THE TOO MANY CONANS PUBLIC DOMAIN TIME HEIST SQUAD - The Game

I had a silly idea while yapping on a discord server. During a car ride I turned it into a game. 

Here it is. 

(Also on my itch.)

The Public Domain is beautiful. But it needs to be expanded. 

That's where you come in!

You are a Conan. You are part of an elite strike force. You are THE TOO MANY CONANS PUBLIC DOMAIN TIME HEIST SQUAD.

Your mission is to plant copyrighted creations in the past to make them old enough for the public domain. Be subtle and make it believable. Even the archaeologists need to be fooled. 

Succeed at any cost!

(To the lawyers: This is a parody. Fair use baby!) 

 

How I ran Gradient Descent as a Black Box (or Diegetic vs. Narrative Logic)

My black box campaign for Luke Gearing's Gradient Descent recently wrapped up. I didn't plan on it ending before the end of the year, but things happen, and sometimes godlike AI systems trigger nuclear warheads. You can read up on the butterfly dream campaign here. Running it for thirteen weeks was a lot of fun. I promised my players I'd shine a light into the black box after the campaign ended. I will try to do this in this post but I am also using it as an excuse to write down some other thoughts on the experience.

This is how it ended?!

Diegetic Primacy

Having read blogs on different playstyles that focus on the way they engage with how abstraction is employed in their games got me wanting to try something new myself. I will admit that I still don't know how my approach actually lines up with the different labels (link to the FKR blogs here).

For my game, I wanted to immerse the players and myself in a fictional world and minimize the  abstractions necessary, namely the layers between the players and the fiction. This is actually a bit misleading, as it is all within the realm of abstractions (thinking, imagining, speaking, etc.). In order to avoid philosophical spiraling, let's just say I didn't want to give a rules system primacy over how we engage with the world of the fiction. Isn't it frustrating when the enforcement of rules lessens the feel of logical consistency of a fictional world you are engaging with? That is what drew me to the FKR (fiction first) and black box (no player-facing procedures). 

Thus I committed to the primacy of the diegetic. 

The Aristotelians might not like the way diegesis is employed here, but so be it. I am using it in the way I remember it being used by French philosopher Étienne Souriau as “everything that happens according to the fiction presented and what it implies if one were to consider it true” (translated freely from L'Univers filmique). 

Now what does that mean with regard to my refereeing? I tried to referee and arbitrate the situations and conflicts within the fictional world of play based as much as possible on the in-world diegetic logic. This simply means before rolling any dice or tossing coins to find out the resolution of a situation, I tried to call results based on the diegetic in-world logic. Basically, how would this go if it were real?

I am unsure if this isn't just what the FKR crowd does. Maybe it is actually closer to New Simulationism? 

Anyway, I don't care too much for debating categories and schools of thought. I am more interested in the way my idea of acting as a referee did produce an interesting experience. What made it interesting for me as a referee was a very specific tension between what I'd call the diegetic and the narrative. Because I wanted to arbitrate on what would make sense in a fictional world according to its own rules and not what would make sense in a story. Is this differentiation even possible? Isn't everything always structured narratively? This is where it gets spicy, I think!

I'll try to formulate more thoughts on this, but first, “the how did I end up running it” part.

 

Behind the Screen 

First I threw out all the Mothership rules, and then I took some back. In addition to random encounter rolls (10% chance every room or 10 minutes), I decided to keep the procedures for The Bends; slowly losing your sense of humanity is a core experience of Gradient Descent. I also kept the panic mechanic for the Monarch AI. Initially I thought about doing the same for the player characters Stress and Sanity, but I ended up never using it. 

a very boring sheet for tracking The Bends.

Players generated their characters using a Perchance generator I made, provided them with a short pitch for their PCs, and then put them in a shared Google Sheet character binder.

This is what players started with.

 

Players organized and shared gear within the collective google sheet

There were no skills or classes, but the backgrounds and players never saw or rolled any dice. However, I did negotiate with them if they argued for something being possible or logical. For their actions, players told me their intent and I told them the outcome. 

