"TESTAMENT: Roleplaying in the Biblical Era" (For Dungeons & Dragons. Any D&D playing FReepers?)

Green Ronin ^ | 02-06-03 | Press Release

[Green Knight]

So any Dungeons & Dragons/Role-Playing game players around here? I'm curious to hear your opinion of this, especially if you're also a Christian/Jew. Personally I think this is an idea who's time has long since come. Hey, if people are out there making up fantasy worlds based off of Tolkien, whose Middle Earth has Christian roots, then why not go straight to the source, right?

[Moose4]

I still have my first edition Advanced D&D books with "12/25/79" written on the inside covers. I played a lot of RPGs--AD&D, Mechwarrior, Traveller, some other stuff--back when I was in high school in the 80s.

I think that these games, in general, can be pretty healthy. Heck, nowadays kids don't get their imaginations stretched enough, and good pen-and-paper gaming can do that. With a LOT of annoying parental supervision, of course! :)

As for this game, expect massive howls of outrage from fundamentalist Christians--and to tell the truth, I'm a little uncomfortable with it myself. There are explicit passages in Scripture (Deuteronomy, mostly) against the use of magic and the occult. Now I know players won't be casting any real spells here, but I'm a tad skittish about a game showing a version of Christianity where you've got prophets casting "spells" and such.

}:-)4

[Xenalyte]

As a D&Der since I hit double-digits, I say SWEET.

[opusprime]

I grew up playing D&D as a kid. I think this is a great idea. Its about time religion was put in the proper context, fantasy and mythology. I'm really curious how the persecution and miracle engine works. Can I start the Spanish Inquisition? Can I perform real miracles, or just the basic deceptive parlor tricks like walking on water?

Is there a cap on the 'Ignorance' skill?

"All of this destruction because we as a species have not yet evolved enough to understand that when we die, nothing happens"

- a great philosopher

[Nataku X]

Oh boy... you're asking for a nice flame war...

The problem with this game is that there seems to be more "options" to play the bad guys than to play the good guys... and, of course, the good guys in this instance don't & shouldn't be able to use "magic"--magic in the real world and in the OT isn't a neutral force (as it is in Tolkien/Harry Potter, where both good guys & bad guys used it).

Does it have actual Bible verses and passages in the game, or is it virtually indistinguishible from other pen & paper RPGs by the fact that you're fighting for Israel instead of the Shire?

In any case...

[egarvue]

I, too am a long time roleplayer (currently DM'ing a weekly game) and I think there's a lot of benefit to the games.

I also have some reservations about the "Testament" product - not that the source is bad, but that its going to stir up all of the old stereotypes of roleplayers, screaming and gnashing of teeth on the part of those who hate the hobby. I would feel better if the product was coming for the GURPS system; they have a history of putting out well researched, quality, good historical materials. Green Ronin is, well, a little green. I'm taking a wait and see approach.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

I used to play some -- and these days, I'm playing Yu-Gi-Oh with my 7-year-old 4-5 times a week.

This ranks up there with Jolt Cola as one of those brilliant ideas where you slap your forehead and ask, "Why didn't I think of that?"

[Green Knight]

Considering post #4, you may be right.

The problem with this game is that there seems to be more "options" to play the bad guys than to play the good guys... and, of course, the good guys in this instance don't & shouldn't be able to use "magic"--magic in the real world and in the OT isn't a neutral force (as it is in Tolkien/Harry Potter, where both good guys & bad guys used it).

I don't see it that way. I'm sure there's plenty of options for the God-Fearing Israelite warrior in the game. You gotta have opposition, though. And those Idol Makers and Magi, for instance, might make good opposition. And I doubt that the Israelites will use magic. As it says, you can be a Prophet of God. No spellcasting. I've asked the writer a couple of questions in regards to the book and he IS a Christian, so it's not like it's written by a rabid atheist looking to spit on Christianity.

[AzSteven]

Green Ronin is, well, a little green. I'm taking a wait and see approach.

