NOTE: These clarifications were
gathered by Joel Cardella.
Similarly, this HTML largely coded by him for the INC,
which grows rich with contributions from across the net!
This page is devoted to clarifying questions put forth on the in_nomine-l mailing list. The only answers we will post will be those of the game's creator, Derek Pearcy, or In Nomine's (abbr. IN) Line Editor, Moriah.
As this list will be quite extensive, it is suggested that you load it and then search for keywords. Due to the length of the list, we won't be able to keep questions in any particular order.
PLEASE NOTE:
Those answers marked [Canon] are absolute law.
Those not marked as such represent the interpretation of the rules by
that person.
Q: What does it look like to observers when one of the Calabim uses his resonance on an object? Does the target implode? Decay? Burst into flames? The Calabite in the introduction mentions what he's thinking about, and the final result, but nothing about the in-between.
A:I'd say it depends on who the angel is
working for. The resonance of Belial's demons burns its targets, or
appears to -- neither flame nor heat is actually created, that's just
the closest that the Symphony can come to representing the effect.
Saminga's Calabim cause materials to rust, rot, shrink away into
nothingness. Nybbas' Calabim . . . er, okay, I don't know what
Nybbas' destroyers do. Anyone?
Derek
(For a riotous response to the question posed by Derek, see Don Bixler, Doug Sheppard, and Mike Dawson's responses here!)
Q: Could a player buy a Private Jet [Corporeal Artifact] at level 1, for 1 point?
A: If the player came up with a good enough reason, yes. Corporeal Artifacts are limited only by the GM's good sense.
Q: Hmm. So the level of the artifact represents how likely it is to just 'turn up' at the right time?
A: [Canon] {Actually it means} "always find
your Porsche in a crowded parking lot in which you parked it earlier
but have now forgotten exactly where," as opposed to "always find
your Porsche in any random crowded parking lot which you happen to be
stumbling through at the time."
Derek
Q: Are all angels of Jean immune to electricity? If not, how can they perform the 'two hours plugged into the mains' ritual?
A:[Canon] The performance of the Rite itself grants the immunity during the duration of the Rite.
Q: Then why do Belial's servants have to already be immune to fire to perform his 250-degree rite? Just cause? Is Jean's rite a handy way to avoid (for example) getting cooked in an electric chair?
A: [Canon] Because that's what the
descriptions of the Rites say. For Belial's Rite, there is an
Attunement that let's one become immune to fire. So, that Rite is
useful only for those who've bought or were given that
Attunement.
Since Jean's Rite does not say one has to be immune, and there is not
Attunement to make one immune, the Rite must give the immunity. And
no, a 10 second high amperage (or voltage... whatever) charge from an
electric chair is not the same as plugging into a constant electrical
power source. A ritual has ritual elements to it which are
constitutive of the Rite.
Moriah
Q: Why are higher levels of the Song of Claws (page 82) less effective than lower levels? (Smaller claws, lower accuracy.)
Q: I have a question about the Lilim resonance. The check digit determines the "level" of the desire that someone has, right?
Q: Physical damage is tracked separately for each vessel a Celestial has. What happens, then, if a Celestial near unconsciousness elects to switch vessels during combat, but gets hit during the round that the change occurs?
A: [Canon] All things are simultaneous in a
round. So, both happen, the celestial gets hit *and* switches vessel.
Whenever that celestial switches back, that celestial will find their
body in the condition as if the hit took place. This might mean that
the body is unconscious or even dead.
Moriah
Q: Does switching to celestial form cause the same degree of disturbance in the Symphony as actually leaving or returning from the Celestial Realm?
A: [Canon] Yes
Q: Does the 2 essence required to change into Celestial form add to this?
A: [Canon] Yes
Q: Does a celestial going to the Celestial Realm cause double the disturbance (once for changing form, and again for leaving)?
A: [Canon] Yes, although entering doesn't cause double since one enters the Corporeal Realm directly into a vessel.
As a general guideline, GMs should always
make the Disturbance rules side with celestial powers being as noisy
as possible. Celestial powers make celestials hot stuff on earth, but
there is always risk involved -- being noticed. The 2 Essence is
added since there are times when a celestial doesn't have to spend
that Essence, e.g., transforming in a Tether (although, compared to
the noise a Tether makes, who would notice?).
And, since it's been discussed on the list, here. Let me add that
switching vessels should be as loud as going celestial.
Q: In reference to "(although, compared to
the noise a Tether makes, who would notice?). "
Are you being serious here? Cause this caveat here can lead to some
pretty neat cover tactics. i.e. -- kill four people in quick
succession, and somewhere in there, invoke your Superior. The angels
who come running to kick some ass, and see the bodies, might just
assume someone went bonkers, and not realize a Prince is right around
the corner. Or something like that.
