RPG Writer Zak S Accused Of Abusive Behaviour

RPG writer Zak S (aka Zak Smith, Zak Sabbath) has been accused by multiple women of abusive behaviour in a public Facebook post by his ex-partner, and two other women.

Photo from Wikipedia​

Zak Smith appeared in the video series I Hit It With My Axe, and is known for the Playing D&D With Porn Stars blog. He has also written several RPG books, most recently for Lamentations of the Flame Princess, consulted on the D&D 5th Edition Player's Handbook, has won multiple ENnies, and recently worked for White Wolf. As yet, he hasn't made any public response to the accusations.

Since then, another ex-partner of Zak Smith, Vivka Grey, has publicly come forward with a further account of his conduct.

This isn't the first time that Zak Smith has been accused of inappropriate behaviour (language warning in that link). The Facebook post, which was posted overnight, has been shared widely on social media, and takes the form of an open letter (linked above; it makes for unpleasant reading, so please be aware of that if you choose to read it).

The industry has been reacting to the news. Amongst many others:

• DriveThruRPG has stated that it will sell no future works by Zak Smith.
• Veteran author Ken Hite has announced that he will not work with or share credits with Zak Smith again.
• The Gauntlet blog and podcast will no longer cover Zak S or his publications, or attend conventions that he is permitted at.
• WotC's Mike Mearls has noted that they have not engaged with Zak S since he worked for them as a consultant on 5E, although a previous statement from him in 2014 takes a different stance. However, D&D Beyond has now removed all the consultant credits (not just Zak S) from its online version of the book.
• UPDATE - WotC has now made a longer statement and will be removing Zak S from the credits of future printings of the Player's Handbook.
• Gen Con has tweeted a brief statement which says it has investigated, but the results are confidential. It has bene stated by various industry insiders that Zak S has, in fact, been banned from Gen Con, but the convention isn't saying so publicly.

I believe Mandy, Jennifer, Hannah, and Vivka. It must be terrifying to come forward like this. They have been put through horrible ordeals. I will not cover Zak’s work on this site, in my podcast, or elsewhere, and will not provide him with any kind of platform.

 

[Jester David]

So you would censor the art because of the artist?
Is the integrity of an Ennie worth the political statement of retracting one?

And?
None of what I've argued affects how anyone treats him one iota.
I'm not arguing against reprisals, I'm arguing against reprisals against the wrong thing (his works).

The award doesn’t affect his work.
His work is still available. He can still make money from those people when wish to directly support a rapist and spousal abuser.
It is not being altered or revised or changed. People who own it can continue to use it.

This solely affects the prestige given to him. HE no longer qualifies to win the award for his work.

 

[Gradine]

I often find myself without a choice as they seem to be the ones in power.

Wouldn't you like very much to do something about that?

And no, it's not a counter-argument, it's an attempt to inject humour.

As was my immediate confused response

 

[Yunru]

If it's removal or not does nothing, why are you so concerned about its removal?

Because I choose to believe that the majority of voters are not so shallow as to just vote based on author.

If he has his award taken away, he'll still be known. Hell, he'll even be known MORE because he'll be the guy who had his award taken away. Increased exposure for him, hurray! You should be happy for that, no?

Not at all, as it means that the work is being discredited for the actions of it's author.

The difference is -- and the place where you're having both a logical and a moral disconnect (for increasingly clear reasons) -- is that letting him keep the award sends a positive message about Zak's negative actions.

I am having no disconnects, thank you very much.

And your logical disconnect is that his actions (for which the award is not for) has anything to do with his work.

Keeping the award sends no positive message about his actions. It sends a positive message about his works. Send all the negative messages about the person as you want, I'll completely agree with you, but taking away the award is a sins of the father fallacy.

 

[Steve Conan Trustrum]

Because I choose to believe that the majority of voters are not so shallow as to just vote based on author.

What does your belief have to do with anything beyond your singular vote?

Not at all, as it means that the work is being discredited for the actions of it's author.

Not at all.

Are you assuming that, were this to happen, ENWorld wouldn't release a statement along with the retraction that would leave no doubt as to why the award was being taken away?

I am having no disconnects, thank you very much.

No. You do. By definition, based on the point you're arguing, the reasons you're giving, and the cause you've taken up. You really do. Your entire point is based on the "need" to disconnect the gaming community's morals from an author's work with regards to an award that is a popularity contest, of which public opinion of the author plays a key part.

And your logical disconnect is that his actions (for which the award is not for) has anything to do with his work.

Which would be a fine point ... if I'd ever made it. Indeed, I've said quite the opposite. More than once. With clarifications.

Thus your disconnect.

Keeping the award sends no positive message about his actions.

Again, says you. Myself and a whole lot of other people (including, it's beginning to turn out, people who have paid him for his work or otherwise worked with him) believe differently than you.

It sends a positive message about his works. Send all the negative messages about the person as you want, I'll completely agree with you, but taking away the award is a sins of the father fallacy.

Okay then, person not participating in reality with real people along with the rest of us!!!

How is it an issue of the sins of the father when one half of the point is ZAK's award and the other half is ZAK's actions. He's not inheriting squat based on someone else's earlier actions he had no part in, which is what "sins of the father" means.

 

[Aldarc]

Umm what?
They win awards for their work. That's why they are given the award, because the thing they own won it. The author doesn't matter for who wins.