Green Ronin does have a good stable of talent they tend to use who are former TSR/WOTC employees. Like most of the non-WOTC companies doing D&D or D20 books, Green Ronin is mostly freelancers with a small core of 'real' employees. The best small company I have found so far is Swords and Sorcery Studios; they act as a cover brand to several smaller game design houses, with Monte Cook being one of the better contributors (he was one of the PRIME writers of the new D&D version).

I did get to see a pre-publication review copy of Testament. What I saw was not complete, but it did treat Christianity is a very good light (no pun intended). Yes, there are options to play for 'the opposition', but honestly the way the character classes and background I saw were presented, the opposition is a lot less interesting for play possibilities.

I too am currently runnnig a weekly game, which shifts monthly between a D&D/d20 game and a Traveller game. In all of my years of playing, I cannot think of any Satan worshippers or the like that have shown up; just a big influx of young Goth types a few years back, and the inevitable hordes of Pokemon/Magic: The Gathering/Heroclix/Warhammer/Warhammer40K fanboys. And even those kids seem to be a cut above the average in terms of intelligence. Not in personality, mind you, but at least they can read! ;-)

[AzSteven]

Thank you for that chart! I have posted that up in my cubicle here to help answer any SciFi or RPG questions in the office.

There was some verse in the part of Testament I looked at; mostly to introduce character classes and as introductory text to a section on divine powers. Don't know how much stayed in the final version.

[denydenydeny]

I'm looking forward to this one. Traditionally, Biblical games (e.g. Redemption) don't do well in the core gamer market, but Green Ronin does such quality work that it may get noticed.

ddd (owns a game store)

[Karsus]

You are doing nothing but helping the devil by running such a place! Karsus.

[radioman]

I think roleplaying games are great!
I somehow missed out on yhe D&D craze, but have been addicted since my grandson gave me Everquest for Christmas several years ago. Mystic's Dark Age Of Camelot is now my favorite, and I am one mean duelin' machine!

[egarvue]

I'm glad to hear that they're treating Christianity in a decent light (I'm a conservative Lutheran, who also plays D&D - won't that make the fundamentalist crazies yowl). I did find out that Ryan Dancy, one of the original 3rd Ed. team and the genius behind the d20/Open Gaming license, is a strong Christian. I'll try to look up his website, he's got some good commentary

I agree - in my long years of gaming (23, to be exact), I also have never met any satan worshippers, - just us geeks. Whenever I was made fun of/called a sinner/etc. for gaming, I just reminded the critics that they're getting all hot and bothered over some geeks sitting around a table. At least we weren't out there getting drunk or wasted or getting knocked up or gangbanging or the zillion other REAL bad things that people can do...

BTW, Monte Cook IS probably the best designer out there...check out MonteCook.com for info on his current work, pretty cool stuff.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

D&D players need to get some exercise and sun.

[LiteKeeper]

huh?

[egarvue]

You do own a game store? Where? Do you do mail order? The game store pickings in my town are pretty thin, I'm looking for a better source of game stuff, and buying from a fellow FReeper would be great.

[Green Knight]

I did get to see a pre-publication review copy of Testament. What I saw was not complete, but it did treat Christianity is a very good light (no pun intended). Yes, there are options to play for 'the opposition', but honestly the way the character classes and background I saw were presented, the opposition is a lot less interesting for play possibilities.

Ok, spill the beans. What're the new classes in it, and what classes are being carried over from teh PHB? ;)

Pretty cool, though. Thanks for the info. As for playing "the opposition", I view it as nothing more than giving people options. Maybe there're folks who want to play in the time period, but in another part of the Middle East? Why not give them the option? The focus is clearly on Israel and Israeli heroes, though.

[Darheel]

As a long-time gamer I would never use the Bible and especially would never use Jesus in my gaming. In D&D there are 'Gods' and 'priests', but it's only a GAME. The gift Jesus was bringing was salvation and eternal life, not treasure maps and magical items, and I'd hate to have to explain to Him at the final trumpet why I played his Word like a game.

[Karsus]

This coming from someone who spends a lot of time posting on FR? Funny.