D&D General Jaquaying the dungeon - a term to avoid

[darjr]

Thanks in particular for clarifying that Heineman is Jaquays' spouse. That was an important detail I was missing.

I updated the post too.

 

[Mistwell]

Well I am glad that got settled.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Woohoo! That came to a much better conclusion than I expected.

 

[kenada]

This settles it for me.

View attachment 344842
Edit to add: Rebecca is Jennells spouse.

Same. I’m glad I can resume using the correct term (“Jaquaysing the dungeon”).

 

[Yalım]

Half an hour or so ago Anne posted an update on her blog: https://diyanddragons.blogspot.com/2024/01/an-update-on-jaquaysing.html

Coinciding with a post from Justin's blog about the same thing: https://thealexandrian.net/wordpres...cond-historical-note-on-xandering-the-dungeon - According to his post, he's made some changes to the original article.

I think it changes the story around the term, but between the explicit note from Justin about why he changed the name in hsis book and Rebecca's comments on it, I don't think this changes the fact that "jaquaysing" is the correct word. I'm still going use it over xandering.

 

[overgeeked]

Half an hour or so ago Anne posted an update on her blog: https://diyanddragons.blogspot.com/2024/01/an-update-on-jaquaysing.html

Coinciding with a post from Justin's blog about the same thing: https://thealexandrian.net/wordpres...cond-historical-note-on-xandering-the-dungeon - According to his post, he's made some changes to the original article.

I think it changes the story around the term, but between the explicit note from Justin about why he changed the name in hsis book and Rebecca's comments on it, I don't think this changes the fact that "jaquaysing" is the correct word. I'm still going use it over xandering.

It’s too bad it took all that to finally get through to him, but I’m glad it seems to have sunk in.

 

[the Jester]

I think it changes the story around the term, but between the explicit note from Justin about why he changed the name in hsis book and Rebecca's comments on it, I don't think this changes the fact that "jaquaysing" is the correct word. I'm still going use it over xandering.

Yeah, I also don't think it changes that "Xandering" is basically an attempt at appropriating the term, either.

I find it difficult to believe that Justin did not recognize what he was doing was in very poor taste, but it is possible. Either way, I appreciate his clearing things up, as well as his apology to the larger trans gamer community. We can all be self-absorbed at times- I certainly can!- and it is sometimes easy to overlook one's own actions and how they might be seen by wider audiences, even when that's not our intent.

(I have tried very hard to edit this before posting it to avoid adding unnecessary invective, and hope I have succeeded.)

 

[Sacrosanct]

From now on, “Xandering “ means taking credit for someone’s work who you didn’t respect.

Look at this AI art I did!

Dude, midjourney totally Xandered that from real artists.

 

[Ancalagon]

Half an hour or so ago Anne posted an update on her blog: https://diyanddragons.blogspot.com/2024/01/an-update-on-jaquaysing.html

Coinciding with a post from Justin's blog about the same thing: https://thealexandrian.net/wordpres...cond-historical-note-on-xandering-the-dungeon - According to his post, he's made some changes to the original article.

I think it changes the story around the term, but between the explicit note from Justin about why he changed the name in hsis book and Rebecca's comments on it, I don't think this changes the fact that "jaquaysing" is the correct word. I'm still going use it over xandering.

Thank you very much for this important update. I've edited my original post to reflect these developments.

 

[Irrevenant]

From now on, “Xandering “ means taking credit for someone’s work who you didn’t respect.

Look at this AI art I did!

Dude, midjourney totally Xandered that from real artists.

Okay, I've just stumbled into this whole thing and here's how I understand it:

1. Jennell Jacquays was responsible for popularising non-linear dungeon design. Mad props to her for that!
2. Justin Alexander came up with his own categorisation system, techniques, terminology and tips for developing non-linear dungeons in a series of blog posts in 2010. Since this is his personal approach/system for it he could reasonably have called it 'Xandering' at the time. Instead he chose to call it 'Jacquaying' (including that unfortunate typo - it should be 'Jacquaysing') in honour of Jennell Jacquays since she inspired it.
3. Time passes, 'Jacquay(s)ing' becomes a common use term in the community. It is especially appreciated by the trans community since it is named in respect for the accomplishments of a transwoman.
4. Come 2023, Justin is publishing a book including this system he developed. His publisher expressed legal concerns about naming at after someone else who could potentially object to it, or otherwise lay claim to the name. Justin goes 'okay'. He updates the blog posts and the book to use the term 'Xandering' instead, while still heavily crediting Jenell as the inspiration for his specific approach.

Now, IMO this is a bad idea. It's his system, but its naming showed respect for Jennell and the community has been using it for over a decade. Yanking it back now comes across as very rude and hurtful to people who care about and respect Jennell. Personally I think it was a bad idea. That ship had well and truly sailed.

What it isn't, as far as I can see, is 'taking credit for someone's work who you didn't respect'. Firstly, 'xandering' refers specifically to Justin's theory and method for developing non-linear dungeons. One of his reasons for wanting to change the name was that people kept thinking that his system was created by Jenelle. Secondly, the blog series on xandering, and I assume the book, repeatedly credit Jennell for developing some of the first non-linear dungeons and popularising that style of dungeon. He isn't trying to take credit for anything she did, only for his own content.

Happy to hear arguments to the contrary, but right now I don't see Justin taking credit for anything other than his own work, and he's been very clear about Jennell's influence on it.

IMO you could reasonably use both terms - jacquaysing is the act of making a dungeon non-linear, xandering is Justin's particular approach to jacquaysing.