From RPGNet: a discussion of themes in the new version of Mage: the Awakening. There was discussion of the “matrixyness” of the old version of Mage versus the new, and then this interesting observation:
I wouldn’t say that either of the Mage games are inspired by Matrix. Rather, I think that both nMage and Matrix are inspired by Gnosticism.
Consider this:
The (Fallen) world is a lie, a prison built by the Exarchs/machines to keep the Sleepers/human race unaware of what’s really going on. Only a few Awakened/people who have been unplugged know the truth, and they have ways and means to influence the Fallen World/Matrix. These people are fighting a war against their jailkeepers, the Seers of the Throne/Agents.
The system of the Lie/the Matrix itself is the enemy. It’s keeping the Sleepers/humans blind and stupid. Everyone we haven’t awakened/unplugged is potentially an enemy, because the other side has ways to control them (Profane Urim/Agent morphing).
The goal is to awaken/free as many people as possible. One day, when we’ve found the Final Key/the One, we will all be able to transcend our prison.
This shouldn’t be really very surprising, since there is a stat called “Gnosis” after all.
I should also mention that John Kirk, who had written up the “RPG Design Patterns” document, is designing Gnostigmata (1 2 3 4 5), an RPG pitting Gnostic-fu against Catholic-fu.
June 1st, 2006 at 7:52 am
Considering that the Wachowski brothers have played oMage, I can say it goes the other way around.