Why controversy?
I am truly baffled as to why the Book of Erotic Fantasy is such a controversy. Seriously, folks--what's so shocking? What's so wrong? The Book of Vile Darkness caused some controversy, but not nearly as much as this. It's ridiculous. Really.
Firstly, the Book of Erotic Fantasy is OPTIONAL, just as any non-core rulebook is for D&D. No one's forcing you to buy it! No one is even making you LOOK at it. You can continue gaming without having acknowledged its creation, if you're so inclined.
But what if my gaming group brings it up, you say? Someone has already mentioned on this thread that they would not associate with people who got this book. To me, this is as ludicrous as refusing to associate with someone of a different religion, race, or whatever. I find it disappointing that the gaming community would willingly splinter itself on such a issue, especially when the only participants are those who are interested in the book in the first place.
Secondly, has the DM become a tyrannical figure? I mean, if a Player has a serious problem with the presence of the BOEF in their game, the DM should respect their objection and honor it. Any DM who does otherwise should be up for review, if they want to continue their role.
The book is not a dirty magazine. It's a rulebook. Anybody who wants dirty-magazine kind of stuff isn't going to play D&D to get their jollies. They'll get the magazine instead.
And to anyone opposing the BOEF on the grounds that it's against Christian morals: I would have you re-read the Bible. I bear no animosity toward Christians--my parents, and much of my extended family are Christian--but, I've seen a complaint of "Oh, that's terrible!" too many times when their very own holy book contains plenty of sex and violence in itself. And that's okay, too. Besides, some of the best stories--Medea, Lysistrata, Apuleius' Metamorphosis (The Golden Asse), and Merlin--all had sex as a subject central to their plot.
Why is it that people who find it acceptable to play a game in which Necromancers are running around raising the dead, but one mention of 'sex' and the controversy is on? For Pete's sake, you can play an *Assassin* in this game. You can climb into a third story window of an unsuspecting, sleeping person, and cut their throat. You can summon demons and devils from the D&D equivalent of Hell itself. Why is sex more controversial?
I think it's wonderful that the gaming industry is building its library to a variety of audiences across all ages. A lot of the focus of D&D has been the idea of customization. Customizing abilities, customizing appearances, customizing items. Well, here is just one of many new option for cutomizing the game itself: its tone, possibilities, and verisimilitude. I think that's great.
My questions are a little different than the usual:
1) Those who are offended: truly, why?
2) To Wizards of the Coasts' having taken offense: why?
Those questions are intended to be rhetorical, but you may answer them if you like. No one can stop you from finding something offensive, of course; but I'm just hoping that wondering about the "why?" of it all will help you at least reconsider.
