GMs altering established campaign setting elements to suit players?

[S'mon]

This came up in my last D&D campaign. GMs here, how do you feel about altering established campaign setting elements to suit the desires of one or more players? I don't mean rules, unless the rule reflects an integral setting element. I'm thinking things like (literary examples) the human sacrifice in Slaine, racism in Hyborea, sexism in Nehwon, anti-Catholicism in His Dark Materials. Would you be ok with removing undesired elements? Does it make a difference whether it's a published or homebrew setting. Does it matter if the campaign's been running for a while as opposed to a new game? How about if it's your pet gameworld you've been running for 20 years?

I've found myself much more willing to change rules than to change established elements of my gameworld mid-campaign, although I was happy to de-emphasise elements I found it impossible to retcon it, to say "Ok, X doesn't exist". Many 'corporate' fictional universes like Star Trek or Marvel Universe seem happy to retcon though - is it an 'auteur' thing?

 

[Darkness]

I tend to reduce sexism a bit 'cause that often fits better with a "cinematic," or action/adventure, mentality. (Conan aside.)

Other than that... Depends on the reason and element in question. If it makes for a better game, sure.

 

[Ry]

Nothing is sacred when it comes to making sure everybody has fun.

 

[Piratecat]

Does it make the game more fun for both myself and the players? Then yes, absolutely. Heck, we've ret-conned stuff every time we change editions; so long as it doesn't mess up our suspension of disbelief, it hasn't been a problem.

 

[Narfellus]

I don't mind altering campaing settings at all to suit the mood and /or desires of the players. In some instances, like the Conan example above, removing sexism from the setting would practially render it a different world, but if that's how a group wants to play it, more power to 'em.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Nothing is sacred when it comes to making sure everybody has fun.

I agree. However, the key thing here is everybody. Is one dude is upset but everyone else is cool with it, I always tell that guy, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out." I grow weary of PC trying to creep into every aspect of life because it makes 'some' people feel uncomfortable.

 

[Darkness]

Example of a non-change:

I'm absolutely and completely in love with the Church of the Silver Flame (Eberron). Despite my nefarious ways, I want nothing as much as watching my players' characters kick the butts of the bad dudes in the name of the Silver Flame.

As such, there's a certain temptation for me to downplay the corruption and violent zeal of some of the Church's members. That wouldn't make for a better game for us, though - probably the opposite. So I'll let the PCs try to root out the problems instead.

 

[S'mon]

Thanks - JoeGK I take your point about making sure everyone has fun. I guess I do tend to prioritise the world integrity over the fun of the players, partly it's because I have players in faraway places who still have a vested interest in it and might be upset if it was changed too much - changed out-of-game I mean, rather than in-game by the actions of PCs and NPCs. Mostly though I just can't stand the idea of saying something like "OK, the Demonwar never happened, so the past 400 years of game time/19 years of real time was all different..." - unless that was the result of a cool time-travel scenario, of course.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Well, as we become more 'enlightened' while still denying the physical differences and realities between men, women and each other, I try to keep that nonsense out of the game. Don't like slavery and sexism? Don't play Conan or Nehwon. Don't like Jewish people being killed by Nazis? Don't play WWII games.

 

[Desdichado]

I grow weary of PC trying to creep into every aspect of life because it makes 'some' people feel uncomfortable.

It does make me uncomfortabl with Piratecat's creeping into every aspect of my life, though. If that means I can't game in your group, then so be it.