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<blockquote data-quote="Mercule" data-source="post: 3886120" data-attributes="member: 5100">Yes and no.&nbsp; If evil PCs or PCs who have pacts with evil are promoted in such a way that they are either easy to play or commonplace, then there is an issue.In opposition to that, it is good to have some unambiguously evil foes.&nbsp; Orcs and goblinoids are intelligent humanoids very similar to humans and are portrayed primarily as products of their society (&quot;there, but for the grace of God...&quot;) and questions can be posited about whether indiscriminately culling them isn't an evil act in itself.&nbsp; Fiends, on the other hand, are evil made flesh.&nbsp; Their very existence is an evidence of peril to one's soul.&nbsp; Thus, eliminating them is always Good and heroic.&nbsp; As such, they can be used as clear opponents and allow tactical gameplay (emphasis on game) without requiring that every adventure involve a discussion of morality or leaving any appearance that the players may be participating in an activity that encourages thoughtless killing and looting.On the other hand, the addition of fiendish blood can, if the players choose, allow a game proxy for working through the normal human thoughts of sin or rational thought vs. natural impulses.&nbsp; Handled correctly, the playing of a tiefling should be seen as a good opportunity by a Christian because it is a way to evaluate concepts like original sin or the imperfection of humanity (exaggerated by the game construct of fiendish heritage) within a framework that provides context and consequence while remaining safe and entertaining.&nbsp; That last is a big one, IMO -- go look at some of the bizarre religious themed games out there and tell me that they are engaging enough for kids to actually learn anything other that &quot;God is boring&quot;.Of course, you'll always have some people who can turn just about anything into a narcissistic power trip, a way to thumb their noses at convention, or just antisocial sadism.&nbsp; Some will use D&amp;D.&nbsp; Others will use one of the other 17,892 mediums for doing so.In the end, I expect that 90%+ of the people who play D&amp;D 4E will simply play a game that involves some power-ups, some tactics, and a bit of role-playing.&nbsp; Most of them will occasionally engage in some wish-fulfillment or poke at different moral frameworks, but it won't be a major focus.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Mercule, post: 3886120, member: 5100"] Yes and no. If evil PCs or PCs who have pacts with evil are promoted in such a way that they are either easy to play or commonplace, then there is an issue. In opposition to that, it is good to have some unambiguously evil foes. Orcs and goblinoids are intelligent humanoids very similar to humans and are portrayed primarily as products of their society ("there, but for the grace of God...") and questions can be posited about whether indiscriminately culling them isn't an evil act in itself. Fiends, on the other hand, are evil made flesh. Their very existence is an evidence of peril to one's soul. Thus, eliminating them is always Good and heroic. As such, they can be used as clear opponents and allow tactical gameplay (emphasis on game) without requiring that every adventure involve a discussion of morality or leaving any appearance that the players may be participating in an activity that encourages thoughtless killing and looting. On the other hand, the addition of fiendish blood can, if the players choose, allow a game proxy for working through the normal human thoughts of sin or rational thought vs. natural impulses. Handled correctly, the playing of a tiefling should be seen as a good opportunity by a Christian because it is a way to evaluate concepts like original sin or the imperfection of humanity (exaggerated by the game construct of fiendish heritage) within a framework that provides context and consequence while remaining safe and entertaining. That last is a big one, IMO -- go look at some of the bizarre religious themed games out there and tell me that they are engaging enough for kids to actually learn anything other that "God is boring". Of course, you'll always have some people who can turn just about anything into a narcissistic power trip, a way to thumb their noses at convention, or just antisocial sadism. Some will use D&D. Others will use one of the other 17,892 mediums for doing so. In the end, I expect that 90%+ of the people who play D&D 4E will simply play a game that involves some power-ups, some tactics, and a bit of role-playing. Most of them will occasionally engage in some wish-fulfillment or poke at different moral frameworks, but it won't be a major focus. [/QUOTE]

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