As for mapping, we used a Miro board. Players mostly mapped themselves. We talked over Discord voice only, and I put on the same soundtrack every week, eventually using Kenku FM. 

 

A part of The Deep.

 

As for arbitrating according to what makes sense in the world? Turns out it isn't easy. As much as I wanted to be a neutral arbiter, I found myself questioning my calls quite often. Could I really decide what makes sense diegetically and rule out that I didn't just follow what would make sense or be cool in a story? 

Of course there were always situations where it seemed clear that this would be a random event anyway (for example, some elevators switch speeds randomly). Those I handled by rolling d10s/1d100 already, which made it easy to use simple percentile roles for additional things. Whenever I wasn't sure, I would ask, How would this go if it were real? I rolled a 1d100 to see how close the outcome would be to a character's intent. Sometimes the roll made me realize that I didn't need it in the first place, and I had no issues with overruling it. The only rolls I followed strictly were those for Bends checks, random encounters, artifacts, etc.

The feedback I got from my players was that they felt immersed to the point that many encounters were quite tense for them, not having any abstractions available to know what it might mean if someone fires their gun at them (as opposed to a playing a game system where you know the relation between your character's HP and an average damage die). 

I think we all had a lot of fun and that makes the whole endeavour a success. 

This is where I'd have to write a philosophy paper...

The question of a possibility of following a diegetic logic instead of a narrative logic still lingers on my mind. I am not concerned if I achieved my initial goal in the campaign, but I am philosophically intrigued by this. Time to actually explore this properly I do not have. This is further complicated by the fact that I haven't fully grasped what narrative logic actually means.

My intuition is that it leads back to the general question on the structure of thinking and the nature of judgments (as in the Kantian sense for “Urteil”). But this is just to namedrop a German.

The question I'd like to explore at some point remains. 

How can I referee a game where things follow the principle of what would make sense in a fictional world according to its own rules and not what would make sense in a story?

If you know, tell me! 

 

 

 

Mythic Bastionland Sparktabellen (deutsch)

übersetzt von warenunförmig.

 far from perfect but good enough

xlsx
markdown

Land

Land
	Charakter	Landschaft
1	Öde	Marsch
2	Trocken	Heide
3	Grau	Fels
4	Karg	Gipfel
5	Geschliffen	Wald
6	Wimmelnd	Tal
7	Ruhig	Hügel
8	Weich	Weide
9	Überwuchert	Sumpf
10	Lebhaft	Seen
11	Aufgeweicht	Lichtung
12	Üppig	Ebene

Himmel

Himmel
	Tönung	Textur
1	Glitzernd	Aurora
2	Violett	Dunst
3	Saphir	Marmor
4	Blass	Glühen
5	Feurig	Wabernd
6	Elfenbein	Strudel
7	Schiefer	Streifen
8	Pink	Flecken
9	Gold	Strahlen
10	Blutig	Säulen
11	Hell	Schimmer
12	Tintenartig	Schwellend

Wasser

Wasser
	Tönung	Textur
1	Kristall	Seide
2	Türkis	Wellen
3	Perlmutt	Abgrund
4	Schmutzig	Aufgewühlt
5	Kobalt	Schaum
6	Grün	Spiegel
7	Matt	Wogen
8	Dunkel	Glas
9	Grünspan	Brandung
10	Silber	Stromschnellen
11	Smaragd	Gischt
12	Jade	Blasen

Wetter

Wetter
	Beschrieb	Element
1	Sanft	Regen
2	Flüchtig	Böen
3	Hartnäckig	Wolke
4	Hell	Sonnenlicht
5	Dünn	Dunst
6	Kühl	Feuchtigkeit
7	Heiss	Donner
8	Fest	Staub
9	Trüb	Wärme
10	Schwach	Niesel
11	Reichlich	Brise
12	Rau	Nebel

Flora

Flora
	Wesen	Form
1	Aromatisch	Gräser
2	Aschig	Heidekraut
3	Blühend	Büsche
4	Gewunden	Baumkrone
5	Wuchtig	Dorngestrüpp
6	Fruchtbar	Farn
7	Stechend	Stämme
8	Lebendig	Ranken
9	Dürr	Nadelbaum
10	Dornig	Setzlinge
11	Robust	Schilf
12	Harzig	Wurzeln

