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<blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 9512937" data-attributes="member: 22779">The other issue is that previously people took Appendix N to be some sort of bibliography of D&amp;D.&nbsp; These works were the &quot;source material&quot; for the game.&nbsp; That's not what the list was ever meant to represent.&nbsp; It was a list of inspirational works, not a historical or academic list of works.In other words, for example, leaving off Lovecraft isn't saying that Lovecraft isn't important to the genre.&nbsp; It's meant as a list of &quot;Here's stuff that we think you should read that will inspire your games.&quot;&nbsp; It's not and never was meant as &quot;here's a list of the definitive works that shaped D&amp;D&quot;.&nbsp; It's not a bibliography.But many people took it to be a bibliography.&nbsp; A list of the the influential works that shaped the genre.&nbsp; In a list like that, of course Lovecraft would be included.&nbsp; It would have to be.&nbsp; However, since people can't distinguish between the two and constantly use Appendix N as a bludgeoning tool for gatekeeping the hobby, well, I can't blame WotC for deescalating the discourse.&nbsp; Appendix N has been weaponized for years, so it's a good idea to just not have one.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Hussar, post: 9512937, member: 22779"] The other issue is that previously people took Appendix N to be some sort of bibliography of D&D. These works were the "source material" for the game. That's not what the list was ever meant to represent. It was a list of inspirational works, not a historical or academic list of works. In other words, for example, leaving off Lovecraft isn't saying that Lovecraft isn't important to the genre. It's meant as a list of "Here's stuff that we think you should read that will inspire your games." It's not and never was meant as "here's a list of the definitive works that shaped D&D". It's not a bibliography. But many people took it to be a bibliography. A list of the the influential works that shaped the genre. In a list like that, of course Lovecraft would be included. It would have to be. However, since people can't distinguish between the two and constantly use Appendix N as a bludgeoning tool for gatekeeping the hobby, well, I can't blame WotC for deescalating the discourse. Appendix N has been weaponized for years, so it's a good idea to just not have one. [/QUOTE]

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