D&D General Thaco the angry clown... really?

[Olrox17]

You know, its quite offensive to be offended on behalf of all those people in a category you do not belong to who are not offended.

I'm not offended. I'm calling out someone (Wotc, in this case) that is acting like a petty bully on their behavior. I'm pretty sure most (mind: not all!) of the people who are having a laugh at this juvenile attempt at humor, would be much less amused if the mocking stereotyping was directed at them.
I'm well aware that there are people that enjoy deprecating humor, of the self variety or otherwise, so no need to remind me of that fact.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I'm not offended. I'm calling out someone (Wotc, in this case) that is acting like a petty bully on their behavior. I'm pretty sure most (mind: not all!) of the people who are having a laugh at this juvenile attempt at humor, would be much less amused if the mocking stereotyping was directed at them.

Speaking as someone who, unlike you, is of that generation, this is exactly the sort of joke I would share with someone else of my generation (AKA dad joke). The only bullying I am seeing here is someone telling someone else what they should be offended by.

I'm well aware that there are people that enjoy deprecating humor, of the self variety or otherwise, so no need to remind me of that fact.

Anyone who cannot laugh at themselves has failed to comprehend their place in the universe.

 

[Olrox17]

Speaking as someone who, unlike you, is of that generation, this is exactly the sort of joke I would share with someone else of my generation (AKA dad joke). The only bullying I am seeing here is someone telling someone else what they should be offended by.

Anyone who cannot laugh at themselves has failed to comprehend their place in the universe.

Good for you and anyone else that shares your attitude. As I said in the post you quoted, there was no need to remind me of that.
Other people in this very thread, some of them probably of "your" generation, didn't seem amused by Wotc calling people clowns.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Good for you and anyone else that shares your attitude. As I said in the post you quoted, there was no need to remind me of that.
Other people in this very thread, some of them probably of "your" generation, didn't seem amused by Wotc calling people clowns.

Sure, and they are funny.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

I think some people have a clear distaste and resentment for grogs. I hate that.

that said, I don’t think it’s WOTC for the most part. And after reading what Chris Perkins said about Easter eggs from older editions in Witchlight, I am pretty convinced THACO is just…a joke.

They also talk about Warduke and Kelek. As a former LJN action figure owner, I am similarly not feeling the hate, sorry.

it’s a joke/reference about an old game mechanic. It’s almost FOR older gamers not to persecute them.

The negative stuff is out there for sure. Just not thinking this is that.

 

[billd91]

I'm not offended. I'm calling out someone (Wotc, in this case) that is acting like a petty bully on their behavior. I'm pretty sure most (mind: not all!) of the people who are having a laugh at this juvenile attempt at humor, would be much less amused if the mocking stereotyping was directed at them.
I'm well aware that there are people that enjoy deprecating humor, of the self variety or otherwise, so no need to remind me of that fact.

There’s no bullying here… unless making a satirical dig at some of the real bullies in the hobby (ie gatekeepers) now somehow counts as bullying.

 

[Mistwell]

I don't have a copy of Witchlight.
If it's not too spoilery, could someone explain/hint at Thaco's role in the adventure, if it's significant? Or is he just one of the "extras"?

It's not significant. He's mostly just an extra and if PCs knew everything about him it would spoil almost nothing. But he's at a location where PCs are likely to encounter him. There are a lot of choices a party can make as to where they go and what they do at the carnival, but THAC0 is located somewhere that the PCs are likely to at least briefly encounter him.

THAC0:

1) Sits right outside the door to [an important location] blowing bubbles with his bubble pipe.
2) Does not get along with Burly, another guard.
3) Thaco is the longest-serving Witchlight hand,
4) Nobody knows THAC0's history and scarcely any dare to ask, for he almost never speaks and harbors a malicious streak that is kept in check by Mister Witch.
5) THAC0 paints his face with a grin and puffs on a bubble pipe.
6) THAC0 retired from performing and no longer stages his knife-throwing act due to an unfortunate incident that took place in the Big Top some time ago.
7) THAC0 prefers not to talk and when he must he says as little as possible. He thinks everyone should mind their own business.
8) If anyone tries to touch THAC0's bubble pipe they will lose a finger.
9) THAC0 cannot stand children and think's they're like roaches.


For me, I am an old player who started with OD&D/Basic and played a lot of AD&D 1e. And...I found this amusing. You gotta be able to laugh at yourself. This is not bullying, it's just a silly ribbing inside joke.

 

[darjr]

If anything, if Chris put it in the book, who started publishing back in the day and played these older editions, it’s more like that “hello fellow students”

 

[overgeeked]

I'd be similarly unimpressed if they created "Max Min the jester", a pedantic retired lawyer with an encyclopedic knowledge of laws of the universe, that somehow can't tie his own shoes because, in his own words, he "didn't spend enough points on that".

That’s hilarious. Definitely using that. Thanks.

 

[Tinker-TDC]

That’s hilarious. Definitely using that. Thanks.

Make it a pair, you can call them Minnie and Max: Attorneys at Circus