How do you feel about nudity in RPG books?

[Lwaxy]

Nudity is fine if it is not sexually related and serves a purpose, as in illustrating the build of males and females of a race, depicting a culture not wearing clothes etc. Other than that, I rather don't want it in.

I think the idea that it is wrong for children to see nudity is silly, it is the most natural thing in the world. Sexualized images are a totally different thing, and I do not ever want them in RPG books (or any other books) no matter if with clothes or without.

 

[billd91]

I think the idea that it is wrong for children to see nudity is silly, it is the most natural thing in the world. Sexualized images are a totally different thing, and I do not ever want them in RPG books (or any other books) no matter if with clothes or without.

It depends on what you mean by sexualized image. Sexuality is ultimately just as natural as nudity and creatures like the succubus are probably best represented in some form of sexualized image. What it doesn't need to do is pander for the sake of pandering (in other words, getting more undersexed fanboys buying the product).

 

[Bedrockgames]

What idea are we talking about? The idea is maybe more important then the nudity itself.

I'm kind of liberal, so I think I would be OK with it, but I am OK with a lot of things so you know. The other half everyone else already told you. It's generally not OK for the good majority of people and they will be taken back sometimes before taking the idea into account even.

Any idea. I think what I am getting at is the notion that art in the book doesn't have to be a literal presentation of game setting and that perhaps that can include nudity. So using nudity to convey the beauty of a god, or the vulnerability of a character in a harsh world.

 

[fjw70]

No problem with nudity, but it's not going to influence my buying decision one way or the other.

 

[was]

Personally, I have no problem with it. I would not, however, recommend doing it. There are just too many people out there looking for any reason to raise a fuss. There's also an equal number of people out there who would have trouble acting appropriately around it.

 

[Zak S]

Personally, I have no problem with it. I would not, however, recommend doing it. There are just too many people out there looking for any reason to raise a fuss.

…LOTFP (for instance) has successfully used these peoples' outrage to sell books, though.

There's also an equal number of people out there who would have trouble acting appropriately around it.

I think if you have that kind of person in your game, the nudity isn't the problem, the player is.

 

[Riley]

I feel that nudity in my RPG books was one more reason for overprotective busybodies to take offense at my D&D books when I was in middle school.

 

[Bedrockgames]

Personally, I have no problem with it. I would not, however, recommend doing it. There are just too many people out there looking for any reason to raise a fuss. There's also an equal number of people out there who would have trouble acting appropriately around it.

At this point I have to be honest, we don't really worry about people who make a fuss. There are actually too many groups making fusses that it became pointless years ago (at least from my point of view) worrying about any one of them (because someone, somewhere, will take issue with what you do). I am simply trying to give the artist information so she can get a sense of how people might interpret the decision. Ultimately this will be the artist's choice.

 

[gamerprinter]

At this point I have to be honest, we don't really worry about people who make a fuss. There are actually too many groups making fusses that it became pointless years ago (at least from my point of view) worrying about any one of them (because someone, somewhere, will take issue with what you do). I am simply trying to give the artist information so she can get a sense of how people might interpret the decision. Ultimately this will be the artist's choice.

I give out art orders all the time. While I am fairly clear with what I want a given illustration to be configured to resemble, I also offer feedback following an artist's initial sketches. If I see something I didn't expect, nor desired. I state it so. I never leave the ultimate choice to the artist. I know what I want, I am paying for it, so I see no reason to let the artist decide direction beyond that.

 

[Bedrockgames]

I give out art orders all the time. While I am fairly clear with what I want a given illustration to be configured to resemble, I also offer feedback following an artist's initial sketches. If I see something I didn't expect, nor desired. I state it so. I never leave the ultimate choice to the artist.

There are different ways to manage projects. I do things diferrently based on the individual project. For many projects, I do exactly what you describe (if I need an elf wielding a Gladius, then an elf riding a pony won't do). This project is one where I am partnering up with an artist and giving the artist more of a say on the game content. I am also interested in the artist producing art that is true to her vision in this case).