D&D 5E Content Warning Labels? Yeah or Nay?

[BookTenTiger]

I would not stop the game. And if I had a player tell me they were afraid of a spell, or dark spaces, or violence, or anything else inherent in the game of D&D, well...my response would be considered gate-keeping in today's online world.

I read today there is a movement afoot to try to change the name of the James Webb telescope (CNN reporting) because of vague allegations about James Webb from 70 years ago. The process today in the D&D community that is censoring in-game thought and activity is the same process used to attack Mr. Webb's legacy. The difference is I am still here to defend the traditions and roots of D&D. It has always been a dark game, with obviously some content that disturbs a tiny subset of the gaming community.

There are 1000's of table top games that are far less dark, violent, and don't touch on such scary subjects, that don't need to be altered one iota to avoid potential consternation. You know the rest.

So then from your perspective, I'd think you would like these things about Content Warnings:

1) They prevent folks who wouldn't want to participate in that content from disrupting others' play.

2) They help creators maintain tradition. Creators can warn readers about the content instead of making changes to traditional stories, myths, etc.

Do you agree?

 

[Vince_Snetterton]

So then from your perspective, I'd think you would like these things about Content Warnings:

1) They prevent folks who wouldn't want to participate in that content from disrupting others' play.

2) They help creators maintain tradition. Creators can warn readers about the content instead of making changes to traditional stories, myths, etc.

Do you agree?

My take on content warnings is a little different than yours. As I have said in the past days, yes, I now agree, content warnings for ALL sources of canon are now necessary.

BUT, I want them there to warn away ANYONE who is in the slightest bit queasy with I am guessing is 50-100 triggers in the D&D universe, from ever picking up a D&D book, or even think about dabbling in the game. What these warnings SHOULD do is say "Look, if you have any phobias, any concepts that makes you uncomfortable in the real world, D&D is NOT the game for you, because some day you will encounter one."

Now, is that realistic? Not many business models work by saying "This product might f*** you up, you should not buy it". Of course, there are who knows how many movies, books, video games that do that very thing. But I guess they cater to a smaller consumer base. Do you think that the Brandywine producers said "Errr...Ridley, can you and Dan and Geiger make Alien a little less scary? We think some of those scenes will trigger people."

WOTC has obviously decided against the business model I have described. We all know where Hasbro and WOTC is going with the D&D franchise, and it sure is not in the direction of Alien. But of course, the Library of Congress won't be deeming a Pokemon movie as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and preserving it in the US National File Registry either, as they did with Alien.

 

[Faolyn]

I would not stop the game. And if I had a player tell me they were afraid of a spell, or dark spaces, or violence, or anything else inherent in the game of D&D, well...my response would be considered gate-keeping in today's online world.

I didn't ask if you would stop the game. I asked if you would stop using the problematic element.

I'm guessing, from your reply, that you wouldn't.

 

[BookTenTiger]

My take on content warnings is a little different than yours. As I have said in the past days, yes, I now agree, content warnings for ALL sources of canon are now necessary.

BUT, I want them there to warn away ANYONE who is in the slightest bit queasy with I am guessing is 50-100 triggers in the D&D universe, from ever picking up a D&D book, or even think about dabbling in the game. What these warnings SHOULD do is say "Look, if you have any phobias, any concepts that makes you uncomfortable in the real world, D&D is NOT the game for you, because some day you will encounter one."

Now, is that realistic? Not many business models work by saying "This product might f*** you up, you should not buy it". Of course, there are who knows how many movies, books, video games that do that very thing. But I guess they cater to a smaller consumer base. Do you think that the Brandywine producers said "Errr...Ridley, can you and Dan and Geiger make Alien a little less scary? We think some of those scenes will trigger people."

WOTC has obviously decided against the business model I have described. We all know where Hasbro and WOTC is going with the D&D franchise, and it sure is not in the direction of Alien. But of course, the Library of Congress won't be deeming a Pokemon movie as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and preserving it in the US National File Registry either, as they did with Alien.

Just to be clear, you want warning labels on all D&D products in order to prevent people from playing?

I may be mistaken, but to me these words make it seem as if you are placing D&D behind some kind of... barred doorway... which you wish to... prevent certain people from passing through...

