Are you serious? I don't think a single person in this thread has said anything about how sex and nudity is bad, except for a few people who pointed out that it made the game less kid-friendly. Which it does, but that's beside the point - they can still publish material aimed for an adult audience. No one in this thread has expressed any problem with that. Nudity and sex in a non ridiculous in-game context is not a problem in an adult game and no one cares.
Yes, I am serious. Prudery is the surface manifestation of deeply ingrained bigotry. And I maintain, some of the biggest prudes are also the worst hypocrites with their own skeletons. My wisdom over the years has taught me to ignore liars completely.
Mod Note: See my post below. ~Umbran
I think by 'prudes' you mean 'people who object to the unnecessary sexualization of women as a general theme in RPGs', because I suspect you would probably start hollering pretty loud if the genders were switched and suddenly only males were depicted in inappropriately sexualized or homoerotic poses and looking ridiculous in every fight with arched backs and hipshot poses and come-hither sexy looks. And making out with other hot, scantily dressed men. Hey, this is really starting to sound like a game made for my entertainment, at the expense of putting every single bit of sexy man-flesh on display for me whether it makes sense in context or not. No male is allowed to be depicted in my game unless he's showing skin for my amusement. That's what men are for, my personal amusement. They aren't allowed to be anything but pretty sex toys, even if they're supposed to be strong adventurers. Never mind that, put him in a cute stripper thong and nipple tassles and have him fighting monsters that way. I want his hot abs showing. Armor? Pffft. Hot men don't need armor. So what if it's stupid to go into combat with your belly button showing? It's much more important that I get my eye candy than any man in the game be dressed sensibly.
Human beings
are sexual though, both men
and women. It's the basic truth of the matter. Art should reflect that, we are all animals who find various aspect of each other either attractive or repulsive. But neither did I say we need or should want outright pornographic art in the rules books (because, frankly, some DMs already have enough of a hard time keeping their player's focus!!)
If you would have a problem with the entire industry switching to this model overnight and your being unable to buy any material that doesn't look like this, would that make you a prude?
I'm neither a prude, nor a hypocrite, so I wouldn't have any such problem. D&D is not a child's game, children play with iPads these days, and have ready access to far more filthy material a few clicks away. Nobody's tender young mind is going to be blown to hell from seeing a nipple (sheesh).
Tasteful nudity would (should) even be OK, but that's not even what I'm advocating. I want art to have a variety of subjects represented, from the seductive succubus to the swarthy pirate. Denying attractive model's attractiveness is removing one of the central themes of art, in general though, and that's as old as the human race. Painting beautiful art of attractive models is hardly new or controversial.
Considering I used to work in raves, the things I've seen (and participated in), would make you blush. It would take a LOT to shock me, but if we're going to let D&D be D&D, we shouldn't expect it to change social norms for us. I'm already liberal enough, I don't need a lesson on gender equity, or tolerance for other people's sexuality. In terms of middle-of-the road art, though, there should be nothing wrong in portraying the occasional bikini chainmail or pirate with his shirt off. That's all I meant about shying away from prudery.
I feel sad for the human species if we are so easily offended at the prospect of seeing beautiful or disturbing subjects portrayed in art. It's art, nobody ever died from opening their eyes (and their minds).
With the exception of any art which you personally create.
