There are a number of tropes that have become so solidly embedded in gaming that many people assume they are universal. The D&D tropes are firmly imbedded in most computer rpg's and MMO's, and most role-playing games. These tropes include; a division between sorcerous and clerical magic, clerics as healers, dungeon crawling, and level advancement (i.e. your character gaining new and more impressive abilities as you play). Early Christian apologists noted similarities between Mithraic and Christian rituals, but nonetheless took an extremely negative view of Mithraism: they interpreted Mithraic rituals as evil copies of Christian ones. [146] [147] For instance, Tertullian wrote that as a prelude to the Mithraic initiation ceremony, the initiate was given a ritual bath and at the end of the ceremony, received a mark on the forehead. He described these rites as a diabolical counterfeit of the baptism and chrismation of Christians. [148] Justin Martyr contrasted Mithraic initiation communion with the Eucharist: [149] Wherefore also the evil demons in mimicry have handed down that the same thing should be done in the Mysteries of Mithras. For that bread and a cup of water are in these mysteries set before the initiate with certain speeches you either know or can learn. [150]

F.Coarelli (1979) has tabulated forty actual or possible Mithraea and estimated that Rome would have had "not less than 680–690" mithraea. [8] [bq] The philosopher Porphyry (3rd–4thcenturyCE) gives an account of the origins of the Mysteries in his work De antro nympharum ( The Cave of the Nymphs). [92] Citing Eubulus as his source, Porphyry writes that the original temple of Mithras was a natural cave, containing fountains, which Zoroaster found in the mountains of Persia. To Zoroaster, this cave was an image of the whole world, so he consecrated it to Mithras, the creator of the world. Later in the same work, Porphyry links Mithras and the bull with planets and star-signs: Mithras himself is associated with the sign of Aries and the planet Mars, while the bull is associated with Venus. [at] pointing out that there are only fifty known mithraea in the entire city of Rome. J.A.Ezquerra holds that since the two religions did not share similar aims, there was never any real threat of Mithraism taking over the Roman world. [bo] Mythras is derived from one of the seminal fantasy roleplaying game systems with over 30 years of history. Now in a brand-new edition everything you need for exciting adventure in fantastic worlds is presented in one volume.

When class and race are chosen, the worksheet will provide a list of general and professional skills for both to reduce having to refer to the book. As far as I know, all of the little modifiers, such as fighters, barbarians, monks, etc. getting a +5 bonus to Combat Style are included as well.

According to Speidel, Christians fought fiercely with this feared enemy and suppressed it during the late 4thcentury. Mithraic sanctuaries were destroyed and religion was no longer a matter of personal choice. [bf] [bg]Porphyry's] De antro 6 is actually the sole explicit testimony from antiquity as to the intent of Mithraism's mysteries and the means by which that intent was realized. Porphyry, moreover, was an intelligent and well-placed theoretician of contemporary religion, with access to predecessors' studies, now lost. [95]

Before ancient religious reformer Zarathustra (Greek name Zoroaster) gained influence in the region during the 6th century bce, the Iranians had a polytheistic religion, and Mithra was the most important of their gods. First of all, he was the god of contract and mutual obligation. In a cuneiform tablet of the 15th century bce that contains a treaty between the Hittites and the Mitanni, Mithra is invoked as the god of oath. Furthermore, in some Indian Vedic texts the god Mitra (the Indian form of Mithra) appears both as “friend” and as “contract.” The word mitra may be translated in either way, because contracts and mutual obligation make friends. In short, Mithra may signify any kind of interpersonal communication and whatever establishes good relations between people. Mithra was called the Mediator. Mithra was also the god of the sun, of the shining light that beholds everything, and, hence, was invoked in oaths. The Greeks and Romans considered Mithra as a sun god. He was probably also the god of kings. He was the god of mutual obligation between the king and his warriors and, hence, the god of war. He was also the god of justice, which was guaranteed by the king. Whenever people observed justice and contract, they venerated Mithra. The unique underground temples or mithraea appear suddenly in the archaeology in the last quarter of the 1stcenturyCE. [78] (p 118) Earliest archaeology [ edit ] A passage in the Caesares of Julian the Apostate refers to "commandments of Mithras". [af] Tertullian, in his treatise "On the Military Crown" records that Mithraists in the army were officially excused from wearing celebratory coronets on the basis of the Mithraic initiation ritual that included refusing a proffered crown, because "their only crown was Mithras". [69] History and development [ edit ] Mithras before the Roman Mysteries [ edit ] Mithras-Helios, with solar rays and in Iranian dress, [70] with AntiochusI of Commagene. ( Mt.Nemrut, 1stcentury BCE) 4th-century relief of the investiture of the Sasanian king Ardashir II. Mithra stands on a Lotus Flower on the left holding a Barsom. [70] One of my current projects is converting Al-Qadim kits, magic, and monsters to Classic Fantasy. Now THAT's going to be a golden voyage! An early example of the Greek form of the name is in a 4thcenturyBCE work by Xenophon, the Cyropaedia, which is a biography of the Persian king Cyrus the Great. [13]

Hence, a place near to the equinoctial circle was assigned to Mithra as an appropriate seat. And on this account he bears the sword of Aries, which is a martial sign. He is likewise carried in the Bull, which is the sign of Venus. For Mithra. as well as the Bull, is the Demiurgus and lord of generation." — Porphyry [92] Mithra is the next most important deity and may even have occupied a position of near equality with Ahura Mazde. He was associated with the Sun, and in time the name Mithra became a common word for "Sun". Mithra functioned preeminently in the ethical sphere; he was the god of the covenant, who oversaw all solemn agreements that people made among themselves ... In later times Mithra gave his name to Mithraism, a mystery religion. [12] i think my players liked the class structure. I personally am not a giant fan, but as a GM I don't have to worry about it as much I still have to think about healing a bit, which I think is probably a solvable issue.