Dungeon to be sealed as well...

[Krug]

I don't know if this got covered, but here it is.
From:
http://boards.wizards.com/rpg/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=127;t=000267

So there's a thread over on the DRAGON message boards about the 16-page sealed section supporting the Book of Vile Darkness that will be in issue 300. That made me think that maybe it would be a good plan to give folks a heads-up on what you'll be seeing in the next DUNGEON.

We too will feature a special sealed section in issue 95 of DUNGEON. The section will include a 32-page adventure written by James Jacobs called "Porphyry House Horror." It's written in support of the Book of Vile Darkness, although that supplement won't be necessary to play the adventure. The adventure is really good. I had the opportunity to run a playtest at Gen Con, and it was well received. The adventure will feature mature themes, as well as demonstrations of how cool lots of the spells, items, and monsters from the Book of Vile Darkness can be. If you're still not sure if this adventure is for you, think of it this way: If the bulk of our content is intended as PG-13, this adventure would probably be rated R.

The reason we're printing it in a sealed section is pretty simple. Although the vast majority of our readership is of an age to view this material without a problem, we want to give the parents of our younger readers a chance to make a choice as to whether they want their kids to see this material. It's just like they'd typically have the choice of whether to allow their child to see a rated R movie or buy a CD with explicit lyrics. Some (I'd wager most) kids can probably handle the adventure. My mom teaches 2nd grade, and most of her students see R-rated movies on a regular basis, right or wrong. Heck, I think some of the stuff they show on the evening news or in other magazines is pretty crazy. You don't get the chance to self censor in a lot of those cases. Here you can.

Anyway, we appreciate feedback. Everyone we talked to at Gen Con seemed excited by the prospect of the adventure, and we're hoping it will show you DMs just how the Book of Vile Darkness can make your campaign a bit edgier.

Chris
Dungeon Guy

 

[Morrus]

Yup, it got covered.

For myself, it really makes no difference. I have no strong opinion on the matter, and I'm not that worried about whether or not it's a marketing ploy. The probability of my getting the mags are exactly the same.

(Actually, they've increased, but only because Paizo have just given me a complimentary subscription!)

 

[Krug]

Yup, it got covered.

For myself, it really makes no difference. I have no strong opinion on the matter, and I'm not that worried about whether or not it's a marketing ploy. The probability of my getting the mags are exactly the same.

(Actually, they've increased, but only because Paizo have just given me a complimentary subscription!)

Ah the perks of the job.. ;P

 

[Morrus]

Ah the perks of the job.. ;P

Well we'll see if they actually arrive. WotC have said to me "Give us your address so we can send you stuff!" so many times now that I've lost count. Still not seen a blessed thing from them!

 

[William Ronald]

Don't feel bad, Morrus.

Overseas mail does take a little time. Of course, I hope you don't have a mail delivery person who sends things to the wrong address. (I have had that happen on occassion.)

I think keeping the BOVD part of the magazine separate is a good gesture to those who might be offended by the content. It is a sign of respect to the readers. (Of course, it does help draw attention to the magazine.)

 

[dreamthief]

More elaboration on the product by Chris:


The theory is that if our subscribers are under 18, their parents have an interest in what they're in to, and monitor their kids' activities accordingly. In a perfect world, a parent notices the mature audiences tag and the sealed pages and doesn't let their child open it. As a magazine publisher, that's honestly the best we can do.

As for the actual contents, I stick by my assessment that they're R- rated. We deal with mature themes in the adventure (including prostitution, drug use, and an above-average level of violence). It's nothing worse than you'd see in your typical Arnie flick, without the swearing (while I imagine people in D&D games swear, it's always been weird to me to see contemporary, common curse words used in a high fantasy, medieval game, so there's no cussin' in the adventure —although not intentionally, now that I think about it).

So there you go.

Chris
Dungeon Guy

 

[Furn_Darkside]

As a magazine publisher, that's honestly the best we can do.

Heh, no, the best they could have done was keep the magazine clean and let their "mature" (the use of that word, to me, tends to indicate the opposite) adventure be available elsewhere.

Before anyone takes offense- I don't really care, I still suspect it is more of a gimmick. I just think that line is funny.

FD

 

[Morrus]

Don't feel bad, Morrus.

Overseas mail does take a little time.

Yeah, but you don't usually measure it in months

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Yeah, but you don't usually measure it in months

Perhaps they just have something against the forces who work to spread haiku.

FD

 

[William Ronald]

Morrus, maybe doublecheck with the post office. I have seen letters for a similar address in another town sent to my building.