Activist Groups

[Super Squirrel]

Has the company ever recieved any letters or complaints from any activist groups that see RPGs as tools of the Devil?

[Steve Long]

Not that I'm aware of. Undoubtedly there are some people who feel that way, but I think gamers often tend to exaggerate the extent and depth of those feelings among the general public. I don't think the average person, churchgoing or otherwise, cares one bit about gaming.

[JeffreyWKramer]

I think these days the people who might otherwise be making a fuss about gaming are out picketing against gay marriage or harassing abortion clinics.

You know it's a slow day for the hate groups when Falwell and his ilk get onto the topic of gaming or comics again.

[Mark Taylor]

Jack Chick apparently is still on the case, but still harping on about D&D. He doesn't seem to have realised yet that there are other RPGs out there.

[JeffreyWKramer]

Jack Chick apparently is still on the case, but still harping on about D&D. He doesn't seem to have realised yet that there are other RPGs out there.

Jack Chick barely realizes that reality is out there, I imagine. Has he actually done any new anti-DnD stuff, though, or does he just keep DARK DUNGEONS available in perpetuity?

Chick's stuff is somewhat amazing in the breadth of his hatred. Aside from DnD folks being evil, and obvious targets like pagans and homosexuals, in Chick's mind so are Catholics, Jews, Masons, Shriners...he's sort of an equal-opportunity hate-obsessed lunatic.

[Mark Taylor]

Jack Chick barely realizes that reality is out there, I imagine. Has he actually done any new anti-DnD stuff, though, or does he just keep DARK DUNGEONS available in perpetuity?

The most recent anti-D&D diatribe on his web site is dated 2001. I think given the timescale involved that qualifies as a yes. It does mention other RPGs in passing, but none by name as far as I can recall, and it directs the bulk of its venom directly at D&D.

http://www.chick.com/articles/frpg.asp

Of course the very same article seems to be saying that Cthulhu is real, but I'm sure that won't stop some people taking it seriously.

[JeffreyWKramer]

The most recent anti-D&D diatribe on his web site is dated 2001. I think given the timescale involved that qualifies as a yes. It does mention other RPGs in passing, but none by name as far as I can recall, and it directs the bulk of its venom directly at D&D.

http://www.chick.com/articles/frpg.asp

Of course the very same article seems to be saying that Cthulhu is real, but I'm sure that won't stop some people taking it seriously.

Ah, yes. I remember that reeking piece of dung masquerading as writing. I'd forgotten Chick had the articles there, too... I forget there are more dimensions to his craziness than his little comic books.

I was really hoping he'd done a new anti-DnD comic, though. The original DARK DUNGEONS is so unintentionally funny that I figured a new one would have to be good for at least a chuckle.

[Mark Taylor]

Not that I'm aware of. Undoubtedly there are some people who feel that way, but I think gamers often tend to exaggerate the extent and depth of those feelings among the general public. I don't think the average person, churchgoing or otherwise, cares one bit about gaming.

The extent has definitely been exaggerated, but I'm not so sure about the depth. Those anti-RPG rants that I have seen (and there are a few online) make use of some pretty venomous language.

[Mark Taylor]

The most recent anti-D&D diatribe on his web site is dated 2001.

Actually I must correct myself here, it's not the most recent. Here is a short article dated 2002.

http://www.chick.com/bc/2002/dnd.asp

[HeroTina]

:rockon: SATAN!!!!!!!!!!! :rockon:


Oh ooops sorry. I;m gonna get it now.

[Susano]

Contrary to the ramblings of D&D defenders like Michael Stackpole, the Necronomicon and the Cthulhu mythos are quite real. We will talk more about Mr. Stackpole later.

I think this says it all to me.

Also, can anyone explain this to me? ...there is now a whole line of materials based on the hellish H.P. Lovecraft Cthulhu mythos, a form of magic that we practiced in the darkest days of our satanic career ...

Was Chick a Satanist at some point?

Wait, wait... what is this?

As a former witch high priest, and one who worked with game writers for D&D back in the 1970's, I could hardly be called ignorant.

He did what?

[Mark Taylor]

Contrary to the ramblings of D&D defenders like Michael Stackpole, the Necronomicon and the Cthulhu mythos are quite real. We will talk more about Mr. Stackpole later.

I think this says it all to me.

There's a whole lunatic fringe of people out there among the neo-pagan community who believe the Cthulhu Mythos is real. A lot of the kind of people who read this article, though, won't even have heard of it, so the statement you quoted will have little or no effect on their perception of the article as a whole.



Also, can anyone explain this to me? ...there is now a whole line of materials based on the hellish H.P. Lovecraft Cthulhu mythos, a form of magic that we practiced in the darkest days of our satanic career ...

Was Chick a Satanist at some point?

I don't think so, but William Schnoebelen, the guy who wrote the actual article claims he was.

[Mark Taylor]

Wait, wait... what is this?

As a former witch high priest, and one who worked with game writers for D&D back in the 1970's, I could hardly be called ignorant.

He did what?

IIRC he (William Schnoebelen) claims to have been consulted with regards to the authenticity of the magical rituals in D&D... a claim that I find particularly interesting given the fact that the core D&D manuals do not (and IIRC never did) actually describe any magical rituals in any detail beyond including the letters V, S and M in spell descriptions.

