# Nobilis tags: #game/rpg/nobilis ![[Nobilis (cover).jpg]] **Nobilis**: a game where you play not just any divinity, but a personification of a concept so abstract, it makes Philosophy 101 look like a walk in the park. Welcome to the world where "god game" takes on a whole new meaning, and where the mechanics are as lofty as the concepts you embody. First things first, **Nobilis** scoffs at dice. Yes, you heard that right. In a bold move that says "We're too cool for random chance," it opts for a diceless system. The game's mechanics revolve around resource management, with players spending Miracle Points to flex their divine muscles. It's like having a cosmic credit card with no limit, but instead of buying sports cars, you're altering reality itself. Each character, or "Noble," is decked out with four main attributes: Aspect, Domain, Realm, and Spirit (or Treasure, Persona, Domain, and Aspect in the third edition), each rated 0-5. These aren't your garden-variety RPG stats; they're the building blocks of your divine essence, determining everything from your physical prowess to your control over your domain of power. The game encourages you to think big – really big – since you're operating on a level where changing the course of rivers or rewriting the laws of physics is just another Tuesday. The setting is a mix of "Gothic-Epic" (their words, not mine), where the universe operates on animistic principles, and everything from your average toaster to the concept of despair has a spiritual representation. Nobles navigate this world, defending their Estates (the fancy term for the concept they embody) against threats both mundane and existential. It's like being in a club where everyone is a god, but instead of smiting mortals, you're attending meetings to ensure reality doesn't unravel at the seams. If you're looking for character customization, **Nobilis** has you covered. Along with defining your divine domain, you also get to create your character's Imperator (think divine sponsor) and Chancel (your slice of reality). This isn't just about picking powers; it's about defining the very nature of your divine being and its place in the cosmos. So, what's the catch? Well, with great power comes great complexity. This isn't your casual pick-up game; it's more like adopting a lifestyle. The game's rich, layered mechanics and setting offer nearly limitless possibilities, but navigating them can feel like learning a new divine language. Plus, if you thought managing your daily schedule was hard, try juggling the fate of the universe on top of that. In summary, if you've ever wanted to role-play as a deity with an existential crisis, **Nobilis** is your game. Just be prepared to spend as much time pondering the nature of your divine domain as you do playing. For those brave souls ready to dive into the divine deep end: - For a historical and gameplay overview, Wikipedia has you covered: [Nobilis | Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobilis). - You can grab up [the 2002 edition on DriveThruRPG and you should](https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/141424/nobilis-the-game-of-sovereign-powers-2002-edition). > [!quote] Neurothrope-00 ![[Neurothrope Avatar.png|100]] > [!note] Editor's Note > > This is one of my favorite games of all time, and probably one of the more influential in my history. So much so I contributed some consultancy to the second edition, The Great White Book which was designed more for being a coffee table beauty than a usable, functional text – but it serves that purpose, too. It's a game full of challenging ideas intricately realized. > > We are simply collectively going to pretend that there was no third edition. Never happened. Doesn't exist. Never happened at all. I have excruciated it. > > It's interesting to note that if you wanted a copy of this in physical form – you would have to buy it on the open market second hand and it's currently going for about $200 USD. For many, many years it was completely unavailable in PDF at all so we should be happy we have the not quite perfect representation of the book available for $20. > > Given the choice, and I was because I one from the first printing, I would say get the first edition, the Little Salmon Book. It was more concise, somewhat less up it's own ass, and not designed to be looked at and not read. I whiled away many an hour on that. > > But if you'd like to drop less than $150 to have an artifact of a lost time, for which I would not blame you, go get the PDF and work your way through it. It will not be wasted money.