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 itās a bitā¦ hmmm. I guess you could say Iām uncomfortable with a setting based on the Soviet Union by someone who doesnāt know anything about the USSR. He explains it as small states forced to be in absorbed into the empire, thereās 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 weāre at war with a democratic nation. Every child is given a magical stamp, if you go against the empire or do āthought crimesā you get changed markings. You can get good markings back via āsocial credit.ā I feel so uneasy and I feel bad. I donāt want to be a Debby downer or an ass.
He mentioned Marxism but it seems to be evil in this universe (āwith regards to Marxism make sure you donāt get the worst mark on your headā). Also heās encouraging us to play evil/neutral. I donāt 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 Iām surprised this is happening. Do you have advice on how to make the best of this? Maybe combat misinformation subtly in character? Iām freaking out!
Edit: the currency in this āstateā is not gold or typical money, itās 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 āUkraineā areasā¦
I see, I understand where youāre coming from but I donāt know if I can just leave. Thereās only three players (including me)ā¦
maybe you could get them to read Blackshirts & Reds. itās short, if they wonāt read it maybe they arenāt 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. Donāt imply that it contradicts his view though! Just that it could provide āLots of inspiration for campaign directions and NPCsā
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 āfleshed outā alreadyā¦ One day Iāll make my own campaign thats actually based on the USSR with fantasy characteristics.