D&D in Target?!?!

[cavalier973]

Try telling that to someone who is a fundamentalist Christian. They probably won't agree that there is a distinction.

In the RW, I've seen just that with a buddy of mine who is a pagan who works as a radiology tech. He's also gay. One of his co-workers is an evangelical.

He is her worst nightmare...and she is his biggest pain in the ass.

I'm a fundamentalist Christian, and I see the distinction.

This is probably a discussion for a different thread; anyway, there's a big discussion of the polytheistic elements in rpgs in the forums at www.fansforchrist.org
Besides, the D&D rules are not hard and fast ones; it very explicitly says that the "Points of Light" generic campaign is a world that you build as you play. You are not compelled to accept the polytheistic pantheon, or even magic as part of your game.
What's ironic is that the Vancian magic system and polytheism were inserted partly to avoid offending people, because they do not mimic real world "magic" or religious belief. On the WoTC website, it states that real religions cannot be used in campaign worlds submitted for publication by WoTC (at least, in a way that ridicules them).
As my missionary father-in-law said about D&D, "To the pure, all things are pure." (Titus 1:15, 16)

 

[cavalier973]

This and then some. My daughter is going through these 100-or-so page young readers fantasy books faster than the library can get them in. There's a bazillion* Young Jedi Whatever Star Wars ones just a shelf over. Why not D&D based fantasy, too?


*Yes, a full bazillion. I asked the librarian.

Has she read "The Chronicles of Prydain" by Lloyd Alexander? They're excellent; especially if you like Celtic culture. The Book of Three is the first one.

 

[Amphimir Míriel]

As my missionary father-in-law said about D&D, "To the pure, all things are pure." (Titus 1:15, 16)

Excellent quote!

Upon further thinking on this matter, I have come to the conclusion that a BADD-style panic is no longer likely in this day and age.

"Satanism" is much less of a bogeyman for today's american parents than the previous generation, especially since many of us (yeah, I already have kids) were shunned and told our hobby or our preferred music genre was Evil in our day.

Also, these days it is less likely for a single TV show to destroy an industry. There is much more competition in the news and the Internet is available for anyone who wants to investigate an specific subculture.

And besides, after the satanization of Rock music, videogames, Harry Potter, Twilight, etc. etc., people are a bit more jaded

 

[Greatwyrm]

Has she read "The Chronicles of Prydain" by Lloyd Alexander? They're excellent; especially if you like Celtic culture. The Book of Three is the first one.

Actually she's going back and forth between the "Secrets of Droon" and "Little House on the Prairie". But I know if there was D&D fiction on the same level as "New Jedi Academy" and I said, "these are wizard and dragon books like Daddy's game," she'd be all over them.

 

[Odhanan]

This is awesome.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The thing is that WotC (and D&D) doesn't need to worry about the fundamentalists who don't see the distinction. Those are the same people who picket the release of Harry Potter books and movies. They are, to put it rather mildly, rather firmly outside the target demographic.

...depending upon where you live. In the Bible Belt, conservative Christianity is a powerful political force in the secular world. ABC News did a big story a few months ago about how the TX school board is still wrestling with the whole ID vs Evolution debate...and because the TX market is so big, decisions in our state ripple into the book-buying decisions of other states.

If Satanic Panic 2 gets any traction- and I'm hoping & praying it doesn't- it will be here in the South.

I'm a fundamentalist Christian, and I see the distinction.

I'm glad, and I hope to encounter more Christian gamers like yourself in the future!

Like I said, I ran a gaming club at my Catholic HS. The one and only faculty member who gave me hell about it? The born again art teacher who renewed his faith the Summer between my Freshman and Sophomore years.

(Just out of curiosity, are you in the Southern USA?)

Besides, the D&D rules are not hard and fast ones; it very explicitly says that the "Points of Light" generic campaign is a world that you build as you play. You are not compelled to accept the polytheistic pantheon, or even magic as part of your game.

True on all counts...but IME, those who oppose the hobby on religious grounds simply don't buy that argument.

What's ironic is that the Vancian magic system and polytheism were inserted partly to avoid offending people, because they do not mimic real world "magic" or religious belief.

Well...that's not 100% true. Check out some of the spells in AD&D and you'll definitely see things with Biblical inspirations- Sticks to Snakes, anyone? You'll see stuff from other sources as well.

You'll also note that many of those spells inspired by RW faith have disappeared over time, with only things like Attonement or Bless still around...usually because they're so crucial for certain aspects of the game as well as they're so universally present in RW faiths as to be essentially generic.

On the WoTC website, it states that real religions cannot be used in campaign worlds submitted for publication by WoTC (at least, in a way that ridicules them).

That, to me, is a sound idea.

As my missionary father-in-law said about D&D, "To the pure, all things are pure." (Titus 1:15, 16)

Amen!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

"Satanism" is much less of a bogeyman for today's american parents than the previous generation, especially since many of us (yeah, I already have kids) were shunned and told our hobby or our preferred music genre was Evil in our day.

Also, these days it is less likely for a single TV show to destroy an industry. There is much more competition in the news and the Internet is available for anyone who wants to investigate an specific subculture.

On the flip side, studies have shown that misinformation on the net has a real, almost horror monster-esque ability to thrive and spread despite efforts to kill it off. Latest example: even more Americans today believe Pres. Obama is a Muslim than on the day he was elected. This, despite the highly publicised debate about- and his subsequent distancing himself from- a controversial Methodist minister whose services he'd been attending for years.

Part of this, studies say, is that we're becoming more and more likely to listen ONLY to those news or "infotainment" sources that resonate with our preconceptions- liberals listen to liberals, conservatives to conservatives, and the radicals on each end of the spectrum tending to ignore the centrists.

IOW, despite the ease of doing thorough research in the modern information era, there is apparently a decrease in the willingness to do so. At least in the good ol' USA.

 

[Amphimir Míriel]

Danny, you just destroyed my previous optimism...

I have nothing to rebut your point with...

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

You & me both, pal.

I mean, part of our hobby is the willing suspension of disbelief...but that shouldn't be carried over into RW fact-checking.

 

[pawsplay]

I saw the nostalgia boxing at a comic book store today. It was so cute I was almost tempted.