Engel?  wow... that's a game that sank without a trace.  Christian Apologia: The RPG.

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalChristian Apologia: The RPG.

Actually, considering the truth about the "angels" in the game, there's no evidence whatsoever that Christianity is any more valid in the setting than any other religion. It's science fiction, not fantasy.

Right now I'd like to play anything at all...

Middle of the school year and I've yet to encounter a play group.  I've decided to stay the hell away from most of the FLGSes in the area for personal reasons, which makes it hard to meet new players.

I heard a couple guys talking game in the student canteen a week ago.  Might strike up a conversation, see what they're up to.

Enjoy what you have, you lucky SOBs!

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalEngel?  wow... that's a game that sank without a trace.  Christian Apologia: The RPG.

I'd argue it's more blasphemous than an apologia.

Well, I would argue that, but I fear it would help sell it to you...

My main issue with it was that it was a massive bait and switch.

Wasn't it that it suggested it was all about the christian apocalypse and instead it was kind of a post-apocalyptic RPG where most of the action involving God and the angels took place off-screen?

I got the impression that it was an apologia because, like most "heretical" games it failed to really engage with the religious material and say anything interesting about it.

It was like Dogma or The Life of Brian... it doesn't really talk about the big issues but some of the less controversial stuff going on out in the suburbs.

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalWasn't it that it suggested it was all about the christian apocalypse and instead it was kind of a post-apocalyptic RPG where most of the action involving God and the angels took place off-screen?

Well, the PCs actually are Engel, but...

Spoiler

they have been created by the Church from stolen children through the genetic engineering and nanotech of a forgotten military supersoldier project, and brainwashed into believing that they are messengers from God. If these "angels" ever discover the truth, they are drugged into thinking that they are returning to Heaven and then incinerated.

I've just browsed through some Engel books, and it always hit me as basically yet another WoD-ish conspiracy game with lots of class, erm, power groups, with a rather bad post-apocalyptic twist. And done with D20, for maximum market penetration.

If you really want to play in the foot steps of angels, Seventh Seal isn't all too bad. Just give your players some Preacher comics before and you're set

Ah... lovely.  These are supposedly protagonists?

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalAh... lovely.  These are supposedly protagonists?

Like I said, my issue with it is the massive bait and switch.

For Angels, Children of Fire is the best thing out there and has the added benefit of being free.

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalAh... lovely.  These are supposedly protagonists?

Yup. That's admittedly a heck of a twist to spring on the players if they weren't aware of it in advance.

AH... now Preacher's one of the few works I can think of that's about God but which really engages with concepts from Christian theology in an interesting way.

EDIT: You just have to get over all the "shit eating faggot" remarks.

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalAH... now Preacher's one of the few works I can think of that's about God but which really engages with concepts from Christian theology in an interesting way.

Really?  Perhaps I underestimated it, when I browsed it there seemed to be a lot of stuff trying a bit too hard to shock me.

Hellblazer didn't use to be too bad on the topic, but in a sense what is there to say?

I have always wanted to play Paranoia, but have never met anyone running or willing to run it.

Preacher's a bit juvenile but you have to look at the final volume to really get the point.  Actually, now that I think about Russell T. Davies' The Second Coming made the same point...

When it comes to commenting on Christianity there are four ways that an Atheist can go.

1) Rejection - the view that all of these beliefs are irrational and as such there's really no point in dwelling on any of them.

2) Academicisation - the view that christian myth should be treated much like any other kind of mythology.  You mine it for symbolism and for anthropological data but it's no more true than Norse myth.

3) Apologia - the view taken by Monty Python and Dogma; regardless of whether or not God exists, this is still good solid moral philosophy that has a value in our society.

4) Politicisation - the view that not only is religion worthless because god doesn't exist or isn't worth believing in but the actual substance of Christianity's moral teachings are so bankrupt and distorted that even if God did exist he would not be worthy of anything other than toppling as ruler of the Universe.


1 doesn't lead to art, 2 leads to anthropological works, 3 is the favoured path and 4 is surprisingly rare.

Quote from: SosthenesI've just browsed through some Engel books, and it always hit me as basically yet another WoD-ish conspiracy game with lots of class, erm, power groups, with a rather bad post-apocalyptic twist. And done with D20, for maximum market penetration.

I like the twist, though, and the setting in itself is wonderful. But yes, as I've said before, that mangled d20 variant used in the English translation would have to go.