Fictional Representations of Romani People - Fantasy Role-playing Games

Fantasy Role-playing Games

Several role-playing games have adapted the stereotypical perceptions of the Romany peoples and has used them, as plot device, characters and non-player characters within the gothic horror, and fantasy genres. Different Romani groups such as the Spanish Romanies, Romanichal, and Sinti, as well as eastern European Roma groups as the stereotypical view of the Romanies and Romani culture.

• Warhammer Contains groups of Romanies called the Strigany that travel in brightly painted wagons, are fortune tellers who dress in bright coloured clothes and are portrayed as a mysterious and romanticised people.
• Blue Rose RPG Similar to the Warhammer where a group of wanderers called the Roamers travel in brightly painted wagons and tell fortunes.
• Greyhawk Has a race of people called the Rhenee inspired by the gypsies who live on barges.
• Spelljammer The Aperusa are a people based on the European Romani peoples.
• Talislanta Has the Sarista people who are wanderers.
• Ravenloft a Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game based in a Gothic world of Ravenloft where a nomadic race of wanderers called the Vistani are based on horror-film-inspired representation of several Romany groups including Roma, Romanichal and Sinti. The Vistani are the only race of humans that can travel freely between the various realms within the world.
• Pathfinder's signature setting of Golarion has the Varisians, who bear a number of similarities to Romani. A large family of Varisians called the Sczarni are a faction of criminals who bear many of the negative 'Gypsy' stereotypes.
• The Mountebanks of Drakensang: The Dark Eye are loosely based on Gypsy stereotypes.
• Fable II features an orphaned protagonist raised in a permanent Romani settlement and therein trained to be a hero. The residents are shown to wear exotic dress and live exclusively in vardos. Their professions include stonecutting, tattoo inking and general trading. In the game’s inbuilt economy simulator, out of a possible five stars the Gypsy Camp begins with two. In the game’s sequel, the Gypsy Camp is shown to be derelict. A letter found by the new protagonist describes how the residents were forced from their settlement by the game’s antagonist. The player can later help them found a town, named Driftwood, after which they become Eco Warriors.

Role playing games featuring Romanies or draws on them for inspiration in several publications by White Wolf Publishing, a role-playing company specialising in horror based fantasy gaming. Games including;

• World of Darkness a horror-fiction themed role playing game where a nomadic group called the Gypsies are attributed magical powers.
• Vampire: The Masquerade a horror based vampire role-playing game where a group of nomadic vampires called the Ravnos are allegedly the descendants of Gypsies.
• Werewolf: The Apocalypse a horror based role-playing game cross over with another White Wolf role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade. Where a group of Romanies in the game are linked to the descendants of a Werewolf clan called the Silent Striders.