Real Religion in Adventure Design

[Dire Bare]

Can you write RPG content based on real-world religions? Sure, it's done in other media all the time including novels, comics, movies, and video games . . . why not also in TRPGs?

But it is certainly a topic with plenty of landmines for the author/publisher, as others have pointed out in this thread. Doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, but if you do . . . proceed with care, caution, and a willingness to deeply examine your own assumptions.

However, having a typical D&D party (in a typical D&D setting) meet Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed or any other religious figure of modern day religion sounds like a really bad idea. Perhaps in a non-D&D game, or a modified D&D game . . . even then, while I'm sure it can be done . . . so, so many landmines.

 

[Umbran]

The argument stands up just fine without it.

Then why did you bring it up?

Focusing on this is some pretty bad faith engagement with my overall point too, IMO

Yeah, well, if you are using the term "bad faith" this poorly, your opinion on the matter is rather suspect.

For one thing, nobody is under any onus to engage with your overall point at all, much less in the way you feel is appropriate. You don't get to accuse folks of, in effect, lying, based on what bits they want to discuss or not. That's not acceptable behavior.

For another thing, I've only made a couple of posts. Trying to divine my entire intent off that is dreadfully premature.

Please consider not ever using the term "bad faith" in an accusative manner again. Personal accusations are not a valid rhetorical technique.

 

[Fenris-77]

Then why did you bring it up?



Yeah, well, if you are using the term "bad faith" this poorly, your opinion on the matter is rather suspect.

For one thing, nobody is under any onus to engage with your overall point at all, much less in the way you feel is appropriate. You don't get to accuse folks of, in effect, lying, based on what bits they want to discuss or not. That's not acceptable behavior.

For another thing, I've only made a couple of posts. Trying to divine my entire intent off that is dreadfully premature.

Please consider not ever using the term "bad faith" in an accusative manner again. Personal accusations are not a valid rhetorical technique.

Ugh. Bad faith = lying?! Huh? Anyway, I wasn't writing a Phil 101 essay. The chestnut was simply an index to an opinion, not a proof. Why you feel the need to ride this hobby horse so hard I don't know. Feel free to go pick on someone else, I'm not interesting in being your whipping boy. I'll also avoid responding to any more of your posts in this thread. Have a nice day.

 

[TheSword]

I don't think of having a clear vision as market research. I think of it in the same way that a research paper might have a strong thesis or the author of a work of fiction has found their voice.

Ok. Well knowing what product you’re testing is a pretty important part of market research. You need to know what it is currently even if you later change that based on the results. Market research can be used in several stages of development. Your also clipped out of the quote all the examples I gave of market research the OP might want to do without spending big bucks.

 

[AnotherGuy]

As for people being offended, meh, whatever, don't consume media that offend you. There's that old chestnut that applies here: offense is something that can be taken but not given. While that might not be true in every instance, I think it holds up well a maxim for consumption of media.

Oriental Adventures, Baron Urik Von Kharkov, the Vistani, D&D depiction of Shamans, Savage Warrior in 2e Fighter Handbook, Gnolls, Orcs, Hobgbolin armour...bards, kender, warlords. I cannot see how depicting Mohammed, Jesus or Buddha in RPGs will be any less controversial or offense-incurring.

 

[Fenris-77]

Is it a problem that writing of any sort might be controvesial? I think not. Of course, we would like to see people avoiding some of the particular issues of those books you mention, of course, but that's hardly the only sort of 'offense' that might be in the offing here. I would avoid reducing the issue to just that one thing.

 

[Ixal]

Oriental Adventures, Baron Urik Von Kharkov, the Vistani, D&D depiction of Shamans, Savage Warrior in 2e Fighter Handbook, Gnolls, Orcs, Hobgbolin armour...bards, kender, warlords. I cannot see how depicting Mohammed, Jesus or Buddha in RPGs will be any less controversial or offense-incurring.

On the internet maybe, but in the real world its much less of a problem (unless you make a picture of Mohammed, that can be deadly).
There are several RPGs out there which use real world religion, both specifically religious RPGs which cater to one religion or many modern games like World of Darkness or Shadowrun where religion is a factor in the game and various churches also play a not insignificant role. But as that was before the creation of Twitter the controversy was a lot smaller than what would happen today.
Still, considering all those examples I doubt all the care some people here suggest is needed.

 

[Umbran]

Ugh. Bad faith = lying?!

Yep. In this context, it implies intentionally misrepresenting your intent - typically by pretending to be reasonable, when you have no intention to move your position, no matter what.

Intentional misrepresentation is otherwise known as lying.

 

[AnotherGuy]

On the internet maybe, but in the real world its much less of a problem (unless you make a picture of Mohammed, that can be deadly).
There are several RPGs out there which use real world religion, both specifically religious religious RPGs which cater to one religion or many modern games like World of Darkness or Shadowrun where religion is a factor in the game and various churches also play a not insignificant role. But as that was before the creation of Twitter the controversy was a lot smaller than what would happen today.
Still, considering all those examples I doubt all the care some people here suggest is needed.

Of late publishing companies yield to the noise. It happened for D&D and its happened for WoD.
Also, I reckon statting up Mohammed would be way worse than a pic.

And the RPGers motto is If it has stats it can be killed existed ever since Deities and Demigods.
Hell, I tried to kill Drizzt in the PC games.

 

[Asisreo]

Of late publishing companies yield to the noise. It happened for D&D and its happened for WoD.
Also, I reckon statting up Mohammed would be way worse than a pic.

And the RPGers motto If it has stats it can be killed existed ever since Deities and Demigods.
Hell, I tried to kill Drizzt in the PC games.

In terms of accuracy, if a Deity is unable to be killed within the canon of the practicing religion, then I'll make it unkillable in the game. Probably with no actual statblock.

If there's a holy prophecy about their death, they will be essentially untouchable until their death prophecy is fulfilled.

That's my intentions. Not to show that "The Gods you worship are mortal, haha!" But to share the stories of the various religions.