Book of Erotic Fantasy previewed at GenCon

[Sirius_Black]

Mark my words.....this book is going to sell and sell big. When a person who, if I recall right, had a negative opinion when the book was first announced will take the time to look at a preview of it at GENCON and then post a thread on a message board about it, that's fascinating...

No disrespect to anyone who has a negative opinion about the book, I perfectly feel that is your right. However, if I had to lay money on how many of those within this society who decry this book and will eventually, quietly, end up owning it, well suffice to say my money is on the hypocrisy of human beings.

Sex and religion....the two things that will forever make money in this world. Go Valar!

 

[TiQuinn]

No disrespect to anyone who has a negative opinion about the book, I perfectly feel that is your right. However, if I had to lay money on how many of those within this society who decry this book and will eventually, quietly, end up owning it, well suffice to say my money is on the hypocrisy of human beings.

I think Talon's comments were pretty insightful. How many people are going to take a look at the book in the store, satisfy their curiosity, and then put it back? Heck, even I want to take a look at it to see what all the hubbub is about (Honest! That's the ONLY reason!), and then likely put it back on the shelf.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Why would someone pay $10 for an advertisement for a book? Oh well, sex sells I suppose but it sounds pretty dumb to me. From the description I've now heard, the book certainly doesn't sound like it will be as tame as Gwendolyn Kestrel tried to make it sound during the post-spin damage control. Either that or Mr. Valterra decided to continue with his admitted shock/troll advertising campaign after all.

What part of the nearly naked chainmail babes makes you think he is going the low brow shock sales approach?

I am surprised you couldnt get your picture with the girls and their autographs.

 

[der_kluge]

I saw the book. I was quite surprised by the pictures in it to be honest. The pictures were decent, but I couldn't get passed them to actually look at the material presented.

All in all, I think the book is ok, but it has absolutely no use in my campaign. Sex, and sexual explicitness just doesn't have a place in our game. I suppose it might for some, and I'm all for that.

In our current game, my character is playing a female sorcerer with a 23 charisma, who is dating the fantasy equivalent to Colin Powell in the largest city. And at one point, she lost her virginity to the guy. Yes, she's using him, because he's rich and powerful, he gives her magic items, and servants. But, he's getting a little something-something, too. But, we absolutely do not role-play it, mostly because the DM and I are both guys, and I'd feel totally uncomfortable doing that. We glossed it over, everyone knows it's happening, but we didn't dwell on it. Would it have been an interesting role-play experience for me to have role-played out her losing her virginity to this guy, and falling in love with him? Yea, probably. Was I up to that challenge? Absolutely not.

Does that make me an inferior role-player? I don't know, maybe, but my gaming experience hasn't suffered any for it.

I wish Anthony Valterra all the best with his book, and I hope he has great success with it. I won't be buying a copy, and I sincerely doubt anyone in my group will be either.

 

[MarauderX]

Kirowin. This is freaky but I go to Penn State (last year this year) so i'll be at state college. My name is also Nick too! Anyways if you were interested in perhaps joining for gaming sometime you can email me at nxm205@psu.edu. I'll be starting a gaming group with old people and some new this coming fall and hopefully trying to join another so that I can also be a player. I've never seen someone else use ENworld from PSU before. I will probably send a GAPS email.

We Are....

That's right, alumni everywhere. Hope you are all enjoying your time there as I did, and hope the gaming community is still going strong since I left in '99. Don't mean to hijack the thread, but if you are ever in DC look me up for a quick shot or more.

...Penn State

 

[hellbender]

I don't wish Valar any ill will, I just think they could have done a more professional job from the previews I have seen, and upon hearing about the advertisement (which presumably has the same freakshow people in it).

It is strange that *some* people into the Book of Naked Half-Orc Chicks (my name for it) act pretty darned smug, like they are playing some advanced, more mature form of rpg over the *prudes* who aren't into that type of role-playing. Or maybe they think that they are cool for incorporating these themes into their games.

While I can handle the pictures as presented online (although they are cheesy and tacky in my opinion), my group and myself have decided (rather quickly) that this is not for us. I doubt anyone in our group could really care less about other people buying and using this book. If your group needs this stuff, knock yourselves out. Put it on the bestseller lists. I play and run rpgs for adventure, not sexual conquest. Exactly why anyone feels the need to run games like this seems to be beyond many people. That doesn't make these people *clueless* or those who wish to use the material *depraved*. In the end, nobody cares if you buy it or not (save Valar), it is up to your own group.

hellbender

 

[Number47]

Can anyone who has seen it tell me about the quality of design and typography?

 

[Shadowdancer]

I play and run rpgs for adventure, not sexual conquest.

The book is not all about sexual conquest. For example, there is an alternative, tantric magic system that uses sexual energy to power spells. So instead of a cleric praying to his deity for spells, or a wizard studying her spellbook, they would engage in sexual activities in order to be able to cast their spells. No nookie, no spells. It makes for an interesting alternative to the traditional D&D magic system.

There are plenty of other examples of uses for the material in the book beyond just deciding how lucky the PCs got at the tavern last night.

I realize this product is not for the majority of players. That's fine. But there are plenty of players out there looking for just this sort of interesting, imaginative alternatives to the typical fantasy role-playing experience to warrant the product.

 

[hellbender]

The book is not all about sexual conquest. For example, there is an alternative, tantric magic system that uses sexual energy to power spells. So instead of a cleric praying to his deity for spells, or a wizard studying her spellbook, they would engage in sexual activities in order to be able to cast their spells. No nookie, no spells. It makes for an interesting alternative to the traditional D&D magic system.

There are plenty of other examples of uses for the material in the book beyond just deciding how lucky the PCs got at the tavern last night.

I realize this product is not for the majority of players. That's fine. But there are plenty of players out there looking for just this sort of interesting, imaginative alternatives to the typical fantasy role-playing experience to warrant the product.

And that is fine for other people's games. I am not passing judgement (too much at least) on people buying the book, just the attitudes that some people have about the book (which were some of the same attitudes around the time of release of the Book of Mild Darkness). Use the book any way you want, I honestly think that if it works for you, great. I feel the same way about the Forgotten Realms setting as I do about this book, by the way, although I will say the Forgotten Realms setting has better visuals.

hellbender

 

[der_kluge]

Number47, the book is quite attractive. Glossy pages, and excellent layout, not to mention full-color throughout. I just wish the content was something I could actually use.