Thar be dragons (and dungeons)

Posted by admin on Oct 29, 2005 in From the Editor | 0 comments

Acting, impersonations, skits — all of these require role-playing. Generally, these are nothing to worry about. However, there is a seemingly more sinister brand of role-playing out there. Fantasy role-playing games (or RPGs) can be fun and exciting, but there are some of which it is best to be wary, such as the famous Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), the grandfather of all the lesser RPGs. The evangelical right will tell you that this game is recruitment for Satanism (http://www.chick.com/articles/dnd.asp), while those who have actually worked with the game or its derivatives will tell you that it has no such leanings (http://www.locksley.com/6696/rpgsatan.htm). Well, as an evangelical, slightly right-leaning Christian, and as a gamer, I’d like to
offer a different perspective.

Last semester, I was introduced to D&D v3.5 by some Christian friends. We played a great campaign lasting most of the semester, and learned a lot about the game. Here are some facts to dispel some fears a discerning Christian may hold:

1. It is a fantasy game, and every action performed is imaginary.
2. The game does involve violence. Pacifists should not involve themselves.
3. Magic forms a significant part of the world and gameplay.
4. None of said magic requires any incantation, ritual, or other physical participation by a player. A player would say “cast ‘cure light wounds’ on ___” and that would be it.
5. Role-playing is a central aspect of the game. Discussions “in character” are the main source of entertainment for the group.
6. The book of enemies to face in game (Monster Manual) does include undead, diabolical, demonic, and aberrant creatures. These non-playable characters (NPCs) only enter the story at the discretion of the Dungeon Master (DM: the narrator of the collective story being created by the characters).
7. Characters in the game do die, and this can sorely disappoint the actual players, but an emotionally stable individual should be able to handle this setback.
8. The fantasy world in which the game is played is a polytheistic one, which does not resemble our own reality in terms of causality and divinity. Yet again, if the game group does not want any pagan gods in the story line, the DM can just leave them out.

Basically, the story goes as the DM narrates, taking into account all the decisions of the players, their own views and ideas, and whatever the DM himself wants to happen. It is like a novel with multiple writers and one final editor. If a group wants to keep the story clean according to Christian standards, the rules completely allow that. The rules of the game do not force anything. Of course, discretion is required. Emotional involvement can be harmful, but as long as one can retain a distinction between reality and fantasy, it should not be a problem.

From my perspective, I would say the game is potentially harmful, but can be enjoyed responsibly. So, when I claim to be a Christian D&D player, do not look at me as if I am a possessed Satanist about to commit a massive homicidal rampage ended by sepukku. Christians can play this game too; we just need to exercise discretion and discernment.