Fauna

Fauna
	Wesen	Form
1	Aufmerksam	Huftiere
2	Hilfreich	Singvögel
3	Anmutig	Hunde
4	Laut	Nager
5	Schelmisch	Amphibien
6	Hinterlistig	Insekten
7	Erleuchtend	Katzen
8	Friedlich	Reptilien
9	Schöne	Greifvögel
10	Mächtig	Marder
11	Feindselig	Federvieh
12	Unnahbar	Bären

Merkmal

Merkmal
	Wesen	Form
1	Vergraben	Bach
2	Farbenfroh	Sitz
3	Geschmückt	Grube
4	Zackig	Höhle
5	Geteilt	Menhir
6	Beerdigt	Hügel
7	Spiegelnd	Findling
8	Verschleiert	Tümpel
9	Heiss	Wasserfall
10	Ertränkt	Quelle
11	Entweiht	Bogen
12	Isoliert	Steinkreis

Wunder

Wunder
	Motiv	Element
1	Lust	Licht
2	Geheimnisse	Flammen
3	Prophezeiung	Steine
4	Heilung	Bestien
5	Verlangen	Funken
6	Erinnerung	Pfade
7	Tod	Dunst
8	Stärke	Farben
9	Versuchung	Pflanzen
10	Schmerz	Wind
11	Bedauern	Wasser
12	Zeit	Schatten

Jenseits

Jenseits
	Charakter	Landschaft
1	Säure	Licht
2	Schwarz	Flammen
3	Rauch	Steine
4	Gefroren	Bestien
5	Tot	Funken
6	Gebrochen	Pfade
7	Kolossal	Dunst
8	Lebendig	Farben
9	Brennend	Pflanzen
10	Schlamm	Wind
11	Weiss	Wasser
12	Süss	Schatten

Festung

Festung
	Stil	Merkmal
1	Düster	Tourellen
2	Ruine	Turm
3	Feindseelig	Wall
4	Uralt	Zinnen
5	Ornamental	Zitadelle
6	Wild	Tor
7	Makellos	Spitze
8	Befestigt	Kuppel
9	Unfertig	Leuchtfeuer
10	Einladend	Brücke
11	Stolz	Säulen
12	Hell	Wassergraben

Aussenhof

Aussenhof
	Stil	Merkmal
1	Schmutzig	Markt
2	Verlassen	Schmiede
3	Fröhlich	Bibliothek
4	Raffiniert	Brunnen
5	Fleissig	Tempel
6	Geweiht	Forum
7	Bescheiden	Grabmal
8	Majestätisch	Garten
9	Rustikal	Halle
10	Feierlich	Werkstatt
11	Lebhafte	Arena
12	Makellose	Garnison

Donjon

Donjon
	Herzstück	Dekor
1	Herd	Geweihe
2	Thron	Silber
3	Musizierende	Heraldik
4	Becken	Knochen
5	Beratende	Blumen
6	Bedienstete	Schriften
7	Schrein	Edelsteine
8	Tisch	Kränze
9	Reliquie	Kerzen
10	Kessel	Fell
11	Kronleuchter	Wandteppiche
12	Wachen	Schilder

Essen

Donjon
	Qualität	Art
1	Gewürzt	Fisch
2	Kräuter	Früchte
3	Knusprig	Eintopf
4	Sauer	Pilze
5	Trocken	Kuchen
6	Fermentiert	Käse
7	Salz	Nüsse
8	Feucht	Torte
9	Fettig	Haferbrei
10	Zäh	Brot
11	Süss	Gemüse
12	Mild	Fleisch

Güter

Güter
	Thema	Art
1	Militär	Textil
2	Opulent	Vieh
3	Traditionell	Korn
4	Spezialisiert	Met
5	Fleissig	Werkzeug
6	Innovativ	Stein
7	Geheimnisvoll	Holz
8	Simpel	Tonware
9	Stark	Metall
10	Dekoriert	Leder
11	Edel	Honig
12	Glück	Kraut

