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At long last, it is here! I have awaited Nobilis 3E for many years now. My copy of the 2E Great White Book holds a precious place upon my shelf, coveted and treasured. When I first heard that a new Nobilis was to come, I was overjoyed, and promised copies to all my friends that they should share my marvel. And now, the time has finally arrived... and I find my feelings, mixed.
For the unfamiliar: Nobilis casts the players as guardians of Creation, mythic lords of concepts and classes of things. One might be "the Power of Fire", with the ability to ignite a forest with a whim, or to ignite the metaphoric fire in a faltering ally's heart. They have been entrusted with these powers by godlike beings known as 'Imperators', the true rulers over these ideas, beings whose death would erase their Estates from Creation entirely. The players must wield their gifts to advance their own personal interests, defend them from the petty whims of other Nobles, and (if they are most unfortunate) to defend Creation from the Lovecraftian horrors who have come from outside to take it all away.
Mechanically, the game has improved immensely since the second edition, and it is truly a brilliant and modern RPG. While many of my gamer friends express hesitation and reservations at the notion of a a diceless RPG ("but how do you know when you fail?!"), the system WORKS spectacularly, utilizing resource management in the stead of dice-based uncertainty. Throw enough power at a problem, and you WILL succeed... but perhaps without the strength to overwhelm your next obstacle.
What distresses me, however, is that I believe the utterly fantastic setting is rather poorly conveyed, which is absolutely tragic for inducting new players. Many of the broad strokes of the setting, it's unique cosmology, the Excrucian War, *why* the Imperators created Nobilis, are either mentioned in odd places or omitted entirely. I must admit that without my knowledge of 2E, I'd have a very difficult time understanding what I was reading. The emphasis seems instead to be on what Nobilis are capable of, and instances of particular concerns that they might have. This lack of top-down material is a serious problem, and one that results in both a huge loss of points and disappointment... everyone I showed the GWB to 'got it', but I've had much more responses of confusion and uncertainty with this new edition.
Despite these failings, it is still a must have! Just, obtain a copy of the GWB for reference, if you can. I still eagerly await future books in the line (ye gods, an entire Nobilis LINE!) in the hopes that they shall rectify this oversight, and add even more amazing wonders to the setting. :)
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