Weird rumor concerning "Book of Vile Darkness"

[estevans_lackey]

I haven't read the other replies but I do know that what you were suspecting, Eric, is true. I know this from Monte himself. He replyed to one of the topics on his forum and it got around to him saying that the project might not come out at all (this was before the press release) because of certain members in the community of the corporate world.

If someone already said this, sorry

 

[Paladin]

I haven't read the other replies but I do know that what you were suspecting, Eric, is true. I know this from Monte himself. He replyed to one of the topics on his forum and it got around to him saying that the project might not come out at all (this was before the press release) because of certain members in the community of the corporate world.

If someone already said this, sorry

If you're talking about the BoVD, that's not the product that might not come out at all. If you're talking about the Monte/Sean secret project, you're correct. BTW, I believe the Monte/Sean project will come out "one way or another" . (I also playtested said project and can't wait for it to come out, it's pretty darn cool.)

 

[jasamcarl]

To Arcady and others

I.e. those who accuse Wotc of subtle plagarism, may i ask a simple question? Since when was the concept of 'Evil' copyrighted? Its a niche market, not a premise subject to IP. And what may i ask is your opinion of the several navel supplements? Would you criticize those authors for COMPETING for such a small market? Probably not. So what the seperate standard for Wotc?

My guess is that you fear and are reasonably sure Wizards will do the same thing better, because CONSUMERS PREFER AND TRUST WIZARDS PRODUCTS!!!! And to tackle their quality on its merits would compromise your counter-culture, neo-con stance for the 'small guy'. So instead you feel the need to contrive 'nefarious' intent...jeez...

But then, i could be wrong.

 

[Renshai]

Hooray for jasamcarl! Took the words right off my keyboard...

Ren

 

[qstor]

Here's my first relativly controversial post: I'm just going to buy it for the offical stats for the Devil and Demon lords. But beyond that I dont see much use for it, and although I'm generally againist censorship I think as bad a rap D&D gets in some parts of the Midwest and Southern US, a label wouldn't be a bad idea. And I generally thought the old TSR "code of conduct" was a good thing, apart from renaming the Devils and Demons.

I think we could have seen this coming with (Sorry SKR ) the inclusions of drugs in the Lords of Darkness. Ok...I'll get off my high horse.

Mike

 

[Information]

Ok, this comes from what I've been thinking of as a reliable source, but I'm not totally sure. So take this with a grain of salt. (Think back fondly to the days of rampant rumor-mongering, if you will...)

Apparently the "secret project" was such because there's been a bit of a battle with executives at WotC and Hasbro, who are balking at letting the D&D folks publish the book in the first place. It is a bit too "intense" for their "rather bland tastes" and they are worried about the company's image.

So I guess first quesiton is -- is this true?

Second question -- if it is, is this what folks were worried about when Hasbro bought WotC way back when?

Third -- is such a product even really necessary? (I guess I'd have to know lots more about what's inside to know for sure.)

Fourth -- Whose brainchild was this product, anyway? Who had to be "convinced" in order to get it even on the schedule? What were the parameters and where did they draw the line when it was in development?

All very good questions, Lord Noah. I must say that I am displeased with their approach to the book.

The apocolyptic inclusion of archdevils and demon princes, it is perceived, will warrant an ungodly $32 for the book. I'd much rather see these beings included in a Monster Manual, or even better, a Manual entirely devoted to "unique" beings (inc. elemental lords, beast lords, etc.).

For those DM's (like myself) who are already evil (having listened to "Copacobana" more than 300 times), the rest of the stuff is bathroom reading material.

 

[Teflon Billy]

...and although I'm generally againist censorship I think as bad a rap D&D gets in some parts of the Midwest and Southern US, a label wouldn't be a bad idea. And I generally thought the old TSR "code of conduct" was a good thing, apart from renaming the Devils and Demons...

Well, I disagree with all of this. I think of the implementation of the Code of Conduct was the end of D&D as an interesting product.

I also tend to cringe at sentences that begin with "Although I am generally against censorship..." in much the same way I cringe at 'I'm all for free speech, but..."

But the two issues are nearly unrelated. The market will decide if Book of Vile Darkness is a success and it will be printed (or not) based on that alone.

If it sells, it will be sold.

 

[omedon]

I am surprised at how many people have already predjudged a whole book, on the basis of its title and a one sentance blurb.

Before everyone goes crying about how terrible such a product is I would suggest that they at least look at it first.

I think a book of evil could be a really great product. Evil magic items with vast amounts of power that the PC's wouldn't touch at all if they were good or valued their soul. Evil spells for my NPC necromancers to throw at them. There are already evil spells and magic items in D&D such as Thrall, and The Book of Vile Darkness. It would be nice to have more of them, items akin to the one ring in the lord of the rings that corrupts all who wear it. This is the stuff that fantasy is made of.

 

[Alaric_Prympax]

I am surprised at how many people have already predjudged a whole book, on the basis of its title and a one sentance blurb.

Before everyone goes crying about how terrible such a product is I would suggest that they at least look at it first.

Well said omedon, one should never judge a book by its cover.

 

[trancejeremy]

Well said omedon, one should never judge a book by its cover.

Unless it has a picture of Erik Estrada on it and the word "Autobiography".