German government is backing a Battlestar Galactica game to educate aspiring diplomats

Projekt Exodus will see 80 people participate in a five-day sci-fi scenario aboard a retired destroyer

Jamie Barber and Mary Mcdonnell in the 2004 series of Battlestar Galactica

(Rex Features)

Either the German government is full of sci-fi fans or the recent reimagining of Battlestar Galactica has tangible real world relevance.

The German Federal Agency for Civic Education is funding a five-day getaway aboard a retired destroyer for 80 aspiring diplomats — they'll be role-playing Ron Moore's post-apocalyptic TV series.

Project Exodus, which will begin on February 4th, will see participants immerse themselves in a character that will enable them to explore the political topics the show interrogated — freedom, safety, ideology, government.

The Mölders destroyer will host the game

(Wikimedia)

The organisers told the Verge that the aim is to "experience problems of our society from a completely new viewpoint".

"They will be confronted with new situations and impressions that will leave a lasting mark on their thinking."

The role playing itself will last two and half days, with 1 and a half set aside for preparation and one for reflection.

Assuming the project sort of sticks to the script, participants can expect to try to set up a civilian government in the face of devastating and ongoing war (maybe with a cyborg species) and develop strategies and solutions for ideological guerrilla warfare.

It's not the first time a high-concept game has been backed by a government; Sweden offers funding to similar games and, as the Verge points out, some American Civil War reenactments approach larping (live-action role-playing).

And while this is a fresh project for the GFAFC, the cultural bureau has done things like publishing comics.

Neither is Battlestar Galactica new to being taken seriously; it was designed to recontextualise the post-9/11 political landscape, and was even given a proper send off by the UN when it finished back in 2009.

Of course the game is sold out, and spoken exclusively in German, but people can witness the goings-on of the Mölders destroyer on February 8th.