4E - Increased potential for controversy/moral panic?

[Brasswatchman]

Yeah, I can tell just by looking around that 4e is pretty controversial. I'm not talking about here, though -- I'm talking about the greater world. Is anyone else worried that D&D 4e might end up the target of more Patricia Pulling/Jack Chick/BADD-style attacks?

Think about it for a second. Warlock is now a core class - which involves getting magical power from a deal with devils. (and yes, you don't have to play the class that way -- but since when has that ever mattered in the world of sound bites?) The PHB now includes lists of possible magical Rituals (not real ones, of course, but again, since when has that ever mattered?). Tieflings are a core race, allowing you to literally play a character with a demonic background.

Is anyone else worried about this? I mean, this stuff hasn't gone away - just look at the Harry Potter stuff for proof...

Edit: And just to be clear here, I don't think this way myself (well, to the given extent you could consider it "thought," anyway...) -- what I'm worried about here is that Wizards might be making itself a target. And us, too, if only by association...

 

[WhatGravitas]

Seriously? No. First of all, since fantasy has entered mainstream media, these people are taken less serious than ever.

Furthermore, there are too many other outlets for such concerns nowadays - GTA III probably sold faster and more copies than 4E ever will. Much better target for violence critics.

And if you want to stay in the fantasy-occult thing, then people will rather go after Harry Potter (simply because it's well-known) or WoW (because they have Warlocks as well, and unlike D&D, people can play it 24/7 without ANY social contact). Plus, WoW also carries the stigma of being a videogame (see GTA, but also general ego-shooter concerns).

Also: Let's face it, the average age of RPGamers has shifted upwards. There are less kids playing D&D than before, and many gamers are parents themselves now! - unlikely do raise such issues.

Bottom line: If you want to stir controversy, there are much better targets.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Brasswatchman]

Seriously? No. First of all, since fantasy has entered mainstream media, these people are taken less serious than ever.

That might be the case in the UK (where I notice you're posting from). Here in the US, needless to say, I wouldn't go counting out the Christian right quite so quickly.

And if you want to stay in the fantasy-occult thing, then people will rather go after Harry Potter (simply because it's well-known) or WoW (because they have Warlocks as well, and unlike D&D, people can play it 24/7 without ANY social contact). Plus, WoW also carries the stigma of being a videogame (see GTA, but also general ego-shooter concerns).

I'm guessing that Potter's done for the moment, now that the last book is out. Controversy tends to follow whatever's freshest. You have a good point about WoW, though -- I wonder why that hasn't attracted any attention...

Also: Let's face it, the average age of RPGamers has shifted upwards. There are less kids playing D&D than before, and many gamers are parents themselves now! - unlikely do raise such issues.

Another good point, but again, I suspect that Wizards has to be looking for some way to target a younger audience. It wouldn't make any sense for them not to -- they need fresh blood. So the old "won't anyone think of the children?" line is still good in that case...

 

[Rechan]

As someone posting from The Bible Belt, no. I don't think any outrage is going to come of this. You might see something on a parental newsletter or maybe a special interest in some church bulletin, but the 80s are over.

I'm guessing that Potter's done for the moment, now that the last book is out. Controversy tends to follow whatever's freshest. You have a good point about WoW, though -- I wonder why that hasn't attracted any attention...

The Religious Right tried to get Potter banned from libraries, etc. It didn't work. No one took them seriously.

Moral Outrage has far too many priorities to take on these days: Rap music, The Internet, Sex on TV, Violent Video Games, teens having sex, drugs, pedophiles, gays marrying, the Liberal Media, etc.

RPGs are at the bottom of the list next to racy club dancing in the "Parental Outrage" department.

 

[Doug McCrae]

You might have a point about the warlock and tiefling. But otoh, no nips! The art's like 2e... sob...

That might be the case in the UK (where I notice you're posting from). Here in the US, needless to say, I wouldn't go counting out the Christian right quite so quickly.

Things are very different here, you're right. Seriously, virtually no one in Britain goes to church any more. Instead we get boozed off our faces on Saturday night and sleep all day Sunday.

 

[Celebrim]

Well, speaking on behalf of 'The Religious Right' as you call us, I think it is fair to say that not even our more easily bruised or snippy members are not likely to get very much exercised by 4e. And even to the extent that they do, and 'moral outrage' remains, it is far less news worthy. News tends to follow novelty. 'Religous people still not happy with the occult imagery in children's games after 30 years of protest' or 'This just in, position of Christians not much changed from yesterday' is not much of a headline.

No, I don't think that the lastest wave of cheap attempts to embellish thier material with the illusion of depth or maturity by bringing in the spiritual equivalent of scatological humor is going to bring about any new backlash. 'Tee hee, he said Succubus. Are you offended? If not, are we grown up now?'

Whatever.

It might however discourage some of thier customers on 'the Religious Right' from buying some of thier products.

 

[Asmor]

I think it would be an uncompromised Good Thing if there was a controversy. The combination of the Streisand Effect publicizing it and the the idea of it as a forbidden fruit could do a better job selling books than WotC's marketing department ever could.

 

[Shazman]

You might have a point about the warlock and tiefling. But otoh, no nips! The art's like 2e... sob...

Things are very different here, you're right. Seriously, virtually no one in Britain goes to church any more. Instead we get boozed off our faces on Saturday night and sleep all day Sunday.

Is that really soemthing to brag about? Sorry for the threadjack. Anyway, I'd say that any "D&D is devil-worship" outbursts will be inconsequential compared to the 80's. D&D is too much of a niche hobby to attract that kind of attention nowadays.

 

[ephemeron]

Moral panics need a popular target -- the '80s panic over D&D was a side effect of the D&D fad -- and even with the 4e launch, I just don't see D&D getting more mindshare than, e.g., Grand Theft Auto.

 

[hazel monday]

I think it would be an uncompromised Good Thing if there was a controversy. The combination of the Streisand Effect publicizing it and the the idea of it as a forbidden fruit could do a better job selling books than WotC's marketing department ever could.

Covering the books in barbed wire and fire-ants would do a better job of selling the books than WOTC's marketing dept. ever could.