 

[ReshiIRE]

GMs and players of a D&D or any other TTRPG can absolutely work together to ensure that everyone at the table is comfortable with the game as ran, using a wide variety of tools (such as X Cards, lines and veils, etc.) and by talking together to establish a healthy environment. That may sometimes require modification or removal of some relatively standard elements of the game; but that's what TTRPGs are all about.

Content warnings function as warnings; information to help people make the correct decisions for themselves. They won't stop people playing or enjoying the game - I think we have ALL played or been interested in properties with elements that we are very uncomfortable with, but can find ways to minimise or reduce. It'll just keep people concious of ensuring the most important thing; having a fun game with everyone involved.

 

[J.Quondam]

Just to be clear, you want warning labels on all D&D products in order to prevent people from playing?

I may be mistaken, but to me these words make it seem as if you are placing D&D behind some kind of... barred doorway... which you wish to... prevent certain people from passing through...

Obviously the only solution is to exclude every player lacking a "traditional" gaming philosophy and collapse the entire hobby, because the only alternative is grievous bodily harm!

Spoiler: Gatekeeping fail.

 

[Umbran]

I read today there is a movement afoot to try to change the name of the James Webb telescope...

Mod Note:

This has nothing to do with gaming whatsoever. We allow some discussion of diversity topics as they relate to gaming. NASA projects do not fit that description.

As always, EN World is dedicated to keeping this place open and inviting to gamers of all types - except intolerant ones. If your point is that folks who feel the burden of discrimination are somehow wrong to push back against that, there's going to be a problem.

 

[Vince_Snetterton]

GMs and players of a D&D or any other TTRPG can absolutely work together to ensure that everyone at the table is comfortable with the game as ran, using a wide variety of tools (such as X Cards, lines and veils, etc.) and by talking together to establish a healthy environment. That may sometimes require modification or removal of some relatively standard elements of the game; but that's what TTRPGs are all about.

Content warnings function as warnings; information to help people make the correct decisions for themselves. They won't stop people playing or enjoying the game - I think we have ALL played or been interested in properties with elements that we are very uncomfortable with, but can find ways to minimise or reduce. It'll just keep people concious of ensuring the most important thing; having a fun game with everyone involved.

No, your fundamental premise is utterly, completely wrong. I don't see anyone ever suggesting that Call of Cthulhu alter its elements. Because it has not. And according to Roll20 stats from 2nd Q 2021, CoC generates 16.3% of its traffic, while D&D generates 53.7% The vast majority of TTRPG's have NOT changed one iota. Perhaps it is because they are hold such a tiny share of the consumer base they have escaped the gaze of the people who are so far are fixated on D&D. At the gaming cafe I play at, not a single game of D&D or any of the the dozens and dozens of other games I have been involved with or witnessed being played over the years has EVER used X cards, or anything remotely like them.

So stop with the idea this is some standard practice. And who is infringing one whose fun? Those that say "stop that behaviour, I am the minority at this table, but I need the majority to cater to me" or the ones that assume that if someone is not having fun they will stop doing the activity that is no longer fun for that person, and leave everyone else alone?

The concept of "tyranny by the minority" is a real thing.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

"I'm not comfortable with this."

"The traditions of a game that itself has moved on from those traditions mean more to me than you, an actual human I am playing with in real life. Get out."

"This is my house..."

"I SAID GET OUT."

I have two stories for this (One good one bad)

I was playing in a deadlands (D&D in the wild west) at gencon one year and a villain went after women and was obviously a NSFW attack coming... one of the women at the table asked if we could fade to black (Not avoid just no direct description or interaction) and the story teller took a second to readjust and make things more... um family friendly.

I was also in a game in my buddies basement back in the 90's that was a vampire game... and a player had a real life fear of the dark... and the story teller went out of his way to describe darkness and closeness and TRIED to make the player uncomfortable... it didn't work, but we found out the story teller was afraid of clowns, so that player showed up one night with a pennywise Tee SHirt and the Story teller flipped out... the player said "I control my issues why can't you"

 

[J.Quondam]

At the gaming cafe I play at, not a single game of D&D or any of the the dozens and dozens of other games I have been involved with or witnessed being played over the years has EVER used X cards, or anything remotely like them.

Okay. Then what exactly are you so riled up about?
I've asked you before: How does any of this actually impact your game? You say it doesn't affect you and yours-- which is fine-- but why then is it such a big deal to you that others claim it's helpful for them?