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<blockquote data-quote="marv" data-source="post: 8082742" data-attributes="member: 52903"><p>Tar and feathering OA for being racist (which has now been made popular to do by the podcast) would be like labeling and banning the TV show I Love Lucy for being sexist (because she is always answering to Ricky). Yet, if we did so, we would miss the reality that her character is a seminal strong woman in comedy (not just TV comedy). </p><p></p><p>OA was a seminal work in Asian themed gaming that paved the way for all other such TTRPG supplements that came after it. It was clearly written with a sincere effort to do so. Yes, Bushido was printed before it (and is also deserving of analysis), but at the time (far more so than today with WoTC) nothing had greater reach and influence in the industry than TSR. And the product reviews at the time, as I recall, we incredibly positive. I also don’t recall a single letter to the editor of Dragon (the equivalent of these EN world forums before the internet) labeling the work racist. </p><p></p><p>And that is how it reads today. IF you understand background of the authors and the limits of the resources available to the authors at the time. And IF you know what the purpose of what of an RPG source book is: it is a gamification and launching point of a topic for both DMs/GMs and players to learn more and invent more. It makes playable mechanics more important than accuracy. Also, it is not an exhaustive historical and mythological treaties of such a vast region and radically different cultures. </p><p></p><p>The podcast in question ignores these things. Instead it “nitpicks” over word choice and complains about choices made by the authors from the comfortable cheap seats of decades of hindsight. It doesn’t help that none of them experienced the release of this product (not born yet?) so MANY obvious historical facts about the game (Such as comeliness and NWP being created for all types of settings) are unknown to them. All played for a cheap laugh. </p><p></p><p>It is a tar and feathering rather than a true attempt at promoting inclusivity into the game. I can hear in their updated podcast that they have grown as people since then. Of course the irony of suggesting of one look at the original podcast in the historical context of modern people, new to the game, seeing OA for the first time is not lost in me. </p><p></p><p>Social media is a hostile place and everything you post should be considered seriously before doing so. I waited a long time before I spoke up about this podcast because I knew I risked backlash. Indeed, already the same person in this thread has made some unkind assumptions about me. This game is very important to me. The history of the game is important to me. Even (gulp) 4th Ed has a place for me. </p><p></p><p>It’s great that those associated with the podcast are now trying to be constructive and help improve inclusivity into the game. But they still own their words of the past and wield far more influence over how OA is perceived than I do. I just hope they care enough about this game to undo the damage they have done to OA.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="marv, post: 8082742, member: 52903"] Tar and feathering OA for being racist (which has now been made popular to do by the podcast) would be like labeling and banning the TV show I Love Lucy for being sexist (because she is always answering to Ricky). Yet, if we did so, we would miss the reality that her character is a seminal strong woman in comedy (not just TV comedy). OA was a seminal work in Asian themed gaming that paved the way for all other such TTRPG supplements that came after it. It was clearly written with a sincere effort to do so. Yes, Bushido was printed before it (and is also deserving of analysis), but at the time (far more so than today with WoTC) nothing had greater reach and influence in the industry than TSR. And the product reviews at the time, as I recall, we incredibly positive. I also don’t recall a single letter to the editor of Dragon (the equivalent of these EN world forums before the internet) labeling the work racist. And that is how it reads today. IF you understand background of the authors and the limits of the resources available to the authors at the time. And IF you know what the purpose of what of an RPG source book is: it is a gamification and launching point of a topic for both DMs/GMs and players to learn more and invent more. It makes playable mechanics more important than accuracy. Also, it is not an exhaustive historical and mythological treaties of such a vast region and radically different cultures. The podcast in question ignores these things. Instead it “nitpicks” over word choice and complains about choices made by the authors from the comfortable cheap seats of decades of hindsight. It doesn’t help that none of them experienced the release of this product (not born yet?) so MANY obvious historical facts about the game (Such as comeliness and NWP being created for all types of settings) are unknown to them. All played for a cheap laugh. It is a tar and feathering rather than a true attempt at promoting inclusivity into the game. I can hear in their updated podcast that they have grown as people since then. Of course the irony of suggesting of one look at the original podcast in the historical context of modern people, new to the game, seeing OA for the first time is not lost in me. Social media is a hostile place and everything you post should be considered seriously before doing so. I waited a long time before I spoke up about this podcast because I knew I risked backlash. Indeed, already the same person in this thread has made some unkind assumptions about me. This game is very important to me. The history of the game is important to me. Even (gulp) 4th Ed has a place for me. It’s great that those associated with the podcast are now trying to be constructive and help improve inclusivity into the game. But they still own their words of the past and wield far more influence over how OA is perceived than I do. I just hope they care enough about this game to undo the damage they have done to OA. [/QUOTE]
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