[Susano]

I know that in the 1st Edition Players Handbook Gygax described how certain spells were cast, mainly in regards to what the material components were used for.

Wonder what this guy would think of World of Darkness?

[JeffreyWKramer]

Whomever was a consultant re: witchcraft and things magical for ADnD sure didn't deserve any pay for it, given that the entirety of things based in tradition or fact in those books was pretty damn slim... a few monster names, a couple of illustrations of magic circles and that's it. Sure, material components were listed for spells, but those were just made-up; most of the time they were obviously little in-jokes (like requiring a copper piece for the ESP spell, i.e., a penny for your thoughts).

I'd more believe this dingbat was the Easter bunny than believe he had anything to do with TSR outside his deluded ramblings.

Of course, appeals to reason and rationality don't count for much in that crowd.

[John T]

Ack! I've exceeded my Daily Allowable Drivel Quotient! I need to go lie down before I get sick! :sick:

John T

[Mark Taylor]

I can only Imagine the scene if TSR representatives had consulted an "expert on magic" about the authenticity of their rituals...

[Wavy screen effect]

TSR Representative: So how authentic do you think the ritual for our Fireball spell is?

Magic Consultant: Well... it's hard to say; we don't really do fireballs as such.

TSR Representative: Okay, no fireballs... Well how about Invisibility?

Magic Consultant: It's not really like that, we don't really do stuff like fireballs and invisibility.

TSR Representative: Well, okay. How about Spider Climb?

Magic Consultant: Ahh... No.

TSR Representative: Wall of Fog?

Magic Consultant: Nope.

TSR Representative: Blindness?

Magic Consultant: Well... you could throw sand in their eyes.

TSR Representative: Teleport?

Magic Consultant: Sorry, definitely not.

TSR Representative: Levitate?

Magic Consultant: Not really.

TSR Representative: Okay, so no Fireballs? No Prismatic Spray? No Haste? No Polymorph Other to turn people into frogs?

Magic Consultant: No. 'Fraid not.

TSR Representative: Okay, well what kind of magic do you do?

Magic Consultant: Well, we cast ritual charms which we believe can have subtle but profound effects on our lives, or the lives of others... like making us more lucky in our career or helping us to find love, stuff like that.

TSR Representative: ...

Magic Consultant: Look, all this fireballs whizzing around and invisibility and flying around on broomsticks stuff is really just fairy tales.

TSR Representative: We came all the way out here, for this? I mean, how are we supposed to know if our rituals for a Fireball or Polymorph spell are authentic or not, man?

Magic Consultant: Well it doesn't matter, does it? I mean it's not real.

TSR Representative: Doesn't matter? DOESN'T MATTER? Dammit man this isn't a game, we're trying to write a manual on practicing witchcraft for the kids here, cunningly disguised as a... errr... damn... shouldn't have said that, I mean, you're right, it's only a game! It doesn't matter! Yes! Haha! Just my little joke! Hahaha! Right, we'll be off now. Bye.

[TSR Rep leaves the room, door slams]

Magic Consultant: Right, I'm off to become a fanatical Christian fundamentalist and blow the whistle on their sordid little scheme. Hah!

[cutsleeve]

Didnt the old fireball spell components basically make it a stick of dynamite except using black powder.

:think:

[JeffreyWKramer]

Didnt the old fireball spell components basically make it a stick of dynamite except using black powder.

:think:

The original components for fireball were sulfur and bat guano.

[CrosshairCollie]

Not lately, no. Of course, I have the all-purpose, "No, I don't worship Satan when I game because I don't believe in Satan" defense.

[FenrisUlf]

Contrary to the ramblings of D&D defenders like Michael Stackpole, the Necronomicon and the Cthulhu mythos are quite real. We will talk more about Mr. Stackpole later.

I think this says it all to me.

Also, can anyone explain this to me? ...there is now a whole line of materials based on the hellish H.P. Lovecraft Cthulhu mythos, a form of magic that we practiced in the darkest days of our satanic career ...

Was Chick a Satanist at some point?

Wait, wait... what is this?

As a former witch high priest, and one who worked with game writers for D&D back in the 1970's, I could hardly be called ignorant.

He did what?

I imagine he's talking about his pet nut Mike Warnke there. Chick is the last guy on the face of the planet who believes anything that fraud says.

[Reneshat]

It is important to understand that each of the above magical artifacts exists in "real world" sorcery and witchcraft. They are just as real as swords, saddles or cross bows. Thus, role-playing in this sort of game prepares the player for thinking like a magician.

I must say, I think that is my favorite quote. Now I'm planning on going off and setting some buildings on fire with some bat guono. Anyone want to join me?

[Reneshat]

However, he remarks that "The level of violence in this make believe world runs high. There is hardly a game in which the players do not indulge in murder, arson, torture, rape or highway robbery."

I know rape is one of the personal favorite activities when my group role-plays....

[Solomon]

Not that I'm aware of.

We might write a few fake ones to enliven your office life! How about this:

Dear Mr. Steve Gigax,

Kindly stop writing those nasty Foul-Playing-Games. They've gotten into my son's head. Now he's always running around doing good heroic deeds and he says that's because he needs 5 XP to get rid of a "DNPC: Obnoxious Parent", whatever that means. Please burn all your books and stop worshipping Foxbat.

Sincerely yours,

Obnoxious Parent.