Fantasy Rising: The Power of the Fantasy Genre

Symbols and Dreams

Matt Snyder
April 20, 2001

I have a terrible, recurring nightmare. It goes something like this: I'm writing a new column for RPGnet about a much-discussed issue. The much-discussed issue can be summed up as "Is gaming art?" As soon as I write it, hordes of shadowy gamers attack me with hardback books and throw prickly four-sided dice at my feet. "No! Not again," they scream. "We've been over and OVER this. Argghh. Not again.!"

Yes, again.

(With apologies to John Wick on infringing on his trademark one-sentence paragraphs for dramatic effect. That was dramatic, wasn't it?)

To be fair, I'm going to focus on one topic in fantasy gaming -- symbolism. All I ask in return is that you hear me out. Read the column and think about it some, rather than throwing up your arms and rolling up a new Twilight 2000 character.

This plea doesn't pardon me from criticisms of gaming style. I welcome comments, especially from readers who disagree, in the forum below. For now, bear with me, and I hope you'll get something out of this column.

Sometimes a kobold is just a kobold

Yeah, sometimes a kobold is just a kobold. What can I say about the little guys? They're traditional fodder for first-level forays in fantasy gaming. Fun to beat around with big sticks, mostly, though they offer little in reward. Maybe a few coppers.

So where the heck did they come from? What the heck is a kobold, anyway? Yeah, most of us know what we've read in Monster Manuals over the years, to say nothing of the nasty Dragon Mountain kobolds. They're a pretty absurd little enemy for D&D characters, and more than a little cliché when you think about it. But, in fact, kobolds are have a place in German mythology -- they're "household spirits." A quick look up of the word kobold on Dictionary.com says, "Kobold (KOH-bold), noun: A kind of domestic spirit in German mythology, corresponding to the Scottish brownie and the English Robin Goodfellow."

Kobolds were more like fairies than they were dog-faced reptilians with short spears. What's more, they supposedly did housework, of all things. When gamers think of kobolds, the notion of the creatures cleaning the pots and pans and sweeping the floors while everyone's asleep is just plain silly. Silly, perhaps, but the true meaning of the little kobold is lost, mostly so we can have fun bashing their little dog-skulls in on our quest for second level and maybe a +1 dagger.

What does it all mean

"Ok," you might be saying to yourself, "So this guy doesn't like kobolds. So what! Goblins are better anyway."

I'd agree with that goblin assessment, but there's a larger point here, of course. Fantasy gaming is too often the realm of magic and magical creatures taken too literally. In the case of kobolds, they've become nearly meaningless, sometimes comical little villains. That's all.

Think I'm kidding? I've shown a pretty absurd example of a mythological symbol drained of meaning. Kobolds just don't get the respect they deserve. (There's a thought -- I can just picture kobolds picketing with placards that read "PC doesn't mean Politically Correct!" or "Hell no, we won't roll!")

Want to hear another example of an abused symbol? Dragons. Any gamer worth his or her salt should know enough about mythology and symbolism to be able to rattle off a few of the things dragons represent, traditionally. They are cthonic (literally of the earth). They sometimes represent evil, and in Christian myth, they represent Satan (like St. George and the dragon). They represent the natural world over which a conquering hero, a dragonslayer, must master (Beowulf, Jason, and many others).

Dragons are anything but absurd. They're powerful symbols in fantasy. They are probably the most recognizable icon in a tradition rich with magical and symbolic meaning. But how often in fantasy gaming have you considered those meanings when confronting a old red wyrm with your +4 bastard sword? Probably never. And have you ever considered what the struggle against such a symbolic foe represents for your character? Here's a hint: The answer is not 12th level, a boat-load of platinum pieces, and a sword of sharpness.

In truth, there isn't really one answer to what a dragon represents to you, and you aren't limited to traditional symbols. That's the beauty of it. That answer depends on you and your character, and hopefully your fellow gamers. Interpret, reinterpret and share your ideas with on another. I implore you to consider such symbols in gaming, because to do otherwise diminishes the power and allure of our shared hobby.

Now, don't get me wrong. There's a time and place for kobolds. (I can't believe I just wrote that.) What I mean is, there's nothing wrong with having fun -- even "meaningless" fun. I'm saying that gaming shouldn't just stop there; it shouldn't be limited to something you do over pizza and pretzels and comments like the now infamous "Where's the Mt. Dew?!?"

Tilting at windmills?

To that end, I've spent the last several years trying to inject this style of play in campaigns I've run with limited success. Most sessions, while often entertaining, rarely reached that level, but those that did were among the most fulfilling experiences I've while role-playing, and my fellow players agree.

Now, I'm embarking on a whole new quest -- creating an original role-playing game that's rife with symbolism. My colleagues and I have spent the last several weeks working furiously to craft Dreamspire.

As I mentioned in my previous column, Dreamspire is a dark fantasy game in which the players take on the roles of dreaming souls trapped in collective nightmare. They take on archetypes, based on the pieces in chess like rook, knight, bishop, queen, and king, and explore a vast, labyrinthine citadel governed by rival royal families and inhabited by dark nightmarish creatures (no kobolds in here, by God!).

The game is about horror, symbolism and individuation. The setting is literally a dream realm, albeit a very specific and distinct one, and symbols populate the fantastical setting. In fact, we're writing the game with a lexicon of symbolism on every page to encourage players to look for such icons in play. This is a game of layered meanings, spontaneous creation, symbolism and shared interpretation of adventure. We've even built into the system a mechanic that surprises and challenges the players with bizarre events to mimic the strangeness we all experience nightly in our dreams. That should result in a surreal experience ripe for interpretation

With our game, we hope, players will explore their own imaginations and give thought to what it all means. When the dice are put away, we want the players to reflect on what they've done, interpret it, perhaps with elation, triumph or even with a shudder.

Is Dreamspire for everyone? Probably not. Those who aren't interested in this style of play have plenty of avenues, especially in the fantasy genre, to pursue. Naturally, D&D comes to mind as an immensely workable and entertaining game. So does Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Earthdawn, Tribe 8, Ars Magica, and countless other wonderful fantasy games. I love those games (and they're not really mindless -- sorry if I've implied otherwise). But for those intrigued by these ideas, we think you're in for a wonderful experience.

We'll continue crafting the game, and anyone who's interested can email me at matt@rpg.net to learn more. Meanwhile, I'll wait to see your response to my column forum below. I expect to see some "lively" discussion of symbolism in gaming, and anything else fantasy related that's been tickling your fancy, so to speak. Share your experiences with symbols and symbolism in gaming, or bash kobolds with the best of 'em.

Until next month, have a good one,

Matt Snyder