New review of the Book of Erotic Fantasy

[Piratecat]

All I can say is I disagree with you. We will just have to agree to disagree and go on our way.

hunter1828

Hey, please don't quote a gigantic post and only contribute a one line response. In this sort of situation, best to delete everything after the first sentence, add a "snip" or "...", and then give your response.

Thanks!

 

[hunter1828]

OT-edited my post

Hey, please don't quote a gigantic post and only contribute a one line response. In this sort of situation, best to delete everything after the first sentence, add a "snip" or "...", and then give your response.

Thanks!

Piratecat,

Sorry 'bout that. I truly meant to do that, then just spaced it. I have edited the post.

hunter1828

 

[Piratecat]

Thanks!

 

[Green Knight]

Completely OT: all the evidence suggests that being prudish about sex goes hand in hand with a _high_ reproductive rate. The least prudish countries tend to have the lowest reproductive rates, and vice versa. The USA has one of the higher reproductive rates in the developed world AFAIK, and historically has had an _extremely_ high reproductive rate. This combined with continuing high levels of immigration means that the USA is the only 'first world' country likely to grow substantially in population over the next century or so.

Of course if y'all stop being so prudish this could change...

Huh. You got across what I was trying to get across, but you did it much more effectively. Damn, I suck.

And change? Why? I intend going on being prudish with my Puritanical even though I'm not actually a Puritan or even Caucasian ways while I get married and have 5 kids.

But yeah, when you're someone who believes that the purpose of sex is to have children, and that sex should preferably be within the confines of marriage, you tend to have a lot of kids, since sex is just a means to an end. But if you're someone who views sex as an end in itself, then generally speaking you don't want anything beyond that, and so have less children. In the former case, children are the goal, and their creation is actively encouraged. In the latter case, sex is the goal, and children are viewed as an unwanted byproduct and so everything is done to prevent childbirth from occuring. I know that's the end goal for me.

I've known a few guys who weren't interested in settling down, but rather, in getting laid. Where are they now? Approaching their 40's and still out there chasing tail. That's what you get when the endgoal is sex. You get lots of sex going on, but no children. Myself, I want a family. I love kids, and if I could have at least 3 of them I'd be ecstatic. 4 or 5 would be even better (Hey, I'm immature, so the more playmates the better ). But that's what Puritanical values (Even for us Non-Puritans) get you. A desire to have children. Not just a desire to "get some" and avoid any and all "consequences" that might arise from that.

So while the US birth rates are dropping, there's still growth. Other societies like France and the Netherlands, OTOH, are dipping below replacement level. Not enough young to replace the old. It's not a stretch to say that before this century is out, unless they have a massive change of attitude, natural born French and Dutch will be minorities in their own country (Which of course, won't be theirs, anymore. They'll belong to the Middle Eastern immigrants, who're flowing into those countries and multiplying like jack rabbits).

Anyway, sorry for the Off-Topic rampage.

 

[Wombat]

There are many questions I wonder.

• Do Gamers want Erotic fantasy in there game?
• Do Gamers of both sexes want to play erotic fantasty game?
• Whats the best reason this book should be used in a game?
• Does it make people happy?
• Does this book give any information?

Direct questions deserve direct answers

OTOH, I can only answer for myself and my group, not "Gamers"; with that proviso in mind, here are my takes.

Do we want Erotic Fantasy in our game? No, not really. Doesn't fit with the tone of the current game, or any but one game that I ever ran. So for our group I think the fit would be, at best, minimal.

We have four men and two women in our group; neither has expressed interest, so I think Question 2 is a wash.

Best reason to use this in a game? Ummm, maybe if people want to have guidelines regarding sexual encounters (standard and non-standard) in a game? Okay, this is a stretch based on the paucity of information in the review.

Does Erotic Fantasy make people happy? (This is my interpretation of your question) Possibly. Would depend from individual to individual.

Does the BoEF give any information ... on what? On making people happy? On how to game erotically? On crunchy rules regarding sexual encounters? On fulfilling all the answers to the questions you asked for? This last question falls into the "Can you vague that up a little?" category.

As I said before, this book falls into the "personal taste" category. Or, as my father used to say, "Who's milking this frog?" From the review, the couple of illustrations, and the commentary from people who seem to be promoting the book, it seems the book would not fit any of my needs or desires.

