Discussion of Hero System's "Health" on rpg.net

[phoenix240]

The only "Invincible" RPG seems to be D&D. The only game that ever beat it out of the top spot was Pathfinder, which did it by being better at D&D than D&D.

 

In other words, D&D is such an invincible market-share-gobbling powerhouse, it can even defeat itself.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

The palindromedary says that sounds self-defeating....

 

The only "Invincible" RPG seems to be D&D. The only game that ever beat it out of the top spot was Pathfinder, which did it by being better at D&D than D&D.

 

In other words, D&D is such an invincible market-share-gobbling powerhouse, it can even defeat itself.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

The palindromedary says that sounds self-defeating....

 

 

I mean a rpg based the comic books series "Invincible" by Richard Kirkman of The Walking Dead fame. Should have been a little bit clearer about that.  

[Ragitsu]

Has D&D become "too big to fall" (to coin a phrase used towards bloated companies here in the United States)?

[bigdamnhero]

Guess what: NOBODY who is now upset asked a gypsy about how they feel about the adventure.

Google is your friend when making blanket statements like this; 5 minutes gave me dozens of links by or about Romani people explaining why they don't like the name. (Tho some acknowledge they're stuck with it or have even embraced it.) Literally just this weekend I was listening to a writers' panel and one published author* was talking about how she had used the word gypsy in her first book, had no idea the term was considered offensive, talked about the emails she got including from some Romani people, the follow-up she did with those people as research to make her second book better, and the thank yous she got afterwards.

 

* I can't remember her name, tho apparently she has like 10 published books.

Sexist.

 

Note that I bring this up because you said "too many men" instead of "too many people", implying that men, in particular, have less emotion/empathy/intelligence/wisdom (pick your poison) by default.

Polls and research studies have repeatedly shown that on average men view rape as less traumatic than women do. It's not about overall empathy/intelligence/whatever; it's about views on one specific topic that happen to vary widely based on gender.

 

Look at it this way: I don't know how many rape survivors (or future rape survivors) read that rpgnet thread (or this one), but statistically odds are it's greater than zero. So when you use a term that literally compares what they went through to someone min-maxing an RPG, you're basically saying one or more of the following:

1. I'm not hurt by this, therefore no one else should be. (Sorry, you don't get to decide what hurts other people.)
2. I didn't mean it offensively, therefore no one should take offense. (Sorry, it doesn't work that way, particularly when people have repeatedly told you it's offensive and you continue to use it.)
3. I recognize that using this term hurts people but screw those people. (There's a technical term for that...)

Apologies again for veering a teensy bit off-topic. But part of this discussion is on how to attract new players to Hero? Well, the RPG community is a lot more diverse than it was 30 years ago, and if we really want to attract new players, One Simple Trick for doing that is to not use language and stereotypes that make them feel unwelcome. It's not rocket surgery. And it's not "political correctness" - it's just not being a dick when you don't have to be.

[bigdamnhero]

[back on topic...]

Has D&D become "too big to fall" (to coin a phrase used towards bloated companies here in the United States)?

Interesting way of looking at it. Of course D&D very nearly did fail with 4ed. If they had gone down I'm not sure it would've been more than a blip on Hasbro's bottom line, so from that aspect no. But in terms of its effect on the hobby overall? Maybe. If Pathfinder (which as pointed out is D&D under another name) hadn't stepped up, how many people would've left the hobby altogether vs how many would've drifted to other games? I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have been good for RPGs overall, but hard to say if it would've been fatal. And D&D has always been the "brand name" from the public's perception, so if D&D ever died the public would perceive that as the end of RPGs. And given that D&D is the gateway drug for most new gamers entering the hobby (so I'm told - I don't have data on that), it might very well cut off our supply of new players.

[Ragitsu]

So when you use a term that literally compares what they went through to someone min-maxing an RPG, you're basically saying one or more of the following:

1. I'm not hurt by this, therefore no one else should be. (Sorry, you don't get to decide what hurts other people.)
2. I didn't mean it offensively, therefore no one should take offense. (Sorry, it doesn't work that way, particularly when people have repeatedly told you it's offensive and you continue to use it.)
3. I recognize that using this term hurts people but screw those people. (There's a technical term for that...)

Apologies again for veering a teensy bit off-topic. But part of this discussion is on how to attract new players to Hero? Well, the RPG community is a lot more diverse than it was 30 years ago, and if we really want to attract new players, One Simple Trick for doing that is to not use language and stereotypes that make them feel unwelcome. It's not rocket surgery. And it's not "political correctness" - it's just not being a dick when you don't have to be.

 

Ho-lee ****: strawman much? What did I say that was equivalent to "rape ain't that bad"? All I did was point out an oft-unchallenged double-standard when it comes to stereotypes. If it dealt with women, an ethnic minority, an alternate sexuality, certain political affiliations, certain religions, etc, this wouldn't even be a discussion (and rightly so, because it isn't right), but apparently men get the short end of the stick when it comes to declarations made during RPG discussions and that's okay.

