D&D Campaign set in the “Soviet Union”
D&D Campaign set in the “Soviet Union”
So my first DnD campaign is on hiatus so another player has started their own for us to play in the meantime. My DM for this new campaign is explaining the world and it’s a bit… hmmm. I guess you could say I’m uncomfortable with a setting based on the Soviet Union by someone who doesn’t know anything about the USSR. He explains it as small states forced to be in absorbed into the empire, there’s one rich area and as you get farther away the poorer it gets, the worst area is described as Ukraine. I guess in that area you can be working the land and then some guy forces you to give him money. Our Soviet Union is very repressive and we’re at war with a democratic nation. Every child is given a magical stamp, if you go against the empire or do “thought crimes” you get changed markings. You can get good markings back via “social credit.” I feel so uneasy and I feel bad. I don’t want to be a Debby downer or an ass.
He mentioned Marxism but it seems to be evil in this universe (“with regards to Marxism make sure you don’t get the worst mark on your head”). Also he’s encouraging us to play evil/neutral. I don’t know what to do. I want to make the best of it but damn, I literally play as a Marxist dog in the hiatus playthrough (the current DM is a fellow player on that campaign) so I’m surprised this is happening. Do you have advice on how to make the best of this? Maybe combat misinformation subtly in character? I’m freaking out!
Edit: the currency in this “state” is not gold or typical money, it’s food rations. So when I said if you live in a poorer region and a guy comes demanding money I mean some state official haggles you for taxes which is paid in rations. This haggling seems to only take place in the poorest “Ukraine” areas…
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If there's a Nazi at the table and 10 other people sitting there playing D&D with him, then you have a table with 11 Nazis
I see, I understand where you’re coming from but I don’t know if I can just leave. There’s only three players (including me)…
maybe you could get them to read Blackshirts & Reds. it's short, if they won't read it maybe they aren't worth your time
To piggyback on the other comment, tell him black shirts and reds has a lot of information in it that will really help him drive home what it was like. Don't imply that it contradicts his view though! Just that it could provide "Lots of inspiration for campaign directions and NPCs"
You and @miz are probably right, although he has been working on this campaign since COVID so he might not even bother reading it having everything “fleshed out” already… One day I’ll make my own campaign thats actually based on the USSR with fantasy characteristics.