WotC WotC needs an Elon Musk

[Zardnaar]

Urg.

Again, this is just like my writing forum.

"Conflict is the core of story, so let's immediately jump to the worst possible things to shove in people's faces!"

Scale of stakes! Audience! Self control! Treating serious subjects with a modicum of care! Why is this a language no longer spoken by writers?!

Its overused perhaps but it's not really up to you to gatekeerp others with what they want to write about.

Alot of it is crap but there's also good stuff. No one's forcing you to use it.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Scale of stakes! Audience! Self control! Treating serious subjects with a modicum of care! Why is this a language no longer spoken by writers?!

Because now "everyone" is a writer, in the same way everyone is a photographer, in the sense that everyone can publish via Amazon or post pictures to Instagram.

Lots of people still speak this way, but it's always been a small population of pros (who had to get past gatekeepers to get that status, so it's always been at least somewhat problematic, even if there were good results as well).

 

[Vaalingrade]

Because now "everyone" is a writer, in the same way everyone is a photographer, in the sense that everyone can publish via Amazon or post pictures to Instagram.

Lots of people still speak this way, but it's always been a small population of pros (who had to get past gatekeepers to get that status, so it's always been at least somewhat problematic, even if there were good results as well).

I feel like a filter shouldn't be needed for not so many to be so pressed to include that kind of thing at literally every turn.

It is super weird that so many people are in love with the trope. Like how Ultimate Marvel went all in on Cannibalism or DC with cutting off specifically the left arm. Genuinely unsettling to see so many ardent defenses for putting it everywhere.

 

[Faolyn]

Conflict makes for good stories hence why it's used.

Sexual assault doesn't make for good conflict.

With nazis, at least, you can have the Good Guys actively fighting against them. You can play as Allied forces or a resistance movement, or their equivalent if this isn't actually a WWII game.

You don't get these things with rape or other forms of sexual assault. At best, you get people going after the rapist afterwards.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Also, I'm pretty sure 'please stop doing this' is not gatekeeping.

 

[Faolyn]

Its overused perhaps but it's not really up to you to gatekeerp others with what they want to write about.

Alot of it is crap but there's also good stuff. No one's forcing you to use it.

If it's put in a gaming book sold by a gaming company, then yes, the company is effectively forcing you to use it.

That is what this conversation is about. Not what goes on at your table, but what WotC or other companies are actively writing about and selling to you.

 

[Zardnaar]

Sexual assault doesn't make for good conflict.

With nazis, at least, you can have the Good Guys actively fighting against them. You can play as Allied forces or a resistance movement, or their equivalent if this isn't actually a WWII game.

You don't get these things with rape or other forms of sexual assault. At best, you get people going after the rapist afterwards.

And yet popular shows and book series have it.

I wouldn't include it in game outside of maybe referenced and even that's unusual.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Aaand we're back to popularity equals quality.

Congratulations, everyone. We did it.

 

[Alzrius]

If it's put in a gaming book sold by a gaming company, then yes, the company is effectively forcing you to use it.

How exactly is WotC forcing anyone to use anything?

 

[Cadence]

Urg.

Again, this is just like my writing forum.

"Conflict is the core of story, so let's immediately jump to the worst possible things to shove in people's faces!"

Scale of stakes! Audience! Self control! Treating serious subjects with a modicum of care! Why is this a language no longer spoken by writers?!

Having the DMG talk about treating serious subjects with a modicum of care and worrying about scale of stakes and the audience would be great.

It feels to me like there are some of those that are R and NC-17 subjects that D&D is just not going to cover in WotC published material. And it feels like there are others that are standard fare in the news and elementary/middle school history classes that should still be approached with sensitivity (and maybe your party might not be into).