 

At least the Hero Games forum is better about this particular double-standard compared to rpg.net's forums. Talk about a hotbed of oversensitive rat-on-your-neighbor paranoia that would make the Stasi blush.

[Doc Democracy]

This is pretty contrary to the very core concept of Hero and its precision, though.  You could certainly do it, but that's definitely a move away from the basic ideas of Hero Games.

I don't think so. Indeed, it is how Hero worked for me back when it was still just Champions (though the professional skill didn't cost so much! :-) ). What I have done is take that core concept from 2nd edition that allows a broad skill to be used with some latitude, for colour, and then added in the precision details that have been added over the editions.

 

For the new player it allows a broad brush approach to the character as it begins and then to slowly fill in the detail as play progresses and they get a decent idea of what they actually want.

 

All in my oh so humble opinion of course. :-)

 

Doc

[Ragitsu]

[back on topic...]

Interesting way of looking at it. Of course D&D very nearly did fail with 4ed. If they had gone down I'm not sure it would've been more than a blip on Hasbro's bottom line, so from that aspect no. But in terms of its effect on the hobby overall? Maybe. If Pathfinder (which as pointed out is D&D under another name) hadn't stepped up, how many people would've left the hobby altogether vs how many would've drifted to other games? I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have been good for RPGs overall, but hard to say if it would've been fatal. And D&D has always been the "brand name" from the public's perception, so if D&D ever died the public would perceive that as the end of RPGs. And given that D&D is the gateway drug for most new gamers entering the hobby (so I'm told - I don't have data on that), it might very well cut off our supply of new players.

 

A "necessary evil" of sorts, huh? I cannot say that I am terribly optimistic when D&D too is trending towards lighter and simpler rules.

[phoenix240]

Sorry, off topic. 

[Vondy]

 

This is pretty contrary to the very core concept of Hero and its precision, though.  You could certainly do it, but that's definitely a move away from the basic ideas of Hero Games.

 

 

I would suggest the precision you reference is not inherent to Hero's core mechanics, but rather, the design zeitgeist of 5th and 6th edition. You can run Hero with much more broadly defined special effects and remain true to the underlying engine that makes it go. This is doubly true with background skills. In fact, while Steve has always had a design granularity fetish, he repeatedly references that there is more than one way to use the system in The Ultimate Skill (and other books). That's why there are so many optional methods in the books. The published materials are the design think, but not the only design think. The key is that one be consistent.

[Vondy]

I don't think so. Indeed, it is how Hero worked for me back when it was still just Champions (though the professional skill didn't cost so much! :-) ). What I have done is take that core concept from 2nd edition that allows a broad skill to be used with some latitude, for colour, and then added in the precision details that have been added over the editions.

 

For the new player it allows a broad brush approach to the character as it begins and then to slowly fill in the detail as play progresses and they get a decent idea of what they actually want.

 

All in my oh so humble opinion of course. :-)

 

Doc

 

Steve talks about different ways of approaching background skills in The Ultimate Skill. While he is largely responsible for introducing increasingly granular background skills in the 4e DC book(s), he is very clear in TUS that how broad background skills are is entirely up to the gamemaster / group. If you want PS: Private Eye to cover everything a PI needs to know how to do, that is a correct application of the system. If you want a PI to have half a dozen PS and KS skills on top of Deduction, Interrogation, and Streetwise, that is also a correct application of the system. 

[Vondy]

Ho-lee ****: strawman much? What did I say that was equivalent to "rape ain't that bad"? All I did was point out an oft-unchallenged double-standard when it comes to stereotypes. If it dealt with women, an ethnic minority, an alternate sexuality, certain political affiliations, certain religions, etc, this wouldn't even be a discussion (and rightly so, because it isn't right), but apparently men get the short end of the stick when it comes to declarations made during RPG discussions and that's okay.

 

At least the Hero Games forum is better about this particular double-standard compared to rpg.net's forums. Talk about a hotbed of oversensitive rat-on-your-neighbor paranoia that would make the Stasi blush.

 

If you are white, male, heterosexual and (esp) over 40 you are our culture's designated sin eater.

 

You are bad. You are guilty. You are filled with taboos and all the evil-isms.

 

You need not deny it because this is simply proof of your guilt.

 

Your status as an "acceptable punching bag" has been progressively enshrined over the past three decades.

 

It is kafka-esque and, quite frankly, counter-productive if real social justice is the desired outcome.

 

How much sympathy can you have for someone who complains someone else hit them in the face by hitting you in the face.

 

Most rational people would just say "f--- you" and swing back.

[phoenix240]

Broad skills are arguably more "high cinematic" in tone, more focused skills "grittier" (I don't like to use realistic too much in discussing rpgs),IMO. Both approaches have their place and different groups will appreciate different approaches maybe even changing from game to game. 

[Roter Baron]

D&D isn't too big to fail, there is just a certain D&D-genre that isn't going away becaus eit is so damn popular. And who cares if the game is called D&D, Pathfinder, labyrinth Lord, Swords & Wizardry, OSRIC , Lamentations of the Flame Princess etc.?

