DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS (TM) AND OTHER FANTASY ROLE GAMES

What are Dungeons & Dragons and similar games?

D&D is a fantasy role-playing game created by Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax who organized the Tactical Studies Rules Association in 1973. It was an evolutionary step from earlier wargames or military simulations. The game was first marketed 1974. It gained great popularity among teens and young adults, particularly after Random House began distributing the game in 1979. Dozens of other companies have since published hundreds of similar games under a variety of titles, such as DragonQuest(TM), RuneQuest(TM), Tunnels and Trolls(TM), and Villains and Vigilantes(TM). The games fall into many genres:

These games are played by groups of two or more people; 4 to 7 are typical. One player is the Game Master (GM) who defines the imaginary environment in which the game is played. Sometimes the GM is referred to as Dungeon Master, Storyteller, Referee, etc. He/she creates a make-believe world through which the players will move and have their adventures. The players each create a single imaginary character, defining their shape, race, intellectual and physical powers, armament, protective devices, supplies and materials. The GM decides what traps, obstacles and encounters the characters will meet.

Adventures may include the rescuing of people, the quest for money, treasure, power, knowledge and sometimes even survival of the character. Each player makes ethical, philosophical and moral decisions on behalf of her/his character as the game develops. The GM describes the environment, the events and the actions of supporting characters (also called non-player characters or NPC's). The players describe their own character's actions and reactions. The GM then tells them the results. Many games use the rolling of dice in order to resolve conflicts and to determine the results of various actions (e.g. trying to disarm a trap or leap across a chasm, etc).

Players retire at the end of each session, with the treasures that their character has obtained. Future sessions begin where the previous session quit. Games can continue for years.

The society in which Dungeons and Dragons is played is pre-scientific. Weapons are at the spear and crossbow level. Some characters have telepathic powers, and can cast magic spells. Other fantasy role playing games are set in the wild west, in the far future, etc.

Who Plays Fantasy Role Games?

Players are usually in their teens to early 30's, who may be above average in intelligence, creativity and imagination. (Perhaps persons with these qualities are naturally drawn to the games; perhaps playing the game develops these factors). Many younger players will meet for a game once a week; others once or twice a month. The session might last about 6 hours.

Attacks by Conservative Christian Ministries

Starting in the late 1970's, these games came under severe attack by Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christians who alleged that they contain "occult" content and inspire people to suicide or criminal activity.

After the death by suicide of Bink Pulling, a teen-ager in Virginia, his mother Patricia Pulling organized BADD (Bothered about Dungeons and Dragons). She blamed her son's death on the game. She collected anecdotal accounts and newspaper reports of suicides and criminal activities by people who played various fantasy role playing games, and started a campaign to restrict the availability of the games. A second group actively opposing gaming is the Cult Crime Action Network (CCAN).

The games have been accused of:

By the early 1990's, the furor died down. The games are still attacked periodically by a variety of a Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christian TV programs and ministries. For example, the Christian Life Ministries has said that Dungeons and Dragons contains many references to cannibalism and sadism. Actually, where such topics are discussed in fantasy role playing games, they are not promoted but are shown in a bad light. BADD is apparently defunct at this time. See the snail mail list at the end of this page.

In 1996-JUN, fantasy role playing game industry in Italy came under attack. As in the earlier attacks in North America, games have been accused of causing teen suicide, and distorting minds. They falsely claim that RPG players usually impersonate killers or death-row inmates. In response, a "Stop the Nonsense" campaign has been mounted. See: http://www.sincretech.it/3M/Stop-Non-Sense/Index-English.html

Attacks by Conservative Christian Authors

Most books on Satanism and the Occult by Fundamentalist or other Evangelical Christian authors still attack the games. Joan Hake Robie writes (1): "Dungeons and Dragons is not a game. Some believe it to be a teaching [sic] the following:". She then lists 22 activities which she apparently believes to be wholly evil, from assassination to voodoo; from blasphemy to witchcraft. Neil Anderson & Steve Russo (2) claim that the game negatively "affects a person's self-image and personality and opens him to satanic influence.". Bob Larson mentions (3) that young people who call his radio talk show often mention fantasy games as "their introduction to Satanism". Johanna Micaelsen (4) criticizes their "promotion of occultism and violence".

What Do Studies Show about Suicide and Criminal Acts by Gamers?

The claims by conservative Christian groups that gamers commit suicide or engage in criminal acts do not appear to hold water:

Are Fantasy Role Games part of "The Occult"?

Groups opposing fantasy games often criticize the alleged occult content of the games. They commonly claim that games' rule books include poison recipes, detailed spell casting instruction, methods of summoning demons, etc. They do not. A gamer who wants his character to cast a spell in order to protect itself from attack might simply say to the GM "my character is casting a spell now." Note that neither the player nor their character actually casts a spell or practices magick. The player simply describes what the character is doing. Gaming is basically an adult version of "make believe". It does not promote real activities.

Books by Evangelical or Fundamentalist Christian authors often promote a curious belief system about what they term "the occult". They view Satanism at its core. They look upon many diverse occultic activities as performing a recruitment function for Satanists; these include astrology, fantasy role playing games, heavy metal rock music, even the "Care Bears" and "Smurfs". A second religion (Wicca - often called "white" Witchcraft by the public) is often portrayed as part of this recruitment campaign.

In reality, Satanism is a religion which is totally unrelated to Wicca. The latter does not recruit members in the community; most covens do not permit people under the age of 18 to join. The remaining pastimes listed above are unrelated to each other. "The Occult" that they describe simply does not exist as a separate entity. What does exist is an unrelated and unconnected list of two religions, one type of game, one type of music, a variety of methods of foretelling the future and some imaginative and charming children's cartoons.

Return to the OCRT home page; return to the "HOT" religious topics page.

References Cited

Some of the following references are not completely defined at this time:
  1. Joan Hake Robie, The Truth about Dungeons and Dragons, Starburst Publishers, Lancaster PA, 1994. P. 67
  2. Neil Anderson & Steve Russo, The Seduction of our Children, Harvest House, Eugene OR, 1991, P.78
  3. Bob Larson, Satanism, The Seduction of America's Youth, Thomas Nelson, Nashville, 1989, P. 49
  4. Johanna Michaelsen, Like Lambs to the Slaughter, Harvest House, Eugene OR, 1989, P. 232
  5. Michael Stackpole, The Truth About Role-Playing Games in Shawn Carlson & Gerald Larue, Satanism in America, Gaia Press, El Cerrito CA, P. 241
  6. Suzanne Abyeta & James Forest Relationship of role-playing games to self-reported criminal behavior, , Psychological Reports, Issue 69, 1991, P. 1187
  7. Associated Gifted and Creative Children of California
  8. Kristine Thompson, "Role Playing Games: Expect the Unexpected, Gifted Children Newsletter, Vol 5, #2, 1984-FEB.
  9. American Association of Suicidology
  10. James A. Mercy, Chief, Intentional Injuries Team, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA, (reaffirmed by his successor, Dr. Patrick O'Carroll)
  11. Arthur J. Lips, Mental Health Consultant, Health and Welfare, Ottawa, Canada
  12. Dr. S. Kenneth Schonbert, ???, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY
  13. CAR-PGa, c/o Paul Cardwell Jr. 1127 Cedar, Bonham, TX 75418.

Internet Home Pages

The following WWW pages are "game positive":

Snail Mail Resources

Among the many Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian groups in the United States which oppose fantasy role-playing games are:

Return to the OCRT home page; return to the "HOT" religious topics page.