Luxusgüter

Luxusgüter
	Seltenheit	Art
1	Antik	Juwel
2	Aufwendig	Wein
3	Einzigartig	Gewürz
4	Knapp	Geruch
5	Schädlich	Seide
6	Makellos	Fell
7	Leuchtend	Kunstwerk
8	Verloren	Schwert
9	Esoterisch	Kreatur
10	Heilig	Erz
11	Maythisch	Wurzel
12	Schön	Schrift

Drama

Drama
	Thema	Detail
1	Verrat	Prügelei
2	Eifersucht	Gift
3	Rivalität	Schwur
4	Untreue	Festmahl
5	Coup	Brief
6	Ehrgeiz	Täuschung
7	Erlösung	Erbe
8	Offenbarung	Meuchler
9	Zorn	Familie
10	Gier	Alkohol
11	Verbannung	erpressung
12	Manipulation	Gold

Schmerz

Schmerz
	Beschreibung	Ereignis
1	Geheim	Seuche
2	Gewalt	Hungersnot
3	Drohend	Überfall
4	Abrupt	Invasion
5	Andauernd	Entführung
6	Vorhergesagt	Sturm
7	Mysteriös	Feuer
8	Geduldet	Revolte
9	Ungesehen	Exodus
10	Weit	Biest
11	Eskalation	Töten
12	Verdeckt	Diebstahl

Neuigkeiten

Neuigkeiten
	Inhalt	Stimmung
1	Duell	Nachdenklich
2	Geburt	Froh
3	Markt	Zufrieden
4	Prozess	Gespalten
5	Ritual	Wütend
6	Söldner	Skeptisch
7	Fest	Verehrend
8	Turnier	Nostalgisch
9	Bestrafung	Vereint
10	Aufführung	Trostlos
11	Tod	Ernst
12	Heirat	Optimismus

Aussehen

Aussehen
	Körperbau	Kleidung
1	Zart	Gepanzert
2	Kurz	Zerissen
3	Robust	Lebhaft
4	Hart	Grob
5	Ausgemergelt	Eklektisch
6	Kalt	Traditionell
7	Warm	Gemütlich
8	Jugendlich	Knallig
9	Weich	Trist
10	Kränklich	Verziert
11	Gross	Funktional
12	Rau	Elegant

Stimme

Stimme
	Ton	Manier
1	Flüstern	Formell
2	Beruhigend	Poetisch
3	Sanft	Präzise
4	Flach	Intensiv
5	Murmeln	Ausschweifend
6	Schwach	Distanziert
7	Stark	Leidenschaftlich
8	Zögerlich	Knapp
9	Melodisch	Entspannt
10	Rau	Direkt
11	Erratisch	Ausgelassen
12	Dröhnend	Freundlich

Persönlichkeit

Persönlichkeit
	Verhalten	Interesse
1	Vorsichtig	Botanik
2	Spirituell	Geschichte
3	Intellektuell	Musik
4	Ambitioniert	Glücksspiel
5	Gelassen	Tiere
6	Gerecht	Kunst
7	Empathisch	Kochen
8	Instabil	Handwerk
9	Neugierig	Fischen
10	Melancholisch	Mode
11	Zynisch	Jagd
12	Eilig	Märchen

Beziehung

Beziehung
	Status	Verbindung
1	Verehrend	Familie
2	Widerwillig	Freundschaft
3	Geheimnis	Liebe
4	Entfremdet	Ehe
5	Hasserfüllt	Unterstützung
6	Distanziert	Allianz
7	Harmonisch	Wettstreit
8	Intim	Nachfolge
9	Kürzlich	Mentorschaft
10	Geschworen	Ebenbürtig
11	Tumultös	Feindschaft
12	Verbittert	Schutz

Verlangen

Verlangen
	Ambition	Beweggrund
1	Flucht	Freiheit
2	Wohlstand	Liebe
3	Status	Vermächtnis
4	Wissen	Erholung
5	Meistern	Rache
6	Erbstück	Pflicht
7	Hochzeit	Angst
8	Wahrheit	Schuldgefühl
9	Reise	Anerkennung
10	Macht	Trotz
11	Sicherheit	Neugier
12	Vergebung	Hass

