Quote from: HinterWeltThis is close to what I was trying to say but said better by Clash. Essentially, it does not matter unless it matters. Part of the character but not the focus unless it is the focus.

Captain Conundrum (AKA Bill)

Yep, yep, yep! If you put it on your character sheet, make it matter. Otherwise leave it alone.

-clash

Quote from: flyingmiceYep, yep, yep! If you put it on your character sheet, make it matter. Otherwise leave it alone.

-clash

Hmmm...!  I like that as general advice for ANYTHING.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!I like both questions: "What do you need to know?" and "does it matter?"

Most of the time it doesn't matter, so the first question is, effetively, invalid.  In some cases, however, it might be interesting to play a character of a certain faith or tradition (Muslim, Shinto, Priesthood of Helm, Nyarlathotep cultie, whatever), and then the research becomes handy -- if your goal is to work the details in as character color, or just learn somethin'.

Otherwise...:shrug:

Oh, and I agree. If religion is the focus or even an acknowledged part of the character's profile, then by all means, know what you are playing. I am not so offended as others if someone wishes to play a stereo-type but know your stereo-type. I like when my players are knowledgeable about the subject matter but, to be truthful, I have run plenty of Roma campaigns where the players exposure to history of the period is no more than watching Gladiator. I think sometimes folks get a little too caught up in the politically correct view of things. It is a game after all, have fun.

I am not having fun if the GM lectures me on the improper portrayal of a 2000 year old dead religion. Give me pointers, help me out, sure. Lecture me on how I am being insensitive to Maori tribesmen since I improperly portray their religion...meh.

In the end, it is a game and should be fun.

Bill

At the end of the day, I think most folks don't like religion in their games esp real world religions. This maybe because religion complicates things. Me, I'm all about complications...wait this sounded so much better before I wrote it down...

Regards,
David R

I've never had a group of muslims as a party, but I've had a handful of muslim PCs.  

The PC which leaps to mind for me was Lt. Cmdr. Ghasim, the First Officer in a Star Trek game which I was GMing.  He was a devout muslim inspired in part by George Alec Effinger's novels, I think.  He was around for maybe 20 sessions, but made a strong impression.  Other characters found him to be a bit stiff and moralizing (a bit appropriate for the son of a mullah), but he got along fairly well.  One memorable incident was when he was very impressed by a group from one planet, and secretly violated the Prime Directive to slip them a copy of the Qur'an just before leaving.

Quote from: jhkimOne memorable incident was when he was very impressed by a group from one planet, and secretly violated the Prime Directive to slip them a copy of the Qur'an just before leaving.

Sounds like good fodder for a remake of A Piece Of the Action in the future.  "No cracks about The Book."

Quote from: John MorrowSounds like good fodder for a remake of A Piece Of the Action in the future.  "No cracks about The Book."

Hm.  Well, the joke in A Piece of the Action was that the Sigma Iotians were patterning their civilization after a book that clearly was not intended as something to be followed.  

On the other hand, far moreso than the Christian Bible (which is an often contradictory series of anecdotes and rules), the Qur'an is a coherent book intended to explain how to live one's life.  So if the teachings took hold (which they might not), the result would presumably just be a muslim society, which isn't inherently fodder for play.

I suppose there could be some special rules for muslim characters to reflect special abilities and such.

Maybe a muslim fighter could get +3 to hit against jews and christians.

They could get bonuses of decapatation attacks.

They might be able to buy piloting skills at reduced cost if they forego takeoff and landing studies.

Oh yeah, they could get a bonus when it camr to using boxcutters as weapons.

I suppose they could get a special skill called 'suicide bombing" which would let them maximize the causalties caused when setting off a suicide bomb in a bus full of women and children.


(Hey, toadboy posted this as bait, don't whine at me for replying. )

Am I a bad liberal because I thought Nox's reply was funny in a sick kinda way?

Quote from: joewolzAm I a bad liberal because I thought Nox's reply was funny in a sick kinda way?

 Naw - you just got a sick sense of humor.  Has nothing to do with politics. Some things just make us  laugh ..then we feel "bad" about laughing at them.
 Happens all the time.

...and as I said  to the Pundit-man , the thread was NOT started as "bait".  The character of Sayid on "Lost" really is one of my favorite characters on that show. In many ways "Lost" is an rpg campaign  gone whacky and at one point "merged" two hypothetical playing groups. (the fuselage group and the tailies.

 I liked the TRAVELLER universe example - Okay if a steal that for a future NPC scene in my campaign ?  (who posted that one?)

- E.W.C.

Quote from: KoltarI liked the TRAVELLER universe example - Okay if a steal that for a future NPC scene in my campaign ?  (who posted that one?)

- E.W.C.

I did, and yes.  But only if everyone, everywhere, tries to buy the rug and it's a running joke.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!I did, and yes.  But only if everyone, everywhere, tries to buy the rug and it's a running joke.

Extra points for a "save the rug before prayer time!" caper?

Quote from: jhkimOn the other hand, far moreso than the Christian Bible (which is an often contradictory series of anecdotes and rules), the Qur'an is a coherent book intended to explain how to live one's life.

Uh, no it isn't. The Hadith are what lay out most of the specific ethical precepts in application, just as the Baltimore Catechism lays it out for Catholics. The Koran, on the other hand, is filled with the same kind of mealy-mouthed vague crap about being a good person that the Bible is.

Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh, IIRC) is the study of how to interpret the Hadith, including evaluating what importance should be placed on individual statements within the collection and why. Different emphases and interpretations can produce anything from Little Mosque on the Prairie and Irshad Manji to honour-killings and Osama bin Laden using the same basic materials.

The Koran doesn't produce a certain kind of society, any more than the Bible automatically produces Roman Christendom or Calvin's Geneva.

Quote from: fonkaygarryExtra points for a "save the rug before prayer time!" caper?

Hey!  Whatever this guy's talking about, it's good!  Give him a funny hat and a mallet, he's my new Vee-Pee!

Quote from: RPGPunditI know you're still tetoxing from the other sites you're on but here its safe to show your real feelings, you know, and admit you hate the fucker. You'd certainly have good cause to.

RPGPundit

Personally though, I'd be more appreciative of some contributions that weren't of the "Nox-bait" variety.

Quote...and as I said to the Pundit-man , the thread was NOT started as "bait".

You're a liar.  I don't like liars.