Oh, bless your dear sweet little heart.

Ummm no.
Celebration of works is not celebration of person, get off your high horse.

It's a fan-based celebration of the product brand, which includes the author's brand. This is why these awards are awarded to people and people get excited that people won and were acknowledged for their work. And people vote for these products. Companies inform and direct their fans to voting. Fan groups organize people to vote. Authorship is part of the brand identity and it is inseparable from the content, which can work for and against a person (and their works).

And in response to other posts: Yes, I'm a firm believer that a rapist who is a renowned artist should be remember as both a rapist and a renowned artist. There should be no censoring because of morality. People should be known for their acts, both good and bad.

Stop gaslighting. This isn't censorship.

 

[Yunru]

What does your belief have to do with anything beyond your singular vote?

Not at all.

Are you assuming that, were this to happen, ENWorld wouldn't release a statement along with the retraction that would leave no doubt as to why the award was being taken away?

No. You do. By definition, based on the point you're arguing, the reasons you're giving, and the cause you've taken up. You really do. Your entire point is based on the "need" to disconnect the gaming community's morals from an author's work with regards to an award that is a popularity contest, of which public opinion of the author plays a key part.

Which would be a fine point ... if I'd ever made it. Indeed, I've said quite the opposite. More than once. With clarifications.

Thus your disconnect.

Again, says you. Myself and a whole lot of other people (including, it's beginning to turn out, people who have paid him for his work or otherwise worked with him) believe differently than you.

Okay then, person not participating in reality with real people along with the rest of us!!!

How is it an issue of the sins of the father when one half of the point is ZAK's award and the other half is ZAK's actions. He's not inheriting squat based on someone else's earlier actions he had no part in, which is what "sins of the father" means.

Because it's not ZAK's award. It's his work's. Retracting the award from the works becajse of the author is punishing the child for the sins of the father. The work has nothing to do with his actions, and thus would be unfairly inhereting the stigma.

I'll also thank you to quit with the personal attacks, as this is the second post in succession where you have made them. It's almost... abusive.

 

[TwoSix]

The the Ennie is worthless anyway, and it's removal or not does nothing. (In which case sure, remove it to distance yourself, there's no integrity to keep.)

And in response to other posts: Yes, I'm a firm believer that a rapist who is a renowned artist should be remember as both a rapist and a renowned artist. There should be no censoring because of morality. People should be known for their acts, both good and bad.

Since you're getting a little dogpiled here, I'll voice my agreement for this. The Usual Suspects doesn't stop being a great movie simply because Bryan Singer and Kevin Spacey both turned out to be pieces of s**t.

 

[Yunru]

Oh, bless your dear sweet little heart.

It's a fan-based celebration of the product brand, which includes the author's brand. This is why these awards are awarded to people and people get excited that people won and were acknowledged for their work. And people vote for these products. Companies inform and direct their fans to voting. Fan groups organize people to vote. Authorship is part of the brand identity and it is inseparable from the content, which can work for and against a person (and their works).

Tell that to everyone who's ever worked under a penname.

Stop gaslighting. This isn't censorship.

Right, retracting "this was good enough to win an award" isn't censoring the fact that it was good enough to win an award, got you.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

doesn't affect the merit of his work.

Yes, it does.

@Jester David

please don't compare private crimes with Nazism.
abusing multiple people is disgusting, no doubt about it.
but here there are people whose relatives were in concentration camps, and private crimes are not even far comparable with Nazi approach to evilness.
please use something else for examples.
thanks.

I just want to point out, because it is very important, that "neo-nazi" marches do not reference the German Nazis of the 20th century, except as they are the example after which neo-nazis model themselves. The reference was to marches full of neo-nazis, which are an actual current American issue. People literally tattooing swaztikas on themselves, and doing the nazi salute, and using lame numerical codes to reference Hitler, etc. It's a topical example, because neo-nazis are more in the news in the US than they've been in decades.

I have zero respect for those that for some reason feel the need, in this moment, to express sympathy for the man.

I have more sympathy for people like Satine Pheonix, who had to wake up to find out that she was very wrong about someone she called a friend, than I do for zak the scumbag or anyone who defends him or expresses sympathy for his "plight".

I can't believe any of this even needs to be said...

Ummm no.
Celebration of works is not celebration of person, get off your high horse.

I literally, unavoidably, is.

Whether ENies are given to the creator or the work, rescinding an award because of behaviour we wish to censure is a legitimate means of ensuring better behaviour in the community.

If you want to work in this industry (or any industry, really), and hope to be recognized, respected, and awarded for your work, you better not behave in ways that are not acceptable.

As for being political, ENWorld is a private company. They can make any statement they want by their actions, they have no obligation to any of us. The community will react to those statements accordingly. If the award is rescinded, and more people support that than don't, ENWorld will know which way to move forward.

Yes, this.

I guess we shouldn't pay our politicians then.

When they are revealed to be rapists, yes. They should be fired and never allowed back into public office.

How is this complicated?

 

[Aldarc]

Tell that to everyone who's ever worked under a penname.

I think that they are well aware given how pen names are a crafted part of the authorial brand that increases product recognition.

Right, retracting "this was good enough to win an award" isn't censoring the fact that it was good enough to win an award, got you.

You're correct that it isn't the same.