Lancelot
Adventurer
I didn't see a "No, I don't really see the point in such products" option.
I DM evil characters from time-to-time. Heck, even at best, some of my players tend towards dark shades of gray. However, I see no need for a rules supplement that specifically details any or all of the following: torture, sex, drugs, corruption, vile magic, genital circumference (thanks, F.A.T.A.L... thanks a bunch), etc.
If I want those elements (and sometimes I do), I can hand-wave them in as variations on existing rules, or simply narrative elements. I'm no prude by any stretch of the imagination, and I've DM'ed some pretty dark stuff (if required, in context). But a book that specifically codifies these elements smacks of pandering to me.
In the interests of disclosure, I did purchase the 3e Book of Vile Darkness: primarily for the archfiends (demon princes, archdevils). Most of the rest of the book went unused, and some parts of it (e.g. artwork of eeevil dudes with heavy body modification/piercing/scarification killing obviously good creatures in the most bloody way possible) just made me roll my eyes.
I DM evil characters from time-to-time. Heck, even at best, some of my players tend towards dark shades of gray. However, I see no need for a rules supplement that specifically details any or all of the following: torture, sex, drugs, corruption, vile magic, genital circumference (thanks, F.A.T.A.L... thanks a bunch), etc.
If I want those elements (and sometimes I do), I can hand-wave them in as variations on existing rules, or simply narrative elements. I'm no prude by any stretch of the imagination, and I've DM'ed some pretty dark stuff (if required, in context). But a book that specifically codifies these elements smacks of pandering to me.
In the interests of disclosure, I did purchase the 3e Book of Vile Darkness: primarily for the archfiends (demon princes, archdevils). Most of the rest of the book went unused, and some parts of it (e.g. artwork of eeevil dudes with heavy body modification/piercing/scarification killing obviously good creatures in the most bloody way possible) just made me roll my eyes.
