’s to complete their objectives in game, they are separated into six different categories: Vessels, Roles, Skills, Songs, Artifacts, and Servants. Some of these categories are connected to each other, like Vessels and Roles, and others are isolated unto themselves.
On character creation you can purchase Resources with Character Points. During gameplay the Game Master or GM will reward you with more Character Points to continue improving and developing your character. Opposite Resources are Discords. Discords can be viewed as negative resources, or flaws in the PC’s interface with reality. These flaws can add to your roleplaying, but as a game mechanic they give you more Character Points.
We will be exploring each of these Resources in depth in future episodes, but for now, let’s take a high level view of each.
Vessels
Celestials have no physical form on the Corporeal Realm, so when they wish to interact and influence those without causing dissonance in the Symphony, they traditionally take a physical form called a Vessel. These bodies housing Celestials do not need to breathe, eat, drink, sleep, or age–though if the Celestial wishes it, they can. Vessels need not even be human, some may take the form of animals, plants, rocks or even pure energy; but they do require upkeep. They use the PC’s characteristics and each celestial can have more than one Vessel! Though only one may be worn at a time.
Roles
Roles are positions in human society that a Celestial’s Vessel may hold. They are useful if the Celestial plans on interacting with humanity regularly, and wishes to blend into their society. Each role is linked to a specific vessel, and only human vessels may have them. This is not impersonation, but rather adopting a permanent position, and the higher the position in status, the more the role costs. A Role’s cost depends on its status and level. The level represents how firmly it is worked into the Symphony, and the more influential you are to society at large.
Skills
Skills are learned abilities that operate within the Symphony and do not require Essence to perform. Skills are separated through the three forces and reflect how talented the PC is at a particular task like Running, Lying, or tracking. Anyone may attempt any skill, but if you have levels in that skill, it is infinitely easier for you, and you don’t need to spend Essence, thereby disrupting the Symphony, in the attempt.
Songs
Songs are like magic. They are complicated themes that change the symphony through the use of Essence. Mundanes may see them as miracles. Songs, like everything, manifest in each force, and the more forces you have in a single song, the stronger the effect you hold over that song’s suite. Songs manifest in many ways from charm to healing to possession. Taking extra time to perform a song improves its chance of success, and all songs may be detected as they disrupt the Symphony in their performance.
Artifacts
Physical items empowered through the Symphony are called Artifacts. They may interact with a specific realm in a specific manner. Like a gun or car, Talismans which improve the PC’s skill, relics which perform Songs or reliquaries which store Essence. Artifacts may be created by the PC or encountered throughout gameplay. The creation of an artifact requires GM approval however. Artifacts rarely appear significant, but a Celestial may recognize them on sight.
Servants
There is a chain of command or influence for everyone. All Angels serve God through their Archangels, and Demons serve Lucifer through their Demon Princes. The hierarchy goes down the ladder even further all the way to the PC’s. And even they may have servants. They may take the form of humans, animals or even spirits who will assist them. Servants require their own character sheet. The cost of a servant depends on their Resource level and how powerful they are. Not all Servants are willing either, this all depends on how their master treats them and what they ask of them.
Discords
Discords are flaws in the way a Celestial interacts with the Symphony. Discords may affect a Celestial’s attitude and abilities. These are negative Resources, as they negatively impact the PC, you gain Character Points by taking or earning them through gameplay. You may, throughout the game, convert notes of Dissonance into a Discord, but the GM chooses the manifestation the Discord takes. Like every other Resource, Discords are associated with the different Forces, so they may manifest physically as a vestigial tail or crippling deformity, mentally as anger or paranoia, or even spiritually like lustfulness or murderousness.
I hope this helps clarify the various Resources available to the PC’s and NPC’s in In Nomine. Again, you must pay for any Resources at Character Creation, but you may acquire and or learn more throughout your gameplay.
Outro
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And as always, remember that evil spelled backwards is live, so get out there and Be Evil!