Heck, if I want erotic fantasy, I can haul out The Tales of One Thounsand Nights and a Night, a bit of Chaucer, or those horrible Anne Rice bondage fantasies regarding Sleeping Beauty. For that matter there are a host of modern writers I could turn to for inspiration -- Storm Constantine, Poppy Z. Brite, Laurel K. Hamilton, etc. (though looking at this list I am amused to see that all the names I have listed are female). As for the more plastic arts, most of them bore me -- I'm not a fan of most modern fantasists. Ultimately this comes back to gaming, however, and erotic gaming isn't really my style or desire. For that matter neither is grotesque and graphic violence. Most of my gaming is on the Very Heroic or the Very Comical level. Other people like other forms; my gamers are comfortable with this.

So, once again, those of you who want/need/desire BoEF, go for the gold. I won't stop you and I hope you have a lot of fun with it. Those of you who don't want it, I hope you find a book you do want. And both sides should stop trying to convince the other that they are wrong or stupid or puritanical or overly livacious or whatever else. Like it, dislike it, you decide. That's what it's all about.

 

[Sirius_Black]

I just wish that the pro-BOEF folks wouldn't automatically assume that the anti-BOEF folks are immature prudes (at best) or jack-booted right-wing censors (at worst).

Wulf

People that hate, dislike, ridicule, the Book that shall not be named are none of the above in my eyes.

Additionally, those who will support and buy the book are not deviants, sex fiends, nymphos, etc.

In the end, it's just a book...D&D and D20 will survive long after the Book that shall not be named has been replaced by something that causes an even further uproar like....

The Book of Cannibalism

**

Player: I've slayed the goblins. Who has the hot sauce?

DM: Hold on, <thumbing through the BOC>, I've got to do a D20 check on whether or not any spoilage has taken place.

**

How about accepting the fact that some folks think the whole idea is just friggin' GOOFY.

I understand that. I feel the whole idea of mixing real life religion and D20 as GOOFY. I can freely pop into a Testament thread and post some comments on whether or not you have to do D20 Spot check when someone comes up to you and asks

"Have you found Jesus?"

But <shrug> if people are happy playing the game, bless them. They are using their imagination and they are after all reading. <Sigh> Which I fear is a lost art at times.

 

[Sirius_Black]

I think it looks like they did a lousy job, based on the art & text I've seen. That was my point.

Some people might point out that the Book that shall not be named has received strong reactions when nothing has come out but a preview and some web updates/PR postings.

I recall a similar thread where another strong reaction was generated from poor Keith Baker's setting that didn't even get a preview. I guess it's natural.

 

[Sirius_Black]

The U.S. is still very culturally closed about issues of sex

Unless it involves teeny bopper singers that are barely adults or not even of legal adult age, then for some reason I've seen some individuals in American society who would ridicule the Book that shall not be named as the next coming of America's moral erosion, start to pant, drool, and make wallpapers of girls that, well, would get them thrown into jail if they did anything with their thoughts.

Nothing wrong with admiring such singers, I just find the different responses fascinating.

 

[Sirius_Black]

There seems to be two issues involved here

1.) The use of the general rules included in the book.
2.) The art.

Having not seen a lot of this books contents (art or otherwise), I'll have to stay neutral on how well of a job both were handled. However, it begs the important question:

Would this book be more "accepted" without photoshopped art (replaced by line drawn art ala BoVD?)

That's a very interesting and intelligent observation. From what I've seen so far, the art has generated some of the harshest criticism. I have not seen the preview and can only go on the art posted so far on the web in reviews, Valar PR, etc. Thus, from other comments, I can only assume that there is more graphic art in the full preview.

I can only wait until I actually have the product in hand to form an opinion. If I don't like the book, EBAY here I come. I wonder if I'll get a buyer for the Book that shall not be named who gives me instructions like one past buyer did:

"Please send it to this P.O. Box. Do not send it to my paypal address. Do not put anything identifiable on the envelope. My wife will kill me if she sees this."

 

[Sirius_Black]

Oh my goodness! A BoEF thread that's descending into an argument? I *never* would have suspected it!

Be honest Piratecat, at the weekly meeting of EN World moderators, before you hand out the paychecks , some of you begin to shudder and shake knowing that if the Book that shall not be named is generating this with just a preview, what will the actual book spawn?

Hang in there and thanks for the remindar.