D&D General Why Enworld should liberate D&D from Hasbro

[Zardnaar]

Daeran is quite similar to Astarion, and got there first.

Obscure material though.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

How can I explain it without innecesary controversies in a soft way?

OK, let's try it with other example, "7th Sea", a TTRPG that drinks as source of inspiration a lot about the History of Western civilitation. History can be a fabulous source of inspiration for your games but there are some serious danger. You have listened "History is written by the winners", and this is true but also we should add "and after it is rewritten by the current rulers". Everybody says to be the good guys and the others are the evil empire. This shouldn't be a surprise for any body, it is not when victories are remembered and humilliating defeats are forgotten, but also the propaganda keep telling "the world before us was a hell, a dark age, until we arrive and took control, then we fixed everything, you're wellcome". To make to shine their own glory the ones by the rivals have to be hidden. Take care because the History can be full of half-truths, omiting some very important details. "7th Sea" could be a good example of how "History is rewritten by the current rulers". You have to learn to realise when fiction can be used for propaganda or to promote potentially dangerous ideological prejudices.

If you are reading/watching fiction and you suspect that character is evil, will betray the heroes or cause troubles because he belongs certain stereotype, then an ideological prejudice is being promoting. It is not only annoying but potentially dangerous. Don't be naive, the entertaiment industry is used for propaganda, and lots of consumers are noticing and they stop to buy.

We have to know the History, to learn from the past so as not to make the same mistakes. We need humility and self-criticism to avoid becoming fanatical monsters. Friedich Nietsche said: "Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster" but I also I warn you: Don't allow shame and guilty-feeling were used to manipulate you emotionally. Recognize toxic people's danger signs before you get fooled.

Why are we too used to watch in the fiction certain group like the "bad guys" or "evil empire" but saying the same about other is "hate-speech"? Did you know the famous pirate Barbarrosa was Otoman (with Greek origin?).

 

[Staffan]

Then your beef is with players, not the publishers. It was the players who popularised tieflings immediately they appeared as a Planescape-specific option. The publisher was slow to respond, and it took the best part of a decade and the company changing hands before they were accepted as a core option. WotC have long being trying to push Aasimars, but the players aint buying, even when they made them very overpowered. People who play D&D like edgy characters, not square dudley-dorights. The only way to popularise aasimar is to make them dark and edgy.

I'm not sure it's about edgy characters. Well, that's part of it, but I also think that the players who do like to play fundamentally good-hearted characters like playing characters who choose good. They aren't good because they have some kind of inherent good instincts inherited from celestial ancestors, but because they are brought up that way or have consciously chosen to follow that path.