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It's been a long time since I first laid eyes on a copy of In Nomine Satanis/Magna Veritas (INS/MV). Actually, this is one of those legendary games few people know about, and I figured I should do something about that.

Oh, and it's in french. No, no english version. Yes, I'm serious.

Ze Frenche Gameu

The game isn't new. Actually, this is the 3rd edition already. First one was quite a success for its originality in the very early '90s, and since then the game has become quite a commotion in France and everywhere french is spoken. Basically, this is the story of a great chess game between God and Satan. You've heard this before, right? Only this version is very cynical: very radical Archangels (actually a lot of Angels are much more violent than some Demons), God pictured as a senile old fool with an hearing impairment, Jesus smoking pot with the Archangel of Dreams (Blandine), and much, much more. If something this game is THE model of the iconoclast RPG.

And the humor is really funny. Really. Not "little-crooked-smile" funny, "bursting-into-uncontrollable-laughter" funny.

Just like Shampoos

When you're buying the game, you're actually buying two games (printed one at the back of the other): In Nomine Satanis where you play Demons, and Magna Veritas where you play Angels. Both use the same background and rules but the feel of the game is really different. You can either play an Angel under an Archangel or a Demon under a Demon-Prince. I think personnally it's funnier to play Angels (Demons on a killing spree just aren't as funny as Angels in the same situation... :-) Art is fantastic, to the point where I can say I'm not sure there is an american equivalent. These people sure do know how to make beautiful stuff. There are short stories every two pages; very insightful to the INS/MV world.

Break the rules, not my neck

The 3rd edition makes great changes at the rules level. Where the 2nd edition was unclear or unbalanced, the 3rd is concise and efficient. Every character has the basic Stats, Skills and the heroes of the game (Angels and Demons) make use of certain supernatural powers. Flight, Claws, Scale or Golden armor, Use of a Castle Hideout, Contact with a lawyer, Lie detection, Soldiers of God, Prostitute Familiar, Lightning and Fire are just a few examples of the available powers.

The system itself uses the famed d666 and is pretty comprehensive altough the GM may need a good dose of imagination to make up for some pitfalls in the rules. Note: if during the game you roll a 111 or a 666, God or Satan affects your situation directly. This is always very spectacular and a very good or very bad news depending on wich side you're on..

Actually playing the game...

Character creation is a breeze, the hardest part being to decide wich Archangel or Demon-Prince you will serve under: Joseph the Archangel of Inquisition or Abalam, Demon-Prince of Insanity? John Archangel of Lightning or Vapula Prince of Technology?. It is also relatively hard for the GM to keep his seriousness AND to be funny enough to keep the feel of the game. Beginners do not try this at home.

What stinks (Pepe le Piew?)

Altough it is a great game, you've read higher there is only a french version, Siroz being a very french company (almost nobody there speaks english). The Steve Jackson version is only a pale copy of a copy of a translation, having lost its bite somewhere. So you're stuck either learning french, or having a very dedicated and french-fluent friend and GM.

Scenarios, too, used to be better. The second edition I have has 8 fascinating scenarios (4 for each side), but is pretty hard to play with. The 3rd edition has 2 almost-lousy scenarios. You better search the web or make up your own campaigns and scenarios.

The worst thing: it's a french company, remember?. Nothing comes out at the prescribed date. Some supplements are a long time overdue (and by long time I do not mean a month but A YEAR!) and their quality and usefulness varies a lot (from useless to masterpieces). And it is expensive. Very expensive (look at the conversion rate for French Francs).

Zis ize di ende...

So, in conclusion: buy this game. Really. If you can read it (or can learn how to), and can afford it, you are NOT going to regret this. I should know, I've been playing for over 7 years now, and I am not the only INS/MV fanatic there is. And last advice: do not buy Steve Jackson's In Nomine as a replacement, it is not nearly as incredible...

