It's interesting to note that a few members of the story-games crowd are absolutely infuriated by this book. Counting it as "offensive to women". And we're talking the website, the book cover, the content, etc.

Here's the website now:

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/confessions.asp

These are the same people that get offended by superhero costumes though, so pretty much the same utter fucking tools as always.

Quote from: Abyssal MawIt's interesting to note that a few members of the story-games crowd are absolutely infuriated by this book. Counting it as "offensive to women". And we're talking the website, the book cover, the content, etc.

Here's the website now:

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/confessions.asp

These are the same people that get offended by superhero costumes though, so pretty much the same utter fucking tools as always.

Link Please, cause i need something silly to read.

-k

Quote from: Caesar SlaadYeah, because the one that White Wolf did was so great... :emot-geno:

A friend bought me that as a present. *shudder*

Quote from: Caesar SlaadYeah, because the one that White Wolf did was so great... :emot-geno:

link?  i don't remember it!  

not a WoD guy, so i guess i'm not surprised that i missed it

Quote from: kregmosierLink Please, cause i need something silly to read.

-k

I looked around their forum and couldn't find anything.  Too bad, too, because I was in the mood for a laugh.  

Quote from: beeberlink?  i don't remember it!

Google "women of the camarilla" calendar.

Quote from: Abyssal MawIt's interesting to note that a few members of the story-games crowd are absolutely infuriated by this book. Counting it as "offensive to women". And we're talking the website, the book cover, the content, etc.

Here's the website now:

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/confessions.asp

These are the same people that get offended by superhero costumes though, so pretty much the same utter fucking tools as always.

I'm always amazed by how many uptight people there are in the world just looking for something to be offended by. It's way past silly.

Quote from: Abyssal MawThese are the same people that get offended by superhero costumes though, so pretty much the same utter fucking tools as always.

Personally, I think there's plenty of legitimate criticism to be aimed at superhero fashion choices.  There's also a lot of blowhard overreaction on that issue as well.  Either way, I'm going to count a book written by a woman for potential female gamers as something that I probably don't need to sit in judgement over, but on first gloss the idea of reaching out to the ridiculously under-served female demographic seems like a good step to me.

Yeah, it seems like an easy call to make. And this isn't some random Wizards staffer, or Gwendolyn F. Kestrel, or someone's wife either. It's Shelly Mazzanoble. She's a writer who normally doesn't write about anything to do with gaming.

http://shellymazzanoble.com/wordpress/

Quote from: jrientsPersonally, I think there's plenty of legitimate criticism to be aimed at superhero fashion choices.  There's also a lot of blowhard overreaction on that issue as well.

I don't disagree with this, really. I just don't feel bad about looking at scantily clad super heroines. It is the least of my bad habits. Beyond that, many of the people who have real issues with it (male or female) seem to feel that male sexuality (which has a huge visual component) is well, you know, dirty. Gamers in the US, it seems, are particularly puritanical, and many of the male gamers I've met- especially the younger ones seem almost embarrassed about the fact that they have a cock. Personally, I'm pretty happy with mine.

Quote from: AosI don't disagree with this, really. I just don't feel bad about looking at scantily clad super heroines. It is the least of my bad habits. Beyond that, many of the people who have real issues with it (male or female) seem to feel that male sexuality (which has a huge visual component) is well, you know, dirty. Gamers in the US, it seems, are particularly puritanical, and many of the male gamers I've met- especially the younger ones seem almost embarrassed about the fact that they have a cock. Personally, I'm pretty happy with mine.

It's funny how we seem to get it from both sides.

The guy that wrote that Panty Explosion game wrote this thing about how "typical gamers" weren't interested in his game because they were sexually repressed. And then immediately we also get fried for being lecherous titty-fetishists. And the thing is: the people making both accusations are all agreeing with one another.

The other thing is these diatribes about improper and (dare they describe it as degenerate?) art are often applied unevenly, depending on whether it's from a company they dont like versus one they like. Or unevenly applied based on the gender of the character. Like they'll have overtly sexualized gay male images as "affirming" or something, but if it shows a little female leg (chainmail bikinis!) it's "threatening". I have a friend like that, unfortunately.

Now, obviously there's some porny art out there, particularly in RPG-land, that just gets waaay too ridiculously sexualized, but we can just call it when we see it, can't we?

Quote from: Abyssal MawIt's interesting to note that a few members of the story-games crowd are absolutely infuriated by this book. Counting it as "offensive to women". And we're talking the website, the book cover, the content, etc.

Okay, this is interesting, I'd rather not lead into a story-games bashfest--I'll note that a few members over there are absolutely delighted by the book--but the same pattern of criticism and defense is fascinating. Plus it ties into something I've written before: irony is dangerous, because it allows you disclaim responsibility.

In this case, the book is aimed at the teens & 20's sassy, hip sensibility. Ergo, reproducing "sexist" assumptions/observations about what "girls like" is okay, because it's all done in an ironic tone? A game "aimed at girls" (and, apparently, 40-50 year old women) based on My Little Pony would be okay (says one poster who hates the idea of the book)...and so is running banter about shoe shopping (says someone who liked the book), I guess because it's all accompanied by a metatext (not sure of the proper term) that jokingly suggests "we're just playing with stereotypes". Except no, you're not just playing, you're reenacting. So make up your mind, or get off your high horse. (No pun intended.)

I would suggest there's also a generational/classist thing going on here, because middle class white people, particularly in their 30s-50s, are horrified at the idea of acknowledging that certain gender differences are as real (or about as real) as anything else in human culture, but they want to have a "safe place" where they can play out their fantasies, while reserving the privilege of passing judgment on those of others. (I.e., it's okay for me to pretend to be a pretty princess who's rescued by Fabio, but if your medieval RPG doesn't routinely allow female knights, you're a sexist.)

Quote from: RPGPunditI think its a really great idea, if what it consists of is a woman writing from her experience about why she likes D&D as it is, and encouraging others to check it out.

It'll be a hardy rejoinder to those occasional forgish swine-efforts to say "We have to TOTALLY CHANGE gaming so that we can slightly increase our appeal to women, maybe! Because we think we know what they want, but we're not sure!"

If the book is of a woman saying "I dig D&D, its cool, check it out", that's just what we need.

RPGPundit

You mean like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZyfOPaPApw

Not having read the book, I definitely like the cover, ditto the pseudo-Cosmo cover and the text on the WOTC site. The visuals remind me of ads for nerve.com, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

"Is your Half-Orc full of himself?" Take note, Pundy. ROFL.

Seen the Storygames crowd freak out.  Mildly amused.  Don't care if there's any effect or not.