A: Well, we haven't set in stone, yet, what
sort of Disturbance a Tether does. You're right that it's a Bad Idea
to let players get away with anything they want just because they're
in a Tether; but, it *is* a home base. Perhaps Tethers will wind up
only dampening the noise a bit. OTOH, it'll be pretty easy to spot an
enemy's Tether, and put a minor celestial spirit to watch it. Humans
going in and never coming out will be a cause for a alarm and maybe a
call to immobilize and Do Something about this Tether. Again, this is
not Canon... yet. Thanks for spotting this.
Moriah
Q: Can a celestial recognise another celestial while both are in their vessels?
A: [Canon] Nope.
Q: Can they tell if someone is in fact an angel or a demon?
A: [Canon] Nope. A celestial in a vessel who
is doing practically nothing causes practically no disturbance and is
practically indistinguishable from a human. Once disturbance starts
(or even the physical signs of the use of celestial powers); then
people start getting a clue -- but even then, a Soldier spending
Essence feels just like a celestial, angel or demon, spending
Essence.
Moriah
Another A: There are some ways to creatively use resonances to get clues, however...
Q: Soldiers can buy their superior's attunements (according to page 32). Can they buy choir/band attunements, or only servitor attunements?
A: [Canon] Any type of Attunement, as long
as it makes sense. If a Sectional Attunement affects how celestials
of that Section use their Resonance, then, obviously, it can't be
given to a Soldier (or to a celestial who does not have that
Resonance).
Moriah
Q: Are the items listed under each Superior's Invocation Modifiers used up or consumed by the attempt to summon the Superior, or by a successful summoning, or not at all? A Bright Dream certainly implies that Gabriel takes the blood...
A: [Canon] GM's discretion. Certainly,
nothing gets used up if the invocation failed.
Moriah
Q: Can human characters acquire dissonance during play? If not, can they acquire discord during play, and if so, how?
A: [Canon] Humans do not ever acquire
Resonances (that we know of) and therefore, never will have
Dissonance. Their souls are much more free to improvise in the
Symphony. Their nature doesn't force them into certain modes of
behavior which they must attend to or suffer a breakdown in their
nature.
Q: Character advancement. Do players have to pay character points for rites granted to them by other Superiors [or] for their superiors to remove discord?
A: [Canon] Rites (and any advantage or
power, really) that are acquired through *role playing* are free. If
they want them at character creation, then they should pay for the
ones that don't come automatically from their Superior. Discord may
be removed by GM fiat as a PC's reward from their Superior at the end
of an adventure. If the players want to spend character points to
remove Discords, they may with the GM's approval, with a story as to
why their Superior is being so generous. If the players are paying, 3
points per level (p. 49).
Moriah
Q: What is the cost of a reliquary; I can't seem to find it anywhere...
A: [Canon] Being unclear on that is our
fault, but it can be ferreted out:
Q: Well, if you're a Soldier, [some artifacts allow] you to use Songs you normally can't. Or are Soldiers unable to use (say) Ethereal Songs, even when contained in a relic?
A: [Canon] Soldiers (as far as everyone
knows right now ;> ) can only use Corporeal Songs, period. They
can use Relics (i.e., a Celestial Artifact) with Corporeal Songs
only. They can use Reliquaries (i.e., Celestial Artifacts with
storing-Essence properties). Anyone can use a Talisman, i.e., an
Ethereal Artifact.
Moriah
Q: Under "Choir Attunements," we are told (p. 114) that "Dominic's Ofanim can hear the entropy of Discord like a wailing scream. Within a number of feet equal to their Celestial Forces, they can exactly what Discord he has, and how much." Who is "he" in this passage?
A: By context, it seems to me that it should
be:
Within a number of feet equal to their Celestial Forces, they can
look at [someone] and tell exactly what Discord he has, and how
much."
Q: However, the rules on Dissonance and Discord seem to limit those afflitions to celestials only. How can a human acquire Discord, especially without being able to amass Dissonance?
A: That's because the rules were written
with celestial characters in mind, not human. Human characters can
take Discord, treating them as simple disadvantages. You are right in
saying that humans can't get Dissonance.. that's because they can't
have any Resonances.
Moriah
Q: On page 62, second paragraph, it says: "A
bare handed attack is rolled against (Strength+Corporeal
Forces)."
If I buy the Fighting skill, I don't get as good a chance to hit as I
do with the bare handed attack! I would have to buy it at the level
of my Corporeal Forces just to be even with this number. Can you
clarify this? In other words, is there any advantage to the Fighting
skill?
A: As far as I can tell, you're right and we
goofed. The most consistent and logical thing to do is to add the
Fighting Skill level to (Strength + Corporeal Forces). Even if the
Fighting Skill is still at default level (-1).
Moriah
Q: Pg. 190 says "Soldiers of God serve
Angels".
Pg. 32 says " A soldier will report to an angel or demon, instead of
an Archangel or Prince..."
Pg. 32 also says " Soldiers... may purchase any attunement belonging
either to the Superior under whom they serve, or, for Soldiers of
God, to Laurence."
Does this mean that Soldiers of God all serve both an Archangel AND
Laurence, and subsequently can purchase attunements belonging to
either Superior?
A: {That is} close, but needs just a slight
clarification:
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