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Like many others, I was intrigued by the both the premise and promise of Nephilim, Chaosium's newest RPG. However, there were certain elements that were, shall we say, problematic.

Foremost among these was the element of spell casting, which should be paramount in a game that purports to be about the occult. Much, though not all, of the system seemed to be the standard whiz-bang approach to spell casting. None of it seem to correspond to actual Western Occult principles or methods.

However, with the arrival of Liber Ka, these concerns have evaporated. Magic in Nephilim now follows traditional Western Occult ideas, in both the form (how spells are cast) and the effects (what they can do) of magic.

Needless to say, magic in Nephilim is now far more subtle in its effects, but potentially more potent in its capabilities. Most importantly, magic is now a role playing catalyst, rather than a black-box problem solver.

If you have been interested in Nephilim in the past, or already own it, this is a must-buy book. Even if you are merely interested in how the real world occult might be portrayed in an RPG context, you definitely want to check this book out.

Style: 4
Substance: 5