Style: 5 (Excellent!)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

In Nomine Satanis/Magna Veritas
Author: CROC and Zlika Category: game Company/Publisher: Siroz Productions Line: INS/MV Cost: 48$ CAD Page count: 107 116 ISBN: 2-911103-21-1 Playtest Review by Alexandre Major on 06/10/00. Genre tags: Fantasy Modern day Comedy Conspiracy	It's been a long time since I first laid eyes on a copy of In Nomine Satanis/Magna Veritas (INS/MV). Actually, this is one of those legendary games few people know about, and I figured I should do something about that. Oh, and it's in french. No, no english version. Yes, I'm serious. Ze Frenche Gameu The game isn't new. Actually, this is the 3rd edition already. First one was quite a success for its originality in the very early '90s, and since then the game has become quite a commotion in France and everywhere french is spoken. Basically, this is the story of a great chess game between God and Satan. You've heard this before, right? Only this version is very cynical: very radical Archangels (actually a lot of Angels are much more violent than some Demons), God pictured as a senile old fool with an hearing impairment, Jesus smoking pot with the Archangel of Dreams (Blandine), and much, much more. If something this game is THE model of the iconoclast RPG. And the humor is really funny. Really. Not "little-crooked-smile" funny, "bursting-into-uncontrollable-laughter" funny. Just like Shampoos When you're buying the game, you're actually buying two games (printed one at the back of the other): In Nomine Satanis where you play Demons, and Magna Veritas where you play Angels. Both use the same background and rules but the feel of the game is really different. You can either play an Angel under an Archangel or a Demon under a Demon-Prince. I think personnally it's funnier to play Angels (Demons on a killing spree just aren't as funny as Angels in the same situation... :-) Art is fantastic, to the point where I can say I'm not sure there is an american equivalent. These people sure do know how to make beautiful stuff. There are short stories every two pages; very insightful to the INS/MV world. Break the rules, not my neck The 3rd edition makes great changes at the rules level. Where the 2nd edition was unclear or unbalanced, the 3rd is concise and efficient. Every character has the basic Stats, Skills and the heroes of the game (Angels and Demons) make use of certain supernatural powers. Flight, Claws, Scale or Golden armor, Use of a Castle Hideout, Contact with a lawyer, Lie detection, Soldiers of God, Prostitute Familiar, Lightning and Fire are just a few examples of the available powers. The system itself uses the famed d666 and is pretty comprehensive altough the GM may need a good dose of imagination to make up for some pitfalls in the rules. Note: if during the game you roll a 111 or a 666, God or Satan affects your situation directly. This is always very spectacular and a very good or very bad news depending on wich side you're on.. Actually playing the game... Character creation is a breeze, the hardest part being to decide wich Archangel or Demon-Prince you will serve under: Joseph the Archangel of Inquisition or Abalam, Demon-Prince of Insanity? John Archangel of Lightning or Vapula Prince of Technology?. It is also relatively hard for the GM to keep his seriousness AND to be funny enough to keep the feel of the game. Beginners do not try this at home. What stinks (Pepe le Piew?) Altough it is a great game, you've read higher there is only a french version, Siroz being a very french company (almost nobody there speaks english). The Steve Jackson version is only a pale copy of a copy of a translation, having lost its bite somewhere. So you're stuck either learning french, or having a very dedicated and french-fluent friend and GM. Scenarios, too, used to be better. The second edition I have has 8 fascinating scenarios (4 for each side), but is pretty hard to play with. The 3rd edition has 2 almost-lousy scenarios. You better search the web or make up your own campaigns and scenarios. The worst thing: it's a french company, remember?. Nothing comes out at the prescribed date. Some supplements are a long time overdue (and by long time I do not mean a month but A YEAR!) and their quality and usefulness varies a lot (from useless to masterpieces). And it is expensive. Very expensive (look at the conversion rate for French Francs). Zis ize di ende... So, in conclusion: buy this game. Really. If you can read it (or can learn how to), and can afford it, you are NOT going to regret this. I should know, I've been playing for over 7 years now, and I am not the only INS/MV fanatic there is. And last advice: do not buy Steve Jackson's In Nomine as a replacement, it is not nearly as incredible... Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)