My Vilest Review yet (long)

[Felon]

i was not even considering picking this up before it was released and people here started talking about what was actually in the book. i was not one of those who said the book would kill the hobby or that it should never have been concieved

??? LOL. What knuckleheads thought that? D&D's sales rocketed during the 80's when angry religious groups were condemning it.

I remember back in an old issue of The Elementals comic, written and drawn by AD&D alum Bill Willingham, that he never could get what his colleagues at TSR were so worried about. His secret desire, as he put it, was to stumble across a group of teenagers who had just committed suicide, so he'd have a chance to slip copies The Elementals into their lifeless hands.

Wish I'd been perusing the boards during all the hubbub. Could've straightened a few of those dimbulbs out.

 

[Crothian]

i was not even considering picking this up before it was released and people here started talking about what was actually in the book. i was not one of those who said the book would kill the hobby or that it should never have been concieved but i had little interest in what i thought the subject matter would probably be. i should have had more faith in the author, i shuld have known he would not put out a piece of garbage. mock me as you see fit. i will probably be buying it in a month when my used book store/comic/cardgame and rpg product store finally gets a copy in.

still, the nudity is not nessisary as far as i am concerned, i'm not offended by it but why bother? it's just one more reason for little jimmy's mom to toss out his rpg book collection and keep him from playing the game. i know it says that it is for mature readers but kids are going to get this book. would it have been a poorer book without the nudity? or the gore for that matter? how very north american of me to throw that out there as an afterthought either could have the same effect. beastyality is one of many topics i would have preffered to see let on the cutting room floor but that's just my personal taste again.

I pretty much agree. The nudity is not sexual, so that does help. THe violence is tame, but still they aren't needed. THe beastiality is a small blurb, so again nothing really over the top. They pushed the envelope, so I credit them for that.

 

[Felon]

I pretty much agree. The nudity is not sexual, so that does help. THe violence is tame, but still they aren't needed. THe beastiality is a small blurb, so again nothing really over the top. They pushed the envelope, so I credit them for that.

Hmm. They didn't push it by much. There really isn't much artwork at all in BoVD. None of the torture or execution equipment was illustrated, which is a sharp deviation from the trend established in the PHB, the campaign setting books, and the class quidebooks, all of which made a point of depicting each piece of equipment described in the chapter. Many of the prestige classes lack pictures, and most of the demons' images--like Jubilex and Orcuse--were too small and indistinct. On the whole, there really isn't much shocking content.

As for sex and violence being unnecessary--hell, D&D is a game of gratuity and excess. Who wants to play a game that's tame and modest?

 

[DanMcS]

One other thing I didn't like about this, and I don't know if it's wizards fault or the store I picked it up in. There's a sticker on it that warns about adult context. This is one tough sticker, it won't come off. A small anoyance, but one none the less.

So, um, where did you get it, so I'll know where to avoid?

 

[Mr Fidgit]

i think it's a Wizards thing, Dan

IIRC, when one of the first boardmembers here got the BoVD, he posted a thread with his own review and answered questions about the book. he also mentioned the sticker...

 

[Felon]

So, um, where did you get it, so I'll know where to avoid?

The sticker isn't optional. It's on all of the books. Your best bet is to try to find a book that has the sticker peeling off of it, then buy it.

 

[jaults]

One other thing I didn't like about this, and I don't know if it's wizards fault or the store I picked it up in. There's a sticker on it that warns about adult context. This is one tough sticker, it won't come off. A small anoyance, but one none the less.

    NO KIDDING! That sticker is SO annoying! Does anyone have any good strategies for getting that vile sticker off? Oh, and good review, Crothian.

Thanks,
    Jason

 

[Crothian]

So, um, where did you get it, so I'll know where to avoid?

It seems to be on all of them no matter where yuou buy it. I got it at the Gaurdtower, but I don't see any of out local gaming stores placing stickers on their books warning on mature content.

 

[Crothian]

    NO KIDDING! That sticker is SO annoying! Does anyone have any good strategies for getting that vile sticker off? Oh, and good review, Crothian.

Thanks,
    Jason

An old trick I know from cleaning up after kids with sticker collections is hot water. However, you'll have to be careful the cover should be okay if it gets a little wet, but the actual pages might get a little damaged if they get wet.

Edit: And I'm glad you liked the review. I just wish I could post it in the review section.

 

[DanMcS]

i think it's a Wizards thing, Dan

IIRC, when one of the first boardmembers here got the BoVD, he posted a thread with his own review and answered questions about the book. he also mentioned the sticker...

Darn. I was hoping it was just a one-store-in-columbus thing.

How to get it off the book? Um, torturing it with knives and acid while sacrificing character sheets to Orcus would seem to be appropriate.