Gaming Culture Obsession
At the start of this year, Helldiver 2 had a stronghold on gaming culture like never before. Memes inspired by the outlandish gameplay of Arrowhead Games’ smash hit flooded social media for weeks. This comedic element was not by chance; it was ingrained in the game’s DNA, stemming from the tabletop RPG that served as its inspiration: Drakar och Demoner (Dragonbane), a Swedish adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons that remains playable to this day.
Influence of Tabletop Games
According to a PCGamer report earlier this year, Johan Pilestedt, the CEO and creative director of Arrowhead Games, mentioned that his inclination towards comedy in game design was heavily influenced by his experiences with tabletop games. Pilestedt highlighted in a recent interview with the New York Times that his childhood adventures with Drakar och Demoner laid the foundation for the collaborative storytelling style that would define Helldivers 2.
The Origins of Drakar och Demoner
Initially published in 1982 by Target Games, Drakar och Demoner was created in response to the growing popularity of Dungeons & Dragons. Capitalizing on the linguistic barrier between English-speaking RPGs and Swedish gamers, Target Games introduced this fantasy tabletop RPG using the Basic Role-Playing system developed by Chaosium, the masterminds behind Call of Cthulhu.
Evolution and Legacy
Over the years, Drakar och Demoner has seen six editions and several publishers, with its most recent home being Free League. In celebration of the game’s 40th anniversary in 2022, Free League launched a Kickstarter campaign for an English-language version of Drakar och Demoner, raising an impressive $700,000. Although the detailed history of the game is predominantly available in Swedish, enthusiasts can delve deeper into it through a book by Orvar Säfström and Jimmy Wilhelmsson.
The Spirit of Dragonbane
Free League describes Dragonbane as a game that promotes a playstyle centered around “mirth and mayhem roleplaying.” Focusing on high fantasy, the game emphasizes minimal pre-game preparation and encourages players to take bold and absurd actions during gameplay. Unlike traditional RPG classes, professions in Dragonbane only affect initial stats and do not limit skill progression. The game features a unique d20 system where players aim to roll low for success. For a detailed comparison of Dragonbane and D&D, check out Jasmine Bhullar’s video analysis.
Although not a carbon copy of the game played by the Helldiver 2 development team decades ago, the influence of Dragonbane (or Drakar och Demoner) is undeniable. The next time you encounter a Helldiver meme, remember, it traces its roots back to a Swedish tabletop game.