The Inside Scoop on Gaming

This book bored me. Distinctly average for a subject that should've been anything but. There are better ways to spend $18. I was bored by it, didn't seem worth finishing. In fact it was this product that really helped me to shift my attention to "Fading Suns." It gets a "D." It read too much like a catalogue. Night Music was better at developing an area- this one was too broad to be interesting, which is a problem when you write about the celestial realms. This game just doesn't grab me like it used to- its no longer a must buy. The products took too long to come out, but that's just a dodge. I feel like PCs have too little chance to affect events in In Nomine. They're pawns. Who wants to play pawns?

Some of the ideas on the In Nomine mailing list were great. Particularly one alternate idea revolving around a victory by Hell, and the redemption of Satan. The other interesting idea revolved around a victory by all of the pagan Gods and spirits who had been persecuted by Heaven and abused by Hell. But I have to question the viability of any game which has its most interesting permutations appearing as alternate ideas on the mailing list.

I've also been seeing some continued questions about the powers of various angels/demons- most especially the ones who possess others - why release the game when some of the mechanics still give people fits? I'd like to see all of the extra rules on soldiers of celestials, and sorcery put into one book. I'd like to see another book dedicated to expanded writeups of the old superiors, with new superiors thrown in. I'd also like to see the scenarios released as distinct books. Well, I would also like for the scenarios to allow for more player influence regarding the outcome.

I feel that Feast of Blades is the best adventure written so far, the adventure in Heaven and Hell ranks second, and the adventure in Night Music is a distant third. This book marks a distinct downward spiral for In Nomine.

Style: 2 (Needs Work)
Substance: 2 (Sparse)

Revelations III: Heaven and Hell
Author: James Cambias, David Edelstein, Matthew Grau, Kenneth Hite, Steve Kenson, Chris Pramas, S. John Ross and John Tynes Category: game Company/Publisher: Steve Jackson Games Cost: 17.95 Page count: 128 ISBN: 1-55634-339-6 Capsule Review by Scott Shafer on 02/02/98. Genre tags: none	This book bored me. Distinctly average for a subject that should've been anything but. There are better ways to spend $18. I was bored by it, didn't seem worth finishing. In fact it was this product that really helped me to shift my attention to "Fading Suns." It gets a "D." It read too much like a catalogue. Night Music was better at developing an area- this one was too broad to be interesting, which is a problem when you write about the celestial realms. This game just doesn't grab me like it used to- its no longer a must buy. The products took too long to come out, but that's just a dodge. I feel like PCs have too little chance to affect events in In Nomine. They're pawns. Who wants to play pawns? Some of the ideas on the In Nomine mailing list were great. Particularly one alternate idea revolving around a victory by Hell, and the redemption of Satan. The other interesting idea revolved around a victory by all of the pagan Gods and spirits who had been persecuted by Heaven and abused by Hell. But I have to question the viability of any game which has its most interesting permutations appearing as alternate ideas on the mailing list. I've also been seeing some continued questions about the powers of various angels/demons- most especially the ones who possess others - why release the game when some of the mechanics still give people fits? I'd like to see all of the extra rules on soldiers of celestials, and sorcery put into one book. I'd like to see another book dedicated to expanded writeups of the old superiors, with new superiors thrown in. I'd also like to see the scenarios released as distinct books. Well, I would also like for the scenarios to allow for more player influence regarding the outcome. I feel that Feast of Blades is the best adventure written so far, the adventure in Heaven and Hell ranks second, and the adventure in Night Music is a distant third. This book marks a distinct downward spiral for In Nomine. Style: 2 (Needs Work) Substance: 2 (Sparse)

Revelations III: Heaven and Hell