Dogs in the Vineyard

"Dogs in the Vineyard is an independently published role-playing game written by D. Vincent Baker and published by Lumpley Games. In the 2004 Indie RPG Awards, Dogs in the Vineyard was awarded Indie RPG of the Year and Most Innovative Game. In 2005 it was nominated for a Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming. It generally encourages narrativist play.

The game is set in "a West that never quite was" - loosely based on the Mormon State of Deseret in pre-statehood Utah. Players are "God's Watchdogs" (Dogs), who travel from town to town delivering mail, helping out the community and enforcing the judgments of the True Faith of the King of Life. This may involve anything from delivering new interpretations to the town's Steward to executing heretics. Dogs have absolute authority within the Faith, but not within the laws of the Territorial Authority, and so their actions can lead to conflict with the government in the East."

Source: Wikipedia, "Dogs in the Vineyard", available under the CC-BY-SA License.

Publisher blurb:

You stand between God’s law and the best intentions of the weak.

You stand between God’s people and their own demons.

Sometimes it’s better for one to die than for many to suffer. Sometimes, Dog, sometimes you have to cut off the arm to save the life.

Does the sinner deserve mercy?

Do the wicked deserve judgement?

They’re in your hands.

DOGS IN THE VINEYARD
roleplaying God’s Watchdogs in a West that never quite was.

150 pages paperback. Digest size. Full color cover, b&w interior, illustrated.

Awards

• Indie RPG of the Year and Most Innovative Game in 2004.
• Nominated for a Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming in 2005.

Related Microbadges
Dogs in the Vineyard fan

Recommended group size
3-5 players, including the GM