What We Lose When We Eliminate Controversial Content

[UngainlyTitan]

I would go even further and say most fantasy rpg's just utilize the trappings of the past to establish some sort of familiarity for the players but aren't actually based on a historically accurate past.

That is what I meant by the Ren Faire reference. The Forgotten Realms, for example, has influences from late antiquity to the early modern not to mention stuff pulled from pulp fiction which itself was a pastiche of myth, folklore and history often filtered through ninetieth century romanticism along with a pinch of this and that all pretty much uncritically received.

 

[Imaro]

If every book—and RPG—is about utopia, the genre will get old very quickly.

If every book is about the misery of the human condition... the genre will get old very quickly.

In other words I don't think anyone is arguing for the extremes on either side (total elimination). As an example, I am fine with and even expect slavery, torture, abuse and more to be part of and more often than not even the focus in the Kult rpg. Kult is clearly called out as for mature readers. On the other hand I don't expect that in a game marketed for 12/13+ year old kids, say something like D&D or Pathfinder. In other words, who you are marketing too, IMO has a large effect on what I feel should or shouldn't be explored or focused on.

 

[Burt Baccara]

If every book is about the misery of the human condition... the genre will get old very quickly.

In other words I don't think anyone is arguing for the extremes on either side (total elimination). As an example, I am fine with and even expect slavery, torture, abuse and more to be part of and more often than not even the focus in the Kult rpg. Kult is clearly called out as for mature readers. On the other hand I don't expect that in a game marketed for 12/13+ year old kids, say something like D&D or Pathfinder. In other words, who you are marketing too, IMO has a large effect on what I feel should or shouldn't be explored or focused on.

Is D&D really marketed at the 12/13+ year old kids market today? This is not the early 1980s.

 

[Mesero]

I would go even further and say most fantasy rpg's just utilize the trappings of the past to establish some sort of familiarity for the players but aren't actually based on a historically accurate past.

Some trappings require bad things though. You can hardly have Rome without slaves or vikings/pirates without plundering.

 

[Imaro]

Is D&D really marketed at the 12/13+ year old kids market today? This is not the early 1980s.

The books literally have the age range on them... Wait what age range do you think D&D is marketed for?

 

[Imaro]

Some trappings require bad things though. You can hardly have Rome without slaves or vikings/pirates without plundering.

It depends on what trappings from said places, people, cultures, etc...you are choosing to use.

EDIT: As an example many fantasy settings use the trappings of medieval Europe... but totally gloss over, or outright exclude serfdom.

 

[Mesero]

Is D&D really marketed at the 12/13+ year old kids market today? This is not the early 1980s.

Considered what is all seen as problematic according to the dark sun threads it certainly seems to be marketed for a younger audience today then it was in the past

 

[Tonguez]

The books literally have the age range on them... Wait what age range do you think D&D is marketed for?

Considering all the lets play are all 20s-30s, I’d say there. I cant recall anything targetting 12/13 yr olds rather than late teens and older

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Some trappings require bad things though. You can hardly have Rome without slaves or vikings/pirates without plundering.

Not true!

All you need for a Vikings setting is a long history of tragic playoff performances.

 

[Imaro]

Considering all the lets play are all 20s-30s, I’d say there. I cant recall anything targetting 12/13 yr olds rather than late teens and older

What are "let's play" also I know it's anecdotal but I used to see a ton of kids (even some below the age range listed) when AL was being run at my local comic shop, to the point where they had to branch off for a separate kids night. Not sure what it looks like now as that was pre-pandemic.