New review of the Book of Erotic Fantasy

[hunter1828]

Computing on Demand (www.computingondemand.com) has posted an excellent new review of the Book of Erotic Fantasy and the Valar Project. You can read it here.

An excerpt: "I must confess that my first impression when hearing about the Valar Project was one of apprehension. I wasn't sure that I wanted to tackle this subject, considering the gamers I had been involved with but I am glad I succumbed. There are many tracks this whole notion could have taken and without the right team it might have turned into an abysmal failure."

hunter1828

 

[tetsujin28]

I'm not impressed by the artwork at all. Ho-hum, more Photoshop over some models. Then again, I never like Boris Vallejo, whose paintings all started to look the same after awhile.

And the book really seems like nothing special. Looks like a definite skip, for me.

 

[trancejeremy]

I'm repulsed by the artwork. Sweaty, unattractive people who have rolled around in dirt just don't do much for me (heh, looks like they got gamers to be the models, actually).

But I'm not too impressed by the text. That insight on Paladin's sex lives was pretty silly, IMHO. I don't think your class would dictate your attitude towards sex, even such a strict class as a Paladin.

 

[Wombat]

Ummm, having several friends who are artists, all I can say from the bit shown is "And the reviewer was actually impressed by this art?"

Low standards, obviously.

Well, I had very little interest in the project up to this point; now I have none.

 

[hunter1828]

I'm repulsed by the artwork. Sweaty, unattractive people who have rolled around in dirt just don't do much for me (heh, looks like they got gamers to be the models, actually).

But I'm not too impressed by the text. That insight on Paladin's sex lives was pretty silly, IMHO. I don't think your class would dictate your attitude towards sex, even such a strict class as a Paladin.

Class does not dictate attitude towards sex, alignment does. The use of a paladin in the story was not an example of a paladin's view on sex but rather a Lawful Good characters view on sex. Paladins being the most common LG character makes them a logical choice for the LG example.

As for the models/images, I don't think any of the following appear sweaty or unattractive (don't worry, there is no nudity):

If someone simply doesn't like photoshopped photos, I can understand and respect that. If someone would rather have seen the exact same types of images presented as paintings/drawings, I can respect that. But don't refer to all of the images as "sweaty, unattractive" people when that is obviously not the case.

hunter1828

 

[Gellion]

Mmmmmmmmmm photoshopped Elf Pr0n.

 

[hunter1828]

Mmmmmmmmmm photoshopped Elf Pr0n.

Hmmm...of the three images I posted I see neither elves nor porn...

hunter1828

 

[fusangite]

Wow! I was worried that the review would leave me feeling that I was out of step with the wider RP community. Instead, I was left not only with the impression that the book was not my thing; I was left with the impression that the reviewer was stunningly incompetent at transmitting actual information about the product reviewed.

The sex and alignment rules just made me want to cry. You cannot infer that much information about a lawful character's sexual mores without reference to the society in which he is situated. Being lawful entails obeying and respecting the laws and customs of your society.

 

[hunter1828]

Wow! I was worried that the review would leave me feeling that I was out of step with the wider RP community. Instead, I was left not only with the impression that the book was not my thing; I was left with the impression that the reviewer was stunningly incompetent at transmitting actual information about the product reviewed.

The sex and alignment rules just made me want to cry. You cannot infer that much information about a lawful character's sexual mores without reference to the society in which he is situated. Being lawful entails obeying and respecting the laws and customs of your society.

Let's compare game information:

(from the SRD) Lawful Good, “Crusader”: A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. She combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. She tells the truth, keeps her word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished.
Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion.

(from the BoEF) A lawful good character acts with thought, looking ahead to the implications of his actions. He earnestly endeavors to be honest and respectful with any potential partner. Some choose to be celibate or chaste. Others wait for sex until a permanent relationship, such as a marriage, is formalized.

A lawful good alignment does not prohibit sex outside of marriage. It just means that the character must clearly communicate what he is offering and what he expects from his partner. Are they intending to spend just one night of passion together with no obligations? Are they beginning an ongoing relationship with commitments excluding other partners? What happens if a partner conceives? Even paladins can have robust, varied sex lives, but they need to come to clear terms with their lovers in advance.

The way those two quotes are written they could have been from the same book. Does your argument about Lawful Good tendencies and culture also extend to the LG action examples from the PHB/SRD? If so, then I conceed that you have put a lot more thought into character alignment than most other DMs have. If that is the case I hope you present your players with a detailed document on the different cultures of your game world and how each alignement is effected by said cultures before you begin a campaign.

hunter1828

 

[DWARF]

I'm repulsed by the idea of the project, no matter how vehemently hunter1828 defends it.

When it comes to this project my opinion is, in hunter1828's own words, "I wish none of this had happened."