The Bible--Wars, Culture, Faith, and Inspiration

[Alzrius]

How is/was this discussion legal?

As Henry said, it skirted the line - although it seems to have been rather close, IMO; that first sentence by SHARK, for example, seems somewhat insulting, since there are many who don't think the bible is the source of "all that is holy".

 

[Captain Tagon]

One campaign setting I'm working on has a smile group of monotheistic monks/clerics/paladins. Turns out they are actually right and all the other gods, of all alignments in fact, are actually part of a bid coalition of demons and devils.

Also I've done a lot of mixing of Exalted with Judges. The similarities between the solars and these divinely appointed leaders is interesting.

 

[fusangite]

There are a number of great sections of the Bible. Consistently, the most underutilized yet great book is Daniel for both the prophetic stuff and the magic stuff. However, some the best Christian and Christian-inspired stuff is stuff that didn't quite make it into the Bible or only made it into the Catholic one. The following is a good site for both canonical and non-canonical stuff: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/rsv.browse.html.

An even better site includes a number of early Christian texts that, for one reason or another, ended up either as patristic literature or got culled entirely from the Christian corpus including some great Gnostic stuff which can be a great inspiration for FRP materials: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/.

 

[Prince of Happiness]

In a similar vein, the early church period is also fascinating, rich material to use for gaming. Want to know just how troublesome one cleric can be? Just ask Arius!

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

I, like many here, have used Biblical names. I've been looking for a way to use the story of Nehemiah in a game-defending a ruined city from hostile nations as you attempt to rebuild it.


Alzrius: Your own .sig "skirts the line" just as much; remember that there are a lot of people to whom religion is important and meaningful.

 

[Alzrius]

IAlzrius: Your own .sig "skirts the line" just as much; remember that there are a lot of people to whom religion is important and meaningful.

True; I created that .sig in response to how many other people had religious sig files which went unopposed by the moderators.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

EDIT: Nice thread, ain't it?

 

[S'mon]

Most modern fantasy involves civilised folks living in cities defending their nice quiet realm from the bloodthirsty hordes who descend from the hills to slaughter and plunder at the command of their dark lord. The Bible OT is very handy for giving the internal viewpoint of the other side, and how a genocidal barbarian culture can wipe out entire peaceful civilisations ("and don't forget to kill the women and children too") while still seeing itself as the righteous side. So it's useful for modelling what in D&D terms are 'bad guy' cultures - I have one of these about to burst onto the scene in my campaign world, heh heh...

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Aye. Hextor and Menoth could both take a page or two from the OT
Not that the "peaceful" chaps were entirely benign, but who is?

 

[S'mon]

Ok...for those of us interested in this thread...when would you say the best era for a campaign setting would be?

...

The entrance into Canaan and the resulting wars?

(Ravi & Lars stay out - spoilers!)

spoiler:

Spoiler

I'm basically using this IMC, although the invading barbarians are the bad guys & it's more explicitly based off Moorcock's Corum books with some influence from Dever & Chalk's Lone Wolf/Magnamund - IMC the Drakkarim (Dragon) tribe of the Mabden (Tribes of Man) have just invaded the camnpaign world Ea through a magical Gate in the Chaos Wastes. The Mabden revere the Sword Gods Arioch Xiombarg & Mabelode and are full of holy zeal, determined to wipe the indigenous inhabitants off the face of the planet.