Do you think the OGL was a good idea?

[Ahnehnois]

I just felt that BoVD was really played up and marketed in a way to be the "it" thing, and I disagreed with that.

I didn't get that sense, but maybe that sort of cultural thing fades with time.

I recall them making a big deal about it being for "mature" people only, including the Sticker that Shall Not Be Removed on the book itself. I certainly felt that some aspects were overly salacious, whereas in other areas the rules were not developed enough. There have been times, for example, where I wanted more details on slavery or sacrifices, not because those are good things but because I needed to know how the bad guys' plans work, not just that they're bad and have plans. They clearly backed away from some areas to avoid making a negative impression.

However, I think it added some useful elements to the game. The monster section, for example, includes some nice examples of monsters that give you real reasons to hate them or want them dead. I had enormous success with the Eye of Fear and Flame precisely because its flavor text explained why it was so evil. I've gotten a lot of mileage out of some of the spells, and occasionally from the other rules elements. It was nice to have the major evil outsiders statted up.

Me, I've found it a pretty useful resource for some rules, with some areas easily ignored. If you don't like it, that's fine.

 

[delericho]

No kidding. The amount of positive attention The Book of Vile Darkness got, and gets, relative to, say, The Book of Exalted Deeds really honestly depresses me. TBVD is one book that's simply banned without discussion at my table.

In fairness, "Book of Exalted Deeds" doesn't deserve any positive attention at all. Though, again, because of the quality of the rules content, not because of the topic.

My big issue with "Book of Vile Darkness" is that it was frankly tame. Even in comparison with main-line White Wolf material I found it lacking, never mind their "Black Dog" imprint (which was closer to what I'd been hoping). Indeed, in the mainstream media "mature themes" tends to translate to "boobs & blood" and even on that definition it fails.

All that said, BoVD has one use at my table - several of the monsters are pretty decent.

 

[ForeverSlayer]

In fairness, "Book of Exalted Deeds" doesn't deserve any positive attention at all. Though, again, because of the quality of the rules content, not because of the topic.

My big issue with "Book of Vile Darkness" is that it was frankly tame. Even in comparison with main-line White Wolf material I found it lacking, never mind their "Black Dog" imprint (which was closer to what I'd been hoping). Indeed, in the mainstream media "mature themes" tends to translate to "boobs & blood" and even on that definition it fails.

All that said, BoVD has one use at my table - several of the monsters are pretty decent.

I loved some of the feats in Book of Exalted Deeds, especially the one that allowed you to do damage to undead that you successfully turned.

 

[Greg K]

TBVD is one book that's simply banned without discussion at my table.

At my table, it was banned as a player resource (with the exception of one or two spells). As a DM, there were a few spells and other items I use as a DM. Therefore, it saw more use than most WOTC supplments.