Dice on the Nile: Roleplaying History

As promised, here is a recording of our recent ‘Dice on the Nile’: Roleplaying History’ event.

The event investigated the use of Dungeons & Dragons 5e to engage with the history of the early Islamic world, with panelists considering the challenges posed by the use of historical settings in roleplaying games. Our panel was:

  • Dr Jennifer Cromwell. Senior Lecturer in Ancient History at Manchester Metropolitan University, specialist in socio-economic history in Byzantine and early Islamic Egypt, in particular in village and monastic communities.

  • Alon Dar. PhD candidate at Leiden University, examining Egypt and Iraq before and after the Islamic conquests.

  • Dr Edmund Hayes. Postdoctoral researcher at Leiden University, specialist in early Islamic history, especially on Shi’i history, working on the relationship between fiscal policy and religious protest in early Islam.

  • Dr Grzegorz Ochała. Marie Curie Fellow at Leiden University, researching the history of the Nile Valley in late antiquity and the Middle Ages, whose current project centres on identity and memory in Christian Nubia.

  • Dr Eline Scheerlinck. PhD candidate at Leiden University, using Greek and Coptic papyri to explore the relationship between elites and local communities in early Islamic Egypt.