The Book of Vile Darkness -- bad idea?

[Horacio]

Maybe I'm too involved in the European mindset, but I think all this diiscussion is rather silly...

 

[Melan]

Fanatics are fanatics. By taking the evil stuff out, they just went on to bitch about magic, monsters, politheism and didn't move an inch. TSR also lost a significant number of gamers, many of whom contributed to the huge player base of the White Wolf games. It would be foolish not to cater to those who want their villains evil and depraved. New poisons, new diseases, evil spells, drugs - all of these would be useful in my campaign. So bring it on, WotC!

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

And whats up with the word evil and americans? In Finland people seldom use the word 'evil'. I just can't imagine our president describing whole countries as evil, for example. So lighten up, people.

Maybe it's because our President is an idiot? Maybe he doesn't represent the minority of people who believe that evil is a difficult term to adjudicate? Maybe he doesn't represent all Americans? That *might* have something to do with it...

I will praise Bush on understanding one point: Pretending an enemy like the AXIS OF EVIL exists is a good thing if you want to scare people into building up the military.

It's difficult to lighten up in the U.S., we still burn witches over here. They have a new name though: They're now called minorities .

And yes, RPGers are a minority, too.

 

[Numion]

Maybe it's because our President is an idiot? Maybe he doesn't represent the minority of people who believe that evil is a difficult term to adjudicate? Maybe he doesn't represent all Americans? That *might* have something to do with it...

Well, I think it does tell something about the american mind-set and people there. You voted for the president (a part of you anyway ), and he wasn't the first who spoke such things. Wasn't it Reagan who spoke about the 'Evil Empire'?

I'm sorry if I'm ranting, but I just get so upset when people try to influence other peoples lifes for no reason at all (or just for the sake of it, it seems). Like me playing D&D. Me playing D&D can't possibly harm anyone else besides myself, and a few friends who play voluntarily. So, how in the hell is it someone elses business if there are drugs, torture and sacrifice in the game? (Which there are very little of in my games, but thats beside the point.)

One more point: evil societies doing nasty stuff have been part of D&D since it's birth. Doing a book for such things is just talking about things the way they really are. But thats not very popular over there, now is it?

 

[Zappo]

Please, no politics.

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

Well, I think it does tell something about the american mind-set and people there. You voted for the president (a part of you anyway ), and he wasn't the first who spoke such things. Wasn't it Reagan who spoke about the 'Evil Empire'?

I'm sorry if I'm ranting, but I just get so upset when people try to influence other peoples lifes for no reason at all (or just for the sake of it, it seems). Like me playing D&D. Me playing D&D can't possibly harm anyone else besides myself, and a few friends who play voluntarily. So, how in the hell is it someone elses business if there are drugs, torture and sacrifice in the game? (Which there are very little of in my games, but thats beside the point.)

One more point: evil societies doing nasty stuff have been part of D&D since it's birth. Doing a book for such things is just talking about things the way they really are. But thats not very popular over there, now is it?

Look, you are singing to the choir here.

I, as a little man in a little world, play DnD, can and do talk about "mature" themes, didn't vote for either Reagan or Bush, and believe the current regime in the U.S. is incorrect in it's postion regarding a lot of things, AND I am an American. The above are not mutually exclusive. You can be a liberal American as easily as you can be an liberal Englishman or Tanzanian.

I just find it difficult to take seriously the concept that ALL Americans blindly follow the Bush mind-set of axis of evil. I equally find it silly that people singlehandedly label Islam as a war-like religion when, in fact, it is all about peace.

So yes, I may have overreacted to the posts by Numion and Horacio, but I don't think America is the only country on the planet with nutjobs, and neither do I think the nutjob mentality is ingrained in all Americans. I was just trying to point this out. Rant or no, prejudice hurts both ways.

 

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

Speak for yourselves, but I really WANT a prostitution and slave table. It's hard to come up with a fair price off the cuff, and players are always trying to buy/rent these NPCs. It's part of the genre. DLOM has "adept of love" and slave prices but they are in "bronzes" and I want official D&D prices.

 

[Darkness]

Folks, please be a bit more careful about political comments - especially about comments that could offend someone and lead them to start a flame-war.
Also, don't reply to any such comments unless you can do it in a non-political and (most importantly) non-inflammatory way. Instead, if you object* to something someone says after this point, click the handy "report this post to a moderator" button and tell us about it. Thanks.

(*: If you object to it because it's inflammatory, that is. )


More on topic, I have to point out the following:

I was thinking the same thing when i heard about this new project. The fact that they are braggin about how disturbing the cover is just makes me wonder what Soccer-mom is going to think when Little Billy shows it off to her in the book store.

I think that you can only buy this book if you're 18+, which rules out most Little Billies out there.

Originally posted by kenjib
I'm also not fond of needless sexualization and I hope that the whole prostitution thing doesn't materialize as all that much when we see the book.

Falanor is right; Monte also pointed out on one of the other EN World threads about this topic that prostitution isn't in there.

 

[Tonguez]

Falanor is right; Monte also pointed out on one of the other EN World threads about this topic that prostitution isn't in there.

SO wait
- Human Sacriifce and Slavery is Okay
- Prostitution is not Okay?

PLEASE some people have a major mixed up sense of Morality!!!

IMHO having a book which 'details' these things is frivolous and of no worth to anyone (other than the 'geek-in-a-Anorak')

If you need Sacrfice Rules then put them in a Book of Ritual Magic or even a Book about Devils and Demon-gods.
The prices of Slaves and Prostitutes can be worked into any sourcebook ranging from Ancient Egypt to Future Earth

I don't need a book which details Evil (I just read the newspaper for that)

 

[Turjan]

Although I don't object to including prostitution into game material, because it's a usual part of everyday life (at least where I live ), I don't feel the necessity to deliver rules for this subject. This topic can be suitably covered by standard rules - it's more a question of roleplaying.

Rules for slavery may be an interesting additon to the ruleset though, because this is a common theme in medieval settings, even when it may have been differently called in some areas, e.g. in Europe. And as far as human sacrifices are concerned, they are a common part of many adventures which are on sale right now.

This said, I don't see the problem with a book like this .

Turjan