Aufgabe

Aufgabe
	Handlung	Subjekt
1	Erforschen	Ritter
2	Einfangen	Seher
3	Zerstören	Vasallen
4	Transportieren	Vieh
5	Zurückholen	Monument
6	Reparieren	Gold
7	Brechen	Ruine
8	Bewachen	Tiere
9	Helfen	Behausung
10	Bergen	Festung
11	Verdecken	Brücke
12	Jagen	Kriegsbande

Hintergrund

Hintergrund
	Erziehung	Erinnerung
1	Entbehrt	Krieg
2	Fromm	Migration
3	Ausgestossen	Reiten
4	Militärisch	Studium
5	Insular	Verbannung
6	Nomadisch	Freude
7	Plackerei	Krankheit
8	Kaufmännisch	Flucht
9	Wild	Verletzung
10	Prestigeträchtig	Freundschaft
11	Akademisch	Hinrichtung
12	Verwöhnt	Romanze

Krankheit

Krankheit
	Deskriptor	Synonym
1	Versteckt	Insmonia
2	Mild	Migraines
3	Intermittierend	Arthritis
4	Wachsend	Übelkeit
5	Medizinisch behandelt	Fixierung
6	Verweigert	Blind
7	Unerklärlich	Taubheit
8	Konstant	Melancholie
9	Verschwindend	Schütteln
10	Permanent	Gebrechlichkeit
11	Schwächelnd	Husten
12	Offensichtlich	Lethargie

Heraldik

Heraldik
	Farbpalette	Symbol
1	Licht	Biest
2	Heiss	Vogel
3	Erdig	Fisch
4	Reich	Waffe
5	Metallisch	Krone
6	Glänzend	Baum
7	Grau	Blume
8	Konstant	Melancholie
9	Juwelen	Körperteil
10	Luftig	Ring
11	Kalt	Werkzeug
12	Dunkel	Stern

Soldat

Soldat
	Qualität	Typ
1	Mobil	Plänkler
2	Widerwillig	Bogenschützin
3	Beritten	Späherin
4	Renommiert	Miliz
5	Eiferer	Wache
6	Rekrut	Infiltrator
7	Feige	Plünderin
8	Schwer	Veteran
9	Blutdurstig	Infantrie
10	Schick	Reiterin
11	Angsteinflössend	Stürmer
12	Söldnerin	Ritterin

Waffe

Waffe
	Beschreibung	Eigenschaft
1	Kurz	Klinge
2	Stange	Speer
3	Kette	Axt
4	Widerhaken	Streitkolben
5	Gabel	Hackbeil
6	Geschwungen	Hammer
7	Gewichtet	Stachel
8	Doppel	Haken
9	Gekreuzt	Keule
10	Geworfen	Stab
11	Dünn	Reisszahn
12	Lang	Schwert

Manöver

Manöver
	Handlung	Absicht
1	Finte	Demoralisieren
2	Schlagen	Verwirren
3	Prahlen	Ausnutzen
4	Verteidigen	Verzögern
5	Verhandeln	Verlegen
6	Wirbel	Beobachten
7	Eilen	Bezwingen
8	Spotten	Aufdecken
9	Stoss	Überraschung
10	Rammen	Stossen
11	Angriff	Schwächen
12	Provozieren	Blasen

Konflikt

Konflikt
	Disput	Status
1	Grenze	Krieg
2	Religion	Überfälle
3	Nachfolge	Feindschaft
4	Resourcen	Pakt
5	Schuld	Scharmützel
6	Betrug	Pattsituation
7	Diebstahl	Besatzung
8	Eroberung	Stillstand
9	Ehe	Blockade
10	Betrug	Spannung
11	Wasserstrasse	Vergessen
12	Blutfehde	Verhandlungen

