why would it hurt me—or was it real?

!!!!

You've come to the right place Anon!

If you're new to Godgame in general, it's a digital card game that was created by SocksBX, SnoruntPyro, and Rox300, on Tabletop Simulator

It's typically a 2-4 player game where everyone has cards they can use to attack others. The fun part is that the cards can be anything and they often have some crazy effects/powers. Theres a ton of videos on Youtube if you want to watch how the game is usually played!

NOW! Godgame TTRPG is where the mechanics of Godgame are formatted into a tabletop roleplay system! So some things differ from how they'd usually be played and theres more emphasis on character and story interaction.

There are actually a few GGTTRPGs out there but the Official Main Campaign is gm'ed by SocksBX with the players being KuuEater, RenoBee, and RobbyDude

(There is also a parallel campaign that takes place 3 months before the start of main campaign called Obsidian Eclipse, that's gm'ed by SnoruntPyro with players Socks, Dyvone, and theRealYocow)

For people just getting into GGTTRPG, I'd recommend watching the Player's perspective first! That way you can experience the story as the players do

Here's a playlist of the current streams from KuuEater's POV:

Each episode stream ranges from 4 to 6 hours long, but they have bathroom and water breaks through out!

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Socks also has their own POV uploaded as well! I personally, don't watch it often because theres a lot of Behind the Scenes stuff that gets shown and I don't want to accidentally spoil myself since I watch the player's perspective. But! I do highly recommend check it out if you're interested in seeing behind the curtain on how Socks runs the game!

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Anyway! I hope this helped you Anon! Godgame TTRPG is crazy to pitch to people but I really really love it. The story is so interesting, the characters are fantastic, and Socks, Kuu, Reno, and Robby are such amazing storytellers who are so funny to watch but also can deliver really emotional moments

Not a silly question at all!

Godgame TTRPG main campaign is currently on Hiatus! Storywise, the team is in the end game section of Chapter 5

One of the players is moving so they've put the campaign on hold till that's all done

I don't know when it'll come off of haitus but I'm hoping later this month. Only time will tell when it comes back but I would recommend following the socials of the GM and players (and join their discord servers if you're so inclined) to keep up to date with everything!

They're all on Bluesky!

GM: Socksbx

Players: KuuEater (Player POV streams), RenoBee, RobbyDude

(also tysm for the google drive master reference!! super helpful!)

Why Eden is a Cult w/ Evidence

Note: This is speculation, as nothing is directly stated. Nobody says the word "cult", but it is heavily implied.

So, the first step to figuring out if Eden is a cult is by comparing it to real-life cults.

The tell-tale traits of a real-life cult:

The leader is treated as uniquely enlightened or infallible. Their authority is absolute and usually comes from an unverifiable source or "special revelation".

Questioning the leader's actions is treated as a betrayal.

The leader may dictate massive personal life decisions for members.

Newcomers are showered with attention.

The outside world is portrayed as dangerous/evil/doomed, making the cult appear to be the only safe haven.

Now, let's directly compare this to Eden, using transcript lines to back it up:

The leader is treated as enlightened and infallible.

The leader, in this case, is The Father. We watch his words haunt Simon at his worst. These beliefs have been so far ingrained in Simon's head that he is forever traumatized over them, thinking of them even in situations that do not directly trigger the memory:

His words were treated as law; they are framed as law, which makes total sense, because, according to the wiki:

He is their leader.

On top of that, The Father is preaching about mystical "restoration from the dead" doctrine that Simon didn't buy into, but how many other people did? The Father is framed as "enlightened", because... how could he be so sure about this clearly "magical" phrase? These people believe him to be all-knowing enough that the Father is very comfortable with stating illogical things with his full chest:

Questioning the leader is considered betrayal

Simon questions their fanatical actions, led by the Father, who is then immediately met with "oh my god, how could you!?"

The leader dictates massive life decisions

Uh, that's a pretty big command to bestow upon your people. I also think that dictating what happens to their corpses is also pretty massive. Oh, and sending them to bomb a station. Yeah, that's pretty bad.

Newcomers are showered with affection

Simon's mom was convincing Simon into going to Eden, even when Simon was not feeling up for it / was uneasy about it. This is a subtle implication that Eden was most likely in contact with his mother, and telling her all the ways they'd love to have her family join them.

They were lovebombing his mother.

They'd love it there, because they were told that they would.

The outside world is portrayed as doomed

The Father is demonizing all outsiders (the COI) and creating a reliance on himself for information about the outside world.

"They won't tell you but I will!" <- Classic cult manipulation tactic.

I also have one more point of comparison, and it's a big one:

According to International Cultic Studies (ISCA Today), cults may place the cult leader in the role of a parent (the FATHER).

They will also abuse the "family dynamic" in a way that benefits them (in this case, keeping control by emotionally manipulating the populace):

This isn't just Simon saying "sorry brother" in terms of a loose term of endearment, because we get this line later on, which sounds more like a dis-ownership of family:

These are not related people. They are not blood relatives. There is a family dynamic between people on the station, seeded by the Father. Simon isn't just Simon. He has a title, and it isn't the Butcher.

He is Brother Simon. They are religious fanatics worshiping a man who believes he can bring a tree back from the dead, who will go as far as to commit mass atrocities in his name.

Simon was heavily implied to be a cult member.

Called out directly by C.O.I characters. To be fair, organized religions can also have dogmas, but the disdain given from the C.O.I hint at a Us-vs-Them mentality of exclusivity where the C.O.I is othered. Also that the dogma of Eden is not widespread.

[NO SCREENSHOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE I WAS NOT SET UP FOR IT ON THIS DEVICE

Upon powering up the terminal, Simon can read the following message:

We won't be be returning to the grove, brother."]

A call back to a place of worship/final repose. The grove is framed like an ideal to attain, the paradise lost that, perhaps, soldiers of Eden must strive for (<- purely speculative on my part). A reward of sort for following the dogma or dying for the Tree -> A promise that can easily be turned toward extremitism.

(spoiler blurred)

This snippet of dialog reinforces how religion was most likely a core value in Eden to the point of being overbearing.

Was highlighted above ad the words of the Father being law -> Cult leadership behavior

But I wanted to also point out the catechism-like nature of this part. It seems to be one of the core tenet of a religious belief about being rewarded at the end of suffering (returning to the grove).

most noticably, his repetitive circling motion with his thumb over his empty knife holster (which he often touches for reassurance in a kind of muscle-memory reaching for a weapon that isn't there)

then his light tracing of the map, brushing his fingers over it to situate himself, and just the delicate way he handles everything in general, like he's trying hard not to damage anything (he's very physical/visual, he also uses his hands when gesturing directions)

when he finds the Eden pendant he ties it around his wrist to keep it secure, but he also holds it enclosed in his palm. he keeps it tight in his fist under his thumb. part reverence part anchor to home

SHOW ME YOUR TEETH