Nudity in RPG books?

[Chimera]

We deal with Violence in all it's forms as a part of our "game", but we're bothered by a bit of nudity?

Like I sarcastically stated after the Janet Jackson episode: "How dare you show us nudity when we're celebrating our violence!"

Some seriously screwed up priorities there, folks. An axe through the head is surely more "pornographic" than a bare breast.

 

[Mr. Lobo]

I don't see it as a "publisher's point of view" (I'm not published, for one thing) but it's the point of view of a gamer who wants to be able to teach other gamers how to play without throwing up a wall in the form of artwork or writing that is seen as inappropriate. The second I show a coworker a D&D book that contains even incidental nudity, the doors slam shut and the barriers are up. The second I show a parent and their 10-year-old a book with full frontal, is the minute they turn off the idea that D&D is a healthy pastime, for better or worse.

From my point of view I would say "that's too bad for them". I understand that people are offended by nudity I just don't understand all the reasons as to why. Especially in a fantasy game.

I see your point about wanting to turn your friends on to a neat game and spending a good time with them. But there is at least a semi-practical solution to your dilemma. One of the points I was trying to make in my post is that at least the OGL and SRD are available. And nudity free. Sure, it may not be as pretty or user friendly as the published books but at least there are pdf versions available.

Of course it would be great if there were a different presentation style of everyone's favorite RPG for everyone's different tastes. This can be do-able to a certain extent with the SRD and OGL. But who's gonna do it?

Mr. Lobo

 

[Bards R Us]

Forget nudity

Let there be more hardcore raunchiness

MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[Teflon Billy]

There is a film clip of a gymnast wearing only a bikini bottom. She does a simple run and vault. It plain looks painful to even see her run, much less do the vault. I hope she was well paid.

URL PLEASE

 

[Thanee]

I still think option #2 is right for me.

However, option #2 is also highly unrealistic, as - like many have said - nudity is usually used in a sexual context (i.e. "playboy models" stirring up phantasies and animating to buy the product), which is option #3.

Now, if nudity was used in a sensual manner and within realistic context (no D cup wood elven amazon archers, etc), not that one-sided way, then it would be ok. Non-sexual nudity. Option #2.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Incenjucar]

What I find funny about all of this is that, technially, obviously-d20 books are not allowed to so much as show a female nipple (But technically, you -could- have two guys yanking on each other's...), but Hasbro does it every once in awhile themselves.

Perhaps there should be a community-wide mature label designation to notify that a book has mature topics that are handled maturely? (since there are some books, like that one about women with big guns and bigger chests, that are clearly not even trying to be mature) A subtype, if you will.

---

What's sad about all of this is that it kills some of the potential fun. For instance, back in 2e, I had a type of dragon that had a breath weapon that turned organic materials to ash. While it caused some minor damage to the party, it also destroyed much of the clothing, armor, and other equipment (And, frankly, the 'equipment loss' DM tactic is alive and well in a thousand forms). How amusing would it be to have a picture of a grinning dragon with ash dripping from its jaws, while the iconic squad sat there, covered in soot, with their hair crumbling, trying to cover themselves with the various bits of armor that fell to the floor when all the leather straps were destroyed?

 

[barsoomcore]

I never considered buying any Avalanche Press products because of the silly nudity on the cover. When a publisher releases a book with a cover like that, I interpret their decision to mean, "We don't have any compelling reason for you to buy this book -- it doesn't have any useful information or compelling ideas, but here's a half-naked hottie for you." If they'd had better reasons for me to buy the book, they should have put them on the cover. Because I don't buy RPG books for hotties.

Except when I buy them for my wife.

Art is, when all is said and done, a marketing tool. It's another reason to buy a book rather than its simple textual content. So if you're wanting teenage boys without ready access to pornography to buy your book, then yeah, probably a little hottie goes a long way. If you're trying to sell to parents, then probably not so much. I don't really have an answer to the poll -- I don't care if there's nudity in RPG books in general -- but both the content and the competence of the art in a book will influence my buying decision.

I'd find broader representation in images more interesting because it would give me a richer sense of the gaming world, as a place where middle-aged women existed and had a place, where kids grew up and where fat, skinny, ripped and saggy people all lived. I'd like that.

Even if they weren't ALL naked.

 

[knitnerd]

I think this sums it up. (NOTE: I only read the first page of this topic.)

Nudity doesn't offer anything valid to D&D, other than feeding the adolescent fantasies of the traditional D&D Geek.

I prefer not to have nudity in RPG books, not because I'm a prude, or because it's against my religion, but because it's not necessary, it makes some people unnecessarily uncomfortable, and...well, why? Can't think of one valid, objective reason for having it in there.

There are valid reasons for nudity. If that giant had been well dressed, my ranger would not have been able to shoot him in the one place that left him totally unable to defend himself from the rest of the party. It might not be necessary to have nudity in the books. That scene came from the DM's mind.

 

[Sir Elton]

Art is, when all is said and done, a marketing tool. It's another reason to buy a book rather than its simple textual content. So if you're wanting teenage boys without ready access to pornography to buy your book, then yeah, probably a little hottie goes a long way. If you're trying to sell to parents, then probably not so much. I don't really have an answer to the poll -- I don't care if there's nudity in RPG books in general -- but both the content and the competence of the art in a book will influence my buying decision.

OH. So "Don't judge a book by its cover" does not have revelancy to RPGs?
I grant you, many publishers do not take this into account. Many (such as Avalanche) do use art as a marketing tool. However, I've been turned off on some Avalanche Press books mostly because of subject matter (Prince Vlad Dracula for one). Others I wanted to buy because of subject matter (their Sands of Egypt). Although Mongoose's the Slayer's Guide to Amazons had taught me a lesson in not buying RPG books because of the cover art.

That book presented a fantasy version of the Amazons of Themiscyra that I couldn't agree with. Plus, none of the amazons looked like fighters or had that Xena: Warrior Princess quality.

Right now, I look at it now and I can only think on how humorous the Amazons were presented. These women were susposed to be fighters? :lol Perish the thought! Real Themiscyran and Cymian Amazons were of the southern Scythian tribes. They had husbands, but weren't allowed to marry until they had slain an enemy in battle. They had to act much more muscular and much more forceful than those playmates of the month in that book. Gimme a break.

Although the art was beautiful (and raunchy in some areas), it misrepresented the whole visual idea behind the legendary warrior women. Now look at other RPGs that had nudity in it, and most of it was tasteful. The Wheel of Time RPG (although it was a small shock to see the Athan'Meire topless), the Conan the Barbarian RPG, even the pictures of Ryoko, Washu, and Ayeka was tasteful for the Tenchi Muyo! RPG. What gets me is no one is willing to draw anyone modestly nude. The pictures are always drawn as if they have something to hide (especially the men). That's what makes nudity in RPGs tasteless. Why not show the whole human form in all it's glory? If you are going to include nudity in our RPGs, then do it fully with dignity and glory.

Let everyone, and I mean everyone, satisfy their basic human need to know what our bodies look like unclothed. I intend to have the needed nudity in my project rendered fully with dignity and glory.

 

[GSHamster]

Nudity in art, if done well, can enhance the effect.

Nudity in art, if done poorly, is offensive and stupid.

I would rather have my books lack nudity, than get stupid and offensive nudity. However, if the nudity is appropriate/relevant, than it's okay by me. But honestly, it's very rarely appropriate or relevant, so I tend to be leery of it as pandering to hormone-crazed teenaged boys.