RPG Writer Zak S Accused Of Abusive Behaviour

RPG writer Zak S (aka Zak Smith, Zak Sabbath) has been accused by multiple women of abusive behaviour in a public Facebook post by his ex-partner, and two other women.

Photo from Wikipedia​

Zak Smith appeared in the video series I Hit It With My Axe, and is known for the Playing D&D With Porn Stars blog. He has also written several RPG books, most recently for Lamentations of the Flame Princess, consulted on the D&D 5th Edition Player's Handbook, has won multiple ENnies, and recently worked for White Wolf. As yet, he hasn't made any public response to the accusations.

Since then, another ex-partner of Zak Smith, Vivka Grey, has publicly come forward with a further account of his conduct.

This isn't the first time that Zak Smith has been accused of inappropriate behaviour (language warning in that link). The Facebook post, which was posted overnight, has been shared widely on social media, and takes the form of an open letter (linked above; it makes for unpleasant reading, so please be aware of that if you choose to read it).

The industry has been reacting to the news. Amongst many others:

• DriveThruRPG has stated that it will sell no future works by Zak Smith.
• Veteran author Ken Hite has announced that he will not work with or share credits with Zak Smith again.
• The Gauntlet blog and podcast will no longer cover Zak S or his publications, or attend conventions that he is permitted at.
• WotC's Mike Mearls has noted that they have not engaged with Zak S since he worked for them as a consultant on 5E, although a previous statement from him in 2014 takes a different stance. However, D&D Beyond has now removed all the consultant credits (not just Zak S) from its online version of the book.
• UPDATE - WotC has now made a longer statement and will be removing Zak S from the credits of future printings of the Player's Handbook.
• Gen Con has tweeted a brief statement which says it has investigated, but the results are confidential. It has bene stated by various industry insiders that Zak S has, in fact, been banned from Gen Con, but the convention isn't saying so publicly.

I believe Mandy, Jennifer, Hannah, and Vivka. It must be terrifying to come forward like this. They have been put through horrible ordeals. I will not cover Zak’s work on this site, in my podcast, or elsewhere, and will not provide him with any kind of platform.

 

[Chaderick]

Disregard.

 

[redrick]

There are lots of meaningful and needed conversations happening on indie RPG Twitter. People who had already been hurt by and come forward about Zak, people who saw the way the industry protected him, and, in many cases, pushed them to the side. I recommend giving it a read. This is painful, hurtful stuff for a lot of people.

The Gauntlet, an online gaming community that also produces a number of podcasts, including an OSR podcast called Fear of a Black Dragon, posted this in response to the latest news about Zak S, and it is the kind of response I'd like to see elsewhere:

https://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/blog/the-gauntlets-statement-on-zak-s

 

[GMless]

You are done. Don't post in this thread again.

Post

 

[monsmord]

I'm not sure I agree with that without removing the things he had influence on. Credit where credit is due, regardless of the odiousness of the individual who came up with it, should be something we should hold all corporations to.

I was totally behind Kenmarable's post, but ya know, you're right. If the material is to be included, it should be appropriately accredited. Here, the what-did-they-know-and-when-did-they-know-it rule would determine whether it's a product I'd support. Not sure how I'd be able to verify that without directing querying the publisher -- and I might, at this point -- but if a new product cites him, or if an updated product doesn't specify and won't clarify why his name is included, I'd give it a pass just to be sure.

EDIT: I just read the link redrick provided (https://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/blog/th...ement-on-zak-s). Yes, this. I hope all gaming communities, events, and forums adopt such a policy. Next - online and FLGS sales not carrying his products.

 

[dave2008]

No it isn’t, you self-righteous jerk. This is a warning to young people, both male and female. Don’t tell me what I’m doing in my comment, jerk. Take your self-satisfied, smug, moral posturing somewhere else.

I said that Zach was making a cult of personality around him. I don’t know him, but it looks like extremely psychopathic behavior. I don’t blame the victims one bit. So shove your black and white thinking up your you know where.

Jeff, what you wrote could be viewed as victim blaming, despite it not being your intent. That is an issue with interaction that is limited by the medium we are using here. I had similar thoughts when I read your post, but I assumed that was not your intent. Not everyone makes the same assumptions, that is OK and normal. When someone questions your intentions I find it is best to politely clarify and move on.

EDIT: I should have read the whole thread first. I see you two had a more reasoned interaction letter on, but your "post" comment seem to undermine it a bit. Life on the internet I guess

 

[Gradine]

I'm not sure I agree with that without removing the things he had influence on. Credit where credit is due, regardless of the odiousness of the individual who came up with it, should be something we should hold all corporations to.

Yeah, I think this would be a step too far. That said, I will add my voice to the calls to at least consider rescinding his ENnies, at least after the dust starts to clear. If these accusations are true, and there is honestly every reason to believe they are (multiple accusers, greater risk to the accusers, accusers were once among his most significant defenders, there is absolutely nothing out of character regarding their stories), then I would hope we would have that conversation.

On the one hand, who an organization chooses to award reflects, in some ways, the values of the organization that presents them. Rescinding past awards would neither be unprecedented nor unwarranted (considering the behavior in question was ongoing at the time the awards were given). On the other hand, the ENnies are awarded based on a public fan vote, and unilaterally overturning such a thing can be troubling, even for the best of reasons. One would hope after such credible accusations the fan community writ large would have little trouble turning their backs on him. One could also consider, given recent history, such idealism to border on laughably and depressingly naive.

That said, it's refreshing to see such little "b-b-but court of law!" nonsense cluttering this thread.

 

[GMless]

Jeff, what you wrote could be viewed as victim blaming, despite it not being your intent. That is an issue with interaction that is limited by the medium we are using here. I had similar thoughts when I read your post, but I assumed that was not your intent. Not everyone makes the same assumptions, that is OK and normal. When someone questions your intentions I find it is best to politely clarify and move on.

Fair enough, but it’s a bit difficult to stay level headed when something you said is being re-contextulized to say something deplorable. Ones initial instinct is to defend oneself. I’ll make sure to express my ideas more precisely and respond with a cooler head in the future.

Redrick and I spoke and I think we both know where we were each coming from and know that neither of us intended harm or were acting in bad faith.

 

[gyor]

Generally, when someone more powerful is accused of abuse by someone less powerful it's usually true. The accuser almost never gains by the accusation and usually loses overall, and victims are aware of this. If it's something that seems very out of character and there's no other sign of problems then maybe I'll wait but that does not seem to be the case here. I'm sad, because I was happy that people like Zak were stretching the boundaries of what the people in the hobby look like, but that doesn't mean that I won't believe the victim(s) here.

Based on what evidence do you make that claim?

 

[Aldarc]

Based on what evidence do you make that claim?

Based upon some of your past posts on similar topics, I am skeptical that you are asking this question in good faith and it is challenging for me to give you the benefit of the doubt now. But if you were asking this in good faith, and even if you are not, then this question seems unwise since it so readily veers the topic away from the issue at hand in the thread.

 

[dragoner]

Zak ripped into to me online, and a IL'd him long ago; nevertheless I feel bad for Mandy, she is disabled and shouldn't have to go through this.