Why We Formed Open Almond Studios
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Then Yahweh said to me, “You have seen well; for I watch over my word to perform it.”
When we formed Open Almond Studios, it wasn’t because we needed another creative outlet. It was because the Lord had been planting something for years—a conviction that faith-filled storytelling could do more than entertain. It could disciple. It could teach. It could stir the imagination toward Christ. And it could serve the Church in ways that traditional resources sometimes cannot.
This company wasn’t born from ambition. It was born for purpose.
The Seed That Grew Into a Calling#
Creativity alone was never enough. The mission needed to be rooted in Scripture, purpose, and the desire to strengthen believers.
Long before Open Almond Studios was birthed, there was a growing awareness in me that Christians needed more than books and sermons to experience the Bible. What we needed were spaces where faith and imagination could work together—where biblical truth would guide storytelling instead of being an afterthought.
I grew up in a Christian home, surrounded by Scripture, church on Wednesday night, and conversations about who God is. As an adult, I maintained my faith and a relationship with Jesus, but I found community in tabletop games, world-building, and collaborative stories. Learning to lead and direct gamers helped me grow in confidence and building complex storylines. These two identities ran parallel for years, until it became clear that the Lord was weaving them together to awaken stories in me that would glorify Him.
The question I couldn’t shake was simple:
What if faithful, biblical storytelling could become a tool for discipleship?
That question became the spark that eventually ignited Open Almond Studios.
A Studio With a Clear Center#
At the heart of this company is a non-negotiable commitment:
Scripture is our foundation, not just flavor.
What We affirm:#
- The Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God.
- The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God in three Persons.
- Christ alone saves.
- Creativity has meaning
Open Almond Studios wasn’t created to drift with culture. It exists to point people back to the source of truth, the Bible.
The Story Behind the Name#
When God shows Jeremiah the almond branch, He assures him:
"I am watching over My word to perform it."
The almond tree holds a surprising significance in Scripture. The Hebrew word for almond, shaqed, mirrors the word for watching, shoqed. One way to describe Jeremiah’s vision is God's use of wordplay to help the young Prophet learn to receive the words of Yahweh more accurately. It's such a beautiful picture of a personal and loving God, who nurtures and guides His people into deeper knowledge of Him. This prophecy became more than a symbolic inspiration—it became a creative jumping board for stewarding biblical storytelling.
The almond represents early fruit, persistent growth, and the sign of a God who keeps His promises. That’s the spirit behind Open Almond Studios.
Open Almond means living openly before God, creating openly before God, and trusting the One who watches over His word.
A Creative Mission With a Pastoral Heart#
Open Almond Studios began with a simple aim:
To create excellent, theologically faithful games and resources that serve the Church.
Most people first meet us through Warriors of the Covenant, our Bronze Age, Scripture-grounded RPG. But the studio’s purpose extends beyond a single project.
Our mission includes:#
- Equipping believers with tools that build faith
- Producing games rooted in sound theology
- Crafting resources for youth groups, missionaries, and families
- Supporting discipleship through storytelling and imagination
- Offering biblical study materials with clarity and depth
We’re not building entertainment for entertainment’s sake.
We’re building resources that matter.
When Scripture informs the world and the choices within it, players encounter faith not just as information but as practiced conviction.
Tabletop role-playing games teach collaboration, courage, empathy, and strategic thinking. They encourage conversations that are relational and personal that don’t happen when someone sits reflectively through a sermon or teaching.
Theology In our projects:#
- Theological accuracy grounds the world
- Biblical values guide rewards and risks
- Every theme promotes Gospel clarity
- Stories inspire hearts toward courage, wisdom, and faith
This unique blend of Scripture and imagination is a core identity for Open Almond Studios.
Built for the Long Journey#
Forming Open Almond Studios has been exciting, but we realize it's not a task we can take lightly. The Bible itself is a collection of 66 books written by about 40 authors over the span of 1500 years! Talk about an intricately nuanced storyline. The work and time needed to design creative resources consistent and accurate with the biblical narrative requires immense dedication and diligence. But with God's wisdom and direction, we are up for the challenge! Our vision reaches far beyond the next release.
- Expanding Warriors of the Covenant into full guided adventures
- Growing the Hall of Faith Hero Deck into a versatile discipleship tool
- Developing Legacy of the Remnant into a complete survival RPG
- And much more!
As we develop content, we keep at the forefront of our minds our mission. We are building for families, for churches, for mission fields, and for a generation hungry for clarity, identity, and purpose.
Why This Work Matters Now#
We live in a time when believers—especially younger ones—face more spiritual noise than ever. Many of us are navigating doubt, cultural pressure, and the constant pull of distraction away from healthy spiritual practices. All the while, we pour hours of precious time and energy into fictional or digital worlds with full attention.
We want to offer an alternative to those worlds to point people toward Christ through interactive experiences that reinforce Scripture instead of competing with it.
We believe gaming can become a doorway to Biblical discipleship.
That’s why Open Almond Studios was formed.
We are building resources that help believers experience truth, discuss truth, and grow in truth.
When the Lord places conviction on a person’s heart, He often does it quietly—through years of preparation, trial, and vision. Open Almond Studios formed when threads of experience came together: faith, theology, creativity, leadership, and a desire to serve the Church.
I pray you are guided by these pillars as you step into new adventures outlined by the faithful men and women of the Bible who came before us.
Create faithfully.
Serve the Church.
Point everything back to Christ.
This is why Open Almond Studios was formed.
And by God’s grace, this is what we intend to do.
Rooted in Scripture. Branching into Creativity.
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About the Author
Benjamin Schmidt
Founder
Benjamin Schmidt is the founder of Open Almond Studios, LLC, a Christian tabletop game studio dedicated to Scripture-grounded storytelling. A U.S. Air Force cyber professional and lifelong student of the Bible, he designs games that emphasize faithfulness, integrity, and moral courage. He is the creator of Warriors of the Covenant™ and Legacy of the Remnant™, building systems that aim to shape hearts as much as they entertain.
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