Exile Game Studio

[Nur-Ab-Sal]

Hi all!

I have prepred a fairly detailed adventure which will form the start of a longer campaign for my own groups. I was thinking about doing some nifty layout-magic and submitting it (either here on the forums or to Exile Games). Here's the catch:

It is based heavily on Mormon ideas and beliefs, which it twists and mutilates to the extreme. As I am living in Germany and there are no Mormons around I know (of), this is not going to be a problem for my own group(s). However, since I am touching religious issues with my ideas, I suppose people might be offended, so I'd really like some feedback on whether you guys think I could/should submit/publish it once the campaign is complete...?

Thanks in advance

[Nestor]

First of all, welcome aboard!

Second, religion and politics are always sensitive subjects to broach in gaming, especially when you're dealing with genres set in the "real world." For instance, I recall the lengthy discussion sparked about the depiction of Nazism in HEX when news of a German edition came out.

Without knowing specifics as to what you've composed, it's hard to say whether the material is truly offensive, but the chance of it happening is always there.

Two things I may suggest: First, is it necessary for the religion to be explicitly Mormon? A common tactic traditionally used in comic books and such is to create a fictional group to take the place of the "real" one. That's why Batman lives in Gotham City (instead of NYC) and Dr. Doom is the ruler of Latveria.

Barring that, perhaps you could ensure to include a well-written and explicit disclaimer at the beginning explaining that your work is fiction and does not intend to portray the real-world workings of the religion.

Hope this helps.
_________________


"I've got a degree in kicking arse and I'd have a doctorate in not giving a damn if I'd bothered to attend the ceremony."

[Fooboyx]

Heh. Are the Mormons the bad guys? I know a few, but Mormons in the 1930s were VERY different than the Mormons that made them famous. They were trying to play down their polygamous past and integrate into American society. Internally, the church began to develope a strong, almost corporate like organization, and to standardize beliefs and practices to eradicate the odd balls that were taking advantage of doctrines and beliefs. They managed to keep the KKK out of Salt Lake City, and they developed a complex and effective welfare system to deal with the effects of the depression. By 1936, most Mormons had radios, cars, and fedoras in the same ratio as other western state Americans.

They also had the first KFC franchise in America. Utah-- A Pretty Great State

[Nur-Ab-Sal]

Well, basically, they're neutral...

I was planning on using the golden plates as a background - I mean, they are golden, written in an ancient language, have to be translated through specific crystals and they tell of lost civilisations!
The thing is that I#d have to re-interpret some aspects of Moroni and the Golden Tabelt to HEXify them...

Also, the Temple and the Tabernacle make such a good backdrop for pulp action!

There is supposed to be a bad guy Mormon, but he is rather a bad guy because he belongs to the Terra Arcanum and less so because he is a Mormon - and then, there are also the REALLY bad guys showing up, coming aaall the way from good Old Germany...
_________________
"I have wrought my simple plan
If I give one hour of joy
To the boy who's half a man,
Or the man who's half a boy.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World

[Fooboyx]

There are so many similiarities in early Mormonism to hermetic orders, kabbalism, and free masonry. As an active Mormon, I think your idea is kind of awesome. Ha! It's totally ripe for pulp action. I can't wait to hear how it goes.

[Fooboyx]

I had a villain in a Sidewinder campaign disappear to Utah and reinvent himself as a polygamist. The characters tracked him down after years of searching (they REALLLLLLY hated this guy) only to arrive just in time for his funeral. He died of natural causes after fathering 8 children. I was less popular with the group after that...