Duell

Duell
	Bedingungen	Twist
1	Lanzenturnier	Zeit
2	Schwert	Grube
3	Partner	Brücke
4	Team	Unbeweglich
5	Ohne Rüstung	Labyrinth
6	Angekettet	Bogenschützen
7	Blut	Feuer
8	Tod	Biester
9	Kapitulation	Schlamm
10	Beurteilt	Nacht
11	Stumpf	Wasser
12	Wurfspeere	Käfig

Schlachtfeld

Schlachtfeld
	Merkmal	Detail
1	Fluss	Rauch
2	Ruinen	Schlamm
3	Hügel	Fliegen
4	Wald	Graben
5	See	Turm
6	Aussenposten	Felsen
7	Pass	Blumen
8	Bauernhof	Strom
9	Pfad	Dornen
10	Brücke	Gestank
11	Mauer	Schlucht
12	Behausung	Grabmal

Einsatz

Einsatz
	Art	Formation
1	Aggressiv	Linie
2	Mobil	Reihe
3	Eng	Sparre
4	Trügerisch	Rang
5	Gedeckt	Quadrat
6	Rigide	Kreis
7	Flexibel	Flanke
8	Offen	Scharmützel
9	Fokussiert	Block
10	Dispersed	Rechteck
11	Verstärkt	Keil
12	Defensiv	Verteilt

Strategie

Strategie
	Plan	Twist
1	Umzingeln	Dunkelheit
2	Einnehmen	Verstärkung
3	Angriff	Ablenkung
4	Bedrängen	Betrug
5	Plündern	Artillerie
6	Ausharren	Camouflage
7	Hinterhalt	Bluff
8	Überwältigen	Verzögern
9	Blockade	Lockvogel
10	Teilen	Köder
11	Fokus	Opfer
12	Konter	Feuer

Ereignis

Ereignis
	Thema	Ereignis
1	Verbündete	kollaps
2	Moral	Angriff
3	Wetter	Schlachtung
4	Terrain	Pattsituation
5	Strategie	Verzögern
6	Disziplin	Schwanken
7	Tier	Sabotage
8	Opportunismus	Zerpsrengen
9	Täuschung	Offensive
10	Anführer	Verwirrung
11	Beute	Verschlechterung
12	Waffen	Entdeckung

Appendix N. Jam: The Chalk-Marked Grave

 My friend Pippa and I made a pamphlet for the Appendix N Jam. A lot of fun to make and very excited to share. Find it here.

The Chalk-Marked Grave is a mini pointcrawl through an acidic wasteland. Meet its weird inhabitants and their dreams of the future, hunt for old relics, or find out who skitters beneath the derelict arthropod war machine.

This pamphlet was written for Cairn as part of the Appendix N Jam but can easily be adapted for Eco-Mofos or any other adventure game. 

 Features:

• 1 adventure about finding a strange land devastated by a war long past.
• 2 factions at odds and a mad mage with a passion for bugs.
• 3 arthropod-themed relics. 
• 4 new beastiary entries.
• 5 locations including a 7-room site inside an insect hive.

Layout and Art: Pippa (instagram.com/Pippa_001)

Writing: warenunförmig

Thanks to efsa, TJ and NobleUndead for the playtest and feedback!

Licensed as CC BY-SA 4.0

Paradigms of Religion in TTRPGs Part 1

Disclaimer: Yes, I have a background in religious studies. This is bad because my thinking of and about religion is tainted by academia. However, it might be good because it could help to potentially make religion in RPG fiction more interesting, hopefully gameplay as well.
If not, curse me!

A lot of people have probably already written better things on this topic. But this is true for all things. Prismatic Wasteland has gathered all the recent cleric posts on their blog, but I have not yet read them.

The Fantasy World Religions Paradigm: Pantheons and Class Essentials

 

The Ripening of Karma (1469)

Writing down names for gods and making sure that all the cleric subclasses had options was usually one of the first things I did when world-building in my 5e days. Often, after having thought about a creation myth and having decided that there would be 5000 years of history no player would ever know about. I think there are several reasons for this approach and some problems with it. 

