Biblical RPG

[Ramoth]

I noticed that there are a few posts in this forum about whether there are any RPG games that are suitable for a Christian.

 

Well, since last year I’ve been intending to create my own biblical tabletop RPG. I’ve never played an RPG game and there’s quite a lot I don’t know about the hobby, but the basic concept is very appealing to me. So I’ve been slowly developing my own version. The rules or mechanics of the game aren’t exactly the same as what is usually seen out there, but they follow some similar lines.

 

But what do I mean by a Biblical RPG? Well, the idea is that the players would not portray any real biblical character, but rather fictional characters who could plausibly have existed in the biblical period being depicted.

 

I would always make it clear that, although players might “witness” some real events, the game is composed of fictional situations.

 

For example, I had the idea for a campaign set in the year 46 C.E. The story begins at nightfall, in the house of an elderly Christian named Daniel who, ironically, had received the gift of prophecy at Pentecost of 33. The brothers of the congregation in Jerusalem arrive at Brother Daniel’s house, the meeting begins, and that day they even had the presence of one of the apostles who had lived with Jesus — Matthew. He had finished writing the Gospel a few years earlier and used his writings as material for encouragement when visiting congregations like this one.

 

However, during the meeting, temple guards burst in and start searching the house. They were looking for something specific, but they don’t find it. Meanwhile, they take some Christians away for questioning, including Daniel himself, but not before he leaves a clue for the congregation about what was happening. The players’ first mission is to search for a scroll that Brother Daniel had written. This scroll contains a riddle that only true students of the Scriptures would be able to decipher.

 

Daniel had received a prophecy about an important mission that would completely change the Christian ministry. However, for safety, he had prepared a series of scrolls scattered throughout Israel with riddles. Each riddle leads to the next scroll! The RPG players need to travel across first-century Israel, interact with NPCs, witness real historical events, visit places and meet people who appear in the Christian Greek Scriptures, deal with persecution, and unravel Daniel’s riddles. In doing so, they help to fulfil a prophecy. By taking part in this activity, the players trigger a series of situations that contribute to a real and meaningful biblical event that we all know.

 

Participating in the game helps players learn more about general history, events, characters, and biblical contexts, and although the prophecy and storyline are fictional, the players come to understand a truth about Jehovah: He allows us to have our freedom to make decisions while maintaining control over the final outcome of the history He is guiding with His people.

 

But this is just one campaign! This kind of game can be applied to many different eras or storylines! For example, we could have a tabletop RPG campaign set in the wilderness during the Exodus. Or a campaign in which the players witness events from Jesus’ ministry while dealing with other issues of that historical period. The possibilities are practically endless!

 

What do you think of this kind of game? Do you have suggestions or advice on the best way to create and carry out projects like this? I’d like to hear your thoughts.

[Michał]

I don’t know a lot of RPG games but that sounds like a lot of fun.