Book of Exalted Deed : Mature ?

[jerichothebard]

It's also a safety-net for over-zealous parents. When a parental group shouts, "look what we found our kids with," WotC gets to reply with, "It's labeled 'Mature' for a reason. Your innability to control your kids isn't our problem."

To my mind, there is no other explanation.

As for why BoED has it, can you imagine said same parental group finding a book that details pagan rituals, even in the name of good? (pagan being defined, here, as always, as being "anything slightly different than the Gospel preached by Reverend Wayne last Sunday".)

... I'm willing to bet that it will discuss real world religion (something that D&D has traditionally shyed away from)...

That's a bet I'm tempted to take...

 

[Angcuru]

*bites tounge*

I am SO tempted to go on an anti-religious rant, but I don't want to anger the mods.

 

[Bendris Noulg]

Originally posted by jerichothebard

Originally posted by shadow
... I'm willing to bet that it will discuss real world religion (something that D&D has traditionally shyed away from)...

That's a bet I'm tempted to take...

Ditto. However, I think that a lot of people have wanted to relate certain real-world beliefs into their games. Unfortunately, the different views of religions (by those of differing religions or the non-religious) almost always cause these topics to turn into heated debates (if not all-out flame wars). If this book can set a "neutral" stance regarding such discussions, one that would serve as a platform from which folks can actually have productive discussions of religion in relation to the game (be it Judeo-Christian, Gaelic Paganism, Roman Vestel Virgins, South American Blood Rites, Amer-Indian Peyote Rituals, Egyptian Sex Magic, or anything else), than I'm all for it.

 

[Angcuru]

...ummm.....hmmm...errrr.. YEAH!

 

[DaveMage]

I doubt it will touch on religion too much - especially since developing a pantheon (and general religious philosophy) was presented in Deities & Demigods.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I can make some guesses on a few things that might appear in this book. As far as monsters go I suspect we will be seeing Asuras and Buraq returning. I don't see what makes them more suited for a mature book, much I like how I don't see many of the converted monsters in the BoVD being special enough for a mature book (Kocrachon and Vaath maybe, but the books they originated from weren't mature books), but it's quite likely they'll show up there.

The only issues with which could be somewhat mature with those two creatues are... Buraqs I remember being Muslim in origin, Mohammed was said to have been carried to heaven on the back of a Buraq. Asuras are Demons in the Hindu religion, but more or less Angels in the Zoarastarian religion and the pre-Hindu religions of the Indus valley. Also the D&D version of Asuras were described as being slightly fanatical celestials at times. In both cases it will have to do with their associations with real world religions...

 

[William Ronald]

As long as anything drawn directly from real world faiths is treated with respect, I don't see a problem. Although I do not want to turn this into a discussion on religion, it is possible to have respectful discussions of different beliefs. (Okay, let us not draw the wrath of the moderators or Eric Noah's Grandmother.)

Perhaps one issue that can be explored is how similar belief systems can have strong differences between them. Thus, it is possible for two good aligned faiths to have a rivalry between them. This might be a bit unsettling for some people, particularly if real world examples are used.

Another possibility is that the Book of Exalted Deeds will address how good characters can respond to some of the evil in their midst. Considering some of the evils that exist in our own world, For example, I think a realistic discussion of how to deal with prisoners who have been kept in truly wretched conditions might be a little unsettling. Such discussions would have to address how the abuse that some NPCs might have endured by their captors. (The Book of Vile Darkness, in my opinion, was not as offensive as it could have been. )

My question is how will it help my game? Will it encourage better role playing? While I imagine the game mechanics might be interesting and useful, I think a product needs "fluff" in addition to "crunch bits." (To draw on a fable Sean Reynolds shared with us some months ago.)

 

[Merlion]

I can make some guesses on a few things that might appear in this book. As far as monsters go I suspect we will be seeing Asuras and Buraq returning. I don't see what makes them more suited for a mature book, much I like how I don't see many of the converted monsters in the BoVD being special enough for a mature book (Kocrachon and Vaath maybe, but the books they originated from weren't mature books), but it's quite likely they'll show up there.

The only issues with which could be somewhat mature with those two creatues are... Buraqs I remember being Muslim in origin, Mohammed was said to have been carried to heaven on the back of a Buraq. Asuras are Demons in the Hindu religion, but more or less Angels in the Zoarastarian religion and the pre-Hindu religions of the Indus valley. Also the D&D version of Asuras were described as being slightly fanatical celestials at times. In both cases it will have to do with their associations with real world religions...

I remember the Asuras vaguely from second edition...they were chaotic good, primarily combat oriented right? not a lot of magical ability. I didnt know the name was used in any real world religions..

I remember the creature Mohammed rode on being a donkey with a human head and a peacock tail...did DnD re it as a speccies as some point?

 

[Bendris Noulg]

did DnD re it as a speccies as some point?

For Al'Qadim, they were included in the Monstrous Compendium Appendix for it. Don't think it got reworked into the Manual/Annuals later on, though, being left behind as the setting wasn't all that popular (I did like it, but mostly for source material, which I still use).