Dungeon #143

[Nightfall]

You mean they urinate on it instead huh?

 

[Prince of Happiness]

You mean they urinate on it instead huh?

Naw, they just keep throwing player characters on top until its smothered out.

 

[Nightfall]

Prince,

That works too! I like that approach!

 

[Mighty Halfling]

That would be me

The letter in question is from a Christian gamer, who explains that he has no problem whatsoever with the game (since he knows that it is, after all, just a game), but his wife, also a Christian, has trouble with the game's "elements of magic and the supernatural," and that that cover - depicting a handsome, confident, muscular devil - won't make the debate any easier for him. He suggests that maybe it would have been better to put a cover that depicted righteous forces fighting Mephistopheles.

The response he gets is a polite rebuke. The staff mentions that posting an iconic villain on the cover is probably good for sales, that previous covers featured quite a few demon lords without any outcry, and perhaps most important of all, catering to reactionaries who don't even play the game accomplishes nothing, and offends the people who do.

That was me writing the letter of complaint about Dungeon 140's cover. I have no doubt that the Paizo staff replied politely to my letter. They're good guys.
Once I get my issue, I'll probably be able to comment more (should there be any need to do so).

I posted my original letter, plus some additional details, on my blog awhile back: http://soundadvicefortoday.com/2006/11/10/dungeon-no-140.aspx

Let me also add that I'm not in anyway trying to start a war of words in the Dungeon letters column, here or on my blog. Just stating what I felt on that day.

 

[Mark Hope]

That was me writing the letter of complaint about Dungeon 140's cover. I have no doubt that the Paizo staff replied politely to my letter. They're good guys.
Once I get my issue, I'll probably be able to comment more (should there be any need to do so).

I posted my original letter, plus some additional details, on my blog awhile back: http://soundadvicefortoday.com/2006/11/10/dungeon-no-140.aspx

Let me also add that I'm not in anyway trying to start a war of words in the Dungeon letters column, here or on my blog. Just stating what I felt on that day.

Mighty Halfling, I just wanted to commend you on your honesty and forthrightness about this matter. I don't agree with your position in the slightest (and will respect your desire not to escalate the discussion, or cross Enworld's line regarding such subjects), but I did want to say that is refreshing to see a clearly-stated bit of honest thought, rather than ranting hyperbole. Good form.

 

[Gold Roger]

Looks like an excellent issue.

Now I might need an excuse to put a lightning rail in my next campaign though.

 

[James Jacobs]

That was me writing the letter of complaint about Dungeon 140's cover. I have no doubt that the Paizo staff replied politely to my letter. They're good guys.
Once I get my issue, I'll probably be able to comment more (should there be any need to do so).

I'd also like to thank you for that letter; it was well written and constructive and not confrontational. I did my best to respond in kind, and it gave me a chance to address an issue that's important to gaming as a whole in a way that wasn't a flame war or a rant.

To address other issues in this thread:

Zotzilaha is from the 2nd Edition Scarlet Brotherhood supplement, but is basically just another name for the bat god Camazotz.

Lemorian half-fiends are detailed in a sidebar on page 58. They'll get more info later on in the campaign (likely in the adventure, "Serpents of Scuttlecove").

 

[Shade]

Rakasta (1981-2006)

Debuting in X1: The Isle of Dread, the rakasta made an immediate impact in the D&D world. Their sophomore release, X2: Castle Amber, drove them to even bigger heights. Over the years, they continued to thrive, featuring prominently in the Red Steel campaign setting and the Savage Coast.

As time passed, rakasta were unfortunately lumped in with other "animal heads" of the era, and had all but vanished by the time Third Edition rolled around. Despite maintaining a cult following, and the efforts of several industry insiders, such as Mike McArtor, the rakasta were finally laid to rest in Dungeon #143.

Rakasta are survived by their far less interesting brethren, the catfolk, and their former associates, the lupins and phanatons.

 

[Johnnie Freedom!]

The response he gets is a polite rebuke. The staff mentions that posting an iconic villain on the cover is probably good for sales, that previous covers featured quite a few demon lords without any outcry, and perhaps most important of all, catering to reactionaries who don't even play the game accomplishes nothing, and offends the people who do.

But calling people who have different convictions than you do "reactionaries" certainly won't win you any diplomacy points. :\

 

[Johnnie Freedom!]

Rakasta (1981-2006)

Debuting in X1: The Isle of Dread, the rakasta made an immediate impact in the D&D world. Their sophomore release, X2: Castle Amber, drove them to even bigger heights. Over the years, they continued to thrive, featuring prominently in the Red Steel campaign setting and the Savage Coast.

As time passed, rakasta were unfortunately lumped in with other "animal heads" of the era, and had all but vanished by the time Third Edition rolled around. Despite maintaining a cult following, and the efforts of several industry insiders, such as Mike McArtor, the rakasta were finally laid to rest in Dungeon #143.

It's probably just as well. Looking at this picture make me giggle:

http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/dd/dd-rr.jpg

Me big tiger-man! GRRRRRR!

On a serious note, how are rakasta related to those tiger-head dudes in Monster Manual? Aren't they called "Raksasha" or something? (Don't have book in front of me, although I suppose this is one of those "I really oughta know this" questions. )