Most of it I see founded in the paradigm, set by the Dungeons & Dragons tradition. Clerics need gods that imbue them with powers. I am no historian of old-school D&D or Gygaxian thought. So, the exact reasons for this situation are not what I am going to talk about. Nonetheless, the class or role of the cleric does set a precedent for the ways diegetic religion and worlds must function. Gods need to typically be real, powerful, and at least somewhat present. Further, they frequently need to cover different domains or themes. In systems with a lot of gamified character progress, this seems especially necessary. (I remember having to include a dwarf god, so one of my players could play a forge cleric.) 

This interpretation of polytheism follows romantic imaginations of ancient mythology, predominantly ancient Greek or old Norse. I do not claim that this is necessarily a bad thing. I think a lot of people like this and want nothing else. Maybe they find it a refreshing alternative to their everyday experience, being heavily saturated and influenced by Christianity. Personally, I do not enjoy it. First and foremost because it places unnecessary restraints on creating worlds or games. I do not believe that fantasy RPGs need metaphysically real polytheism, as much as I do not believe that elves or mechanical class systems are required. Another criticism that I do share with others is that these styles of fantasy religion have too many implications I do not like. If there is a super powerful entity giving your cleric faith-based magic powers, a lot of questions may arise. Like, why are you hanging around a dungeon with greedy adventurers? Suddenly all kinds of issues have to be addressed or handwaved. The game tradition narrows the scope of the fiction.

Here there is a parallel to the history of religious studies. Or at least I will make an analogy for the sake of the argument. Our common as well as for a long time our scientific understanding of religion has been very much structured by a modern Western (European Protestant) and Enlightenment paradigm. If you have spent any time with postcolonial theory, this will be of no surprise to you. Some speak of a world religions paradigm, the idea that the “big religions” encountered in the world are subtypes of one phenomenon. A product of 18^th and 19^th century theologians and anthropologists in Europe with an interest in religion, essentially looking for something corresponding to their understanding of religion, meaning (protestant) Christianity. As well as inadvertently prompting change and reform in many traditions via colonialism, thus aligning them to the protestant ideal of religion. (See Richard E. King on Orientalism and Religion. Also, Peter Hedges has written a very nice introduction for students if you would like to know more about the paradigm and the surrounding discussion.)

Why do I bring this up? Well, because I’d argue that the concept of religion employed by European scholars was similarly narrow as the one used in many fantasy TTRPG settings. For a long time, scholars of religion coming out of Europe have used their protestant notions of belief to identify and explain religion. 

 

This means they focused on: Scriptures, rules and doctrines Religion as belief and not something you do Religious elites as the ones singularly determining practices Institutions as central to religion Treating religion as closed off monoliths

All the while ignoring: Orality, rituals, everyday practices Religion as a lived practice The practices of lay people majority The hybridity and “chaotic” dynamics of religion

This understanding in turn was shaped by Protestantism’s attempt to distinguish “good” from “bad” religion. Religion as an act of commitment, the disdain for rituals, and the idea of religion as a private affair were all aspects of protestant ambitions against Catholicism and Judaism.

Ok, and why again did I make this deviation through postcolonial religious studies 101?

Well, because I think there is a lot more that religion could be in TTRPGs or fiction in general. And this necessitates that we reflect the paradigms we carry with us and pass on.

What then is religion or what should be in my recreational fantasy game?

“All religions claim to have the ability to avert misfortune, overcome crises, and provide salvation. […] Religion is primarily a promise of salvation. It is the promise of salvation offered by religions and their ability to engender belief in their control of the means of salvation and the paths toward it that constitute their potential to exert authority.”
(Martin Riesebrodt, The Promise of Salvation, 2009, 89)

If you ask a group of scholars of religious studies what religion is, you are in for a treat. I don’t know if there is another discipline with such a heated and controversial discussion around its main thing. The OSR/NSR community may be able to relate.

I am leaving things on a bad cliffhanger because I need to attend to other things and this was hastily written. I will continue this post by presenting some ideas on how I think the question of religion could lead to interesting engagement within the fiction of TTRPGs.

 

"God's Providence" from Orbis Sensualium Pictus (John Comenius, 1705)