The Book of Vile Darkness -- bad idea?

[Dispater]

Don't worry. They have realised the mistake and the "The Book of Goody Two Shoes" is on print.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I like the idea of the book but I see it with a warning label, rating and shrinked wrapped!

 

[Horacio]

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.

O.K., if you say it, but I cannot see why my post forced a reaction...

I said:

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

Why? Because I cannot understand why such a book can make D&D look badder. Because I cannot understand a discussion about putting or not prostitution in a book when that book speak about human sacrifice.

I didn' t say anything about Americans. In fact, most Americans are rather normal

But that kind of Christian fanatics (please, don't take it as a Christian bash message, I'm Catholic, and I'm my opinion they should be called pseudo-Christians, Christ only spoke of love, not hate) is rather exclusive of the USA and it's that that I don't understand...

 

[Psion]

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

I don't think anyone said either one is "okay." I do think that slavery is a bit easier to give a repellent depiction to without getting graphic.

 

[Psion]

I don't think this book will matter all that much in the big scheme of things if you are worried about PR.

I do think that many people aren't looking for the "Black Dog" experience in D&D, but alas Monte has told us that is not the case, and the catalog description is a little off in that regard.

 

[drnuncheon]

But that kind of Christian fanatics (please, don't take it as a Christian bash message, I'm Catholic, and I'm my opinion they should be called pseudo-Christians, Christ only spoke of love, not hate) is rather exclusive of the USA and it's that that I don't understand...

It's (at least partly) because a large portion of the moral root of this country is founded upon the beliefs of the Puritans, who came over here to escape religious oppression in England...and promptly began their own religious oppression here.

J

 

[Klaus]

Well, by July all RPGs down here in Brazil will suposedly carry an Age Rating. That being said, some are still trying to ban them outright.

So far only Vampire and some local games such as Trevas ("darkness") and Arkanum seem to be drawing the fire, but I do so much HOPE that the BoVD doesn't become known as People's Evidence #1.

As for Evil-Looking covers, you can't beat Planescape's Planes of Conflict...

"Amore Regge Senza Legge"

 

[Henry]

First of all, thanks for dropping into this thread, Darkness my man; it was getting a little prickly there.

Second: Has anyone noticed that this book seems to generate more outcry from gamers than non-gamers? It's not like this book will cause opinions to change among the public in any significant form. Religious fervor among the Western public seems to be a dead issue, anyway - we all have our codes, creeds, faiths, etc. and tolerance is the order of the day among sane individuals. If a book giving instructions on how to be a teenage neo-pagan can exist on the end-caps of the local Books-a-Million without getting removed, I can guarantee that few people are going to bat an eyebrow at a game supplement, ESPECIALLY one that will INEVITABLY have a disclaimer of some sort in its preface.

Third: assumptions and generalizations are what gets a society in trouble more often than not. It's prevalent among gamers, it's prevalent among non-gamers - it's a HUMAN condition. The enlightened (and divine, some would say) thing to do is to not make assumptions about something until you (a) know the truth, and (b) see its effects. AEG's Evil was out, Infernalism was out, and you do not see signs of the public making an acerbic outcry against gaming in general. In fact, even the Harry Potter fervor has died down, except for a few small communities in various locations.

I predict that this book (especially being from a known and respected designer) will do well, will offer much material to enhance the depiction of evil in campaign settings, and offer me material to build a much prettier target, so my players can knock it down like the sickness it is to my campaign world.

So let's start being reasonable, stop thinking about things in elementary terms, and decide where our gaming dollar is best spent.

P.S. I am sorely ticked off about the prostitution thing. Now we won't see stats and prices for Brazen Strumpets, Expensive Doxies, Aged Madams, and Haughty Courtesans.

 

[Henry]

It's (at least partly) because a large portion of the moral root of this country is founded upon the beliefs of the Puritans, who came over here to escape religious oppression in England...and promptly began their own religious oppression here.

And what's even more perplexing is that so many of those who outcry against everything from rock and roll to RPG's can't even agree how best to worship God and live a Christ-like life. In my personal experience, many I know don't even attend worship services on a regular basis!

I have no problem with someone decrying an activity if it goes against their beliefs... but they need to follow those beliefs themselves, rather than be told what to say and how to vote, even if it's not in accordance with how they live.

It's always a pet peeve of mine... If you are going to follow a code, then know what you're following.

 

[WizarDru]

Just a quick thought: someone mentioned that it seemed like RPGs put out more books on Evil than Good. I would posit that you're looking at the equation incorrectly. Some examples:


Good:
Player's Handbook
Sword & Fist
Defenders of the Faith
Tome & Blood
Song & Silence
Masters of the Wild
Epic-Level Handbook
Hero Builder's Guide
Most world setting books (FRCS & KoK PHB, for example)

Neutral (mix):
Dungeon Master's Guide
Monster Manual
Manual of the Planes
Dieties and Demigods

I would put forth that books like the PHB are ABOUT good. But once you know about the heroes (and add more heroes with the classbooks), you need more villians with which to challenge them. Hence books like BoVD and the Book of Challenges. The problem is that folks tend to only notice the 'evil' books, and ignore the good ones, not that they aren't there, IMHO.