 

Look at it this way: I don't know how many rape survivors (or future rape survivors) read that rpgnet thread (or this one), but statistically odds are it's greater than zero. So when you use a term that literally compares what they went through to someone min-maxing an RPG, you're basically saying one or more of the following:

1. I'm not hurt by this, therefore no one else should be. (Sorry, you don't get to decide what hurts other people.)
2. I didn't mean it offensively, therefore no one should take offense. (Sorry, it doesn't work that way, particularly when people have repeatedly told you it's offensive and you continue to use it.)
3. I recognize that using this term hurts people but screw those people. (There's a technical term for that...)

 

 

Only saying something that isn't going to offend somebody is a sure way to shut up for the rest of your life, especially when that somebody hasn't even noticed that you said something that someone thought someone lese might find offensive.

 

I find it offensive if somebody says something bad about communism, socialism or German culture (equating it with Nazism for instance or a German "gene" for fascism) or someting good about organized religions, especially when they look for excuses for terrorist action. I am also offended by things like mandatory "veggie"-days (some idea of the German Green party) and smoke-free pubs.

 

So, am I right if I demand that people refrain from speaking about or in favour of these few examples of what I consider to be offended by (trust me, I have many, many more)? No, sir!

 

And there is a difference between going out of your way to be a dick and just say what you think is right. In the fisrt you aim at offending people for the reason that you like to offend them, the second is speaking your mind freely to convince people - or just to exercise your right of free speech.

In the second you might be mistake or wrong, in the first your civility is lacking. Still, being a dick is not a crime.

[Surrealone]

Next up: Godwin's Law will likely be demonstrated (again)...

[Joe Walsh]

I don't think so. Indeed, it is how Hero worked for me back when it was still just Champions (though the professional skill didn't cost so much! :-) ). What I have done is take that core concept from 2nd edition that allows a broad skill to be used with some latitude, for colour, and then added in the precision details that have been added over the editions.

 

For the new player it allows a broad brush approach to the character as it begins and then to slowly fill in the detail as play progresses and they get a decent idea of what they actually want.

 

All in my oh so humble opinion of course. :-)

 

Doc

 

I've always preferred sparer builds.  Sure, it can be fun solo play to try to define something down to the gnat's ass, but for actual play I prefer to keep things simpler.

[Tasha]

D&D isn't too big to fail, there is just a certain D&D-genre that isn't going away becaus eit is so damn popular. And who cares if the game is called D&D, Pathfinder, labyrinth Lord, Swords & Wizardry, OSRIC , Lamentations of the Flame Princess etc.?

 

 

Only saying something that isn't going to offend somebody is a sure way to shut up for the rest of your life, especially when that somebody hasn't even noticed that you said something that someone thought someone lese might find offensive.

 

I find it offensive if somebody says something bad about communism, socialism or German culture (equating it with Nazism for instance or a German "gene" for fascism) or someting good about organized religions, especially when they look for excuses for terrorist action. I am also offended by things like mandatory "veggie"-days (some idea of the German Green party) and smoke-free pubs.

 

So, am I right if I demand that people refrain from speaking about or in favour of these few examples of what I consider to be offended by (trust me, I have many, many more)? No, sir!

 

And there is a difference between going out of your way to be a dick and just say what you think is right. In the fisrt you aim at offending people for the reason that you like to offend them, the second is speaking your mind freely to convince people - or just to exercise your right of free speech.

In the second you might be mistake or wrong, in the first your civility is lacking. Still, being a dick is not a crime.

 

If I wrote a game book where all of the Germanic equivalents were Goose stepping, white supremacist, sauerkraut eating, beer drinking drunkards. You might be a bit miffed that I wrote a game with such an offensive, racist, stereotypical version of the German people. Wouldn't you want the game designer to do a little research for their next book so they could get their version of the German people right? That's really all people are asking. Make an effort to get their culture right and not rely on old tired offensive tropes about their people.

 

Oh, and games that do have such content won't get a Cent or Euro of my money. Most game companies are stepping up. the ones who don't will have their audience, but one that will overtime go away.

 

You have the right to be as offensive as you like. I have the right to ignore you or walk away if I don't like what you say. If you are offensive in a publication, book or Business, I have the right to not spend my money buying your goods and services.

[Roter Baron]

As a German I was raised to accept that the stereotype you just described pops up with regularity in Hollywood and other movies.

It might be that it is inplied that not all Germans are like that - just all the Germans that are featured in the movie.

Don't asked my to name them all - the movies are literally legion and it's not getting better, Schindler's List and Operation Valkyrie nonewithstanding.

Germans are the typical movie-villain, next to the Russians (another vile race up to no good).

Arabs aren't much good either.

 

That does not get my pulse go any faster. And no - I am not complaining: Sometimes it fits the story. And often I just shake my head.

As do the Russians I guess.

[Christopher R Taylor]

You don't see Arabs often as bad guys any longer but yeah Germans are the go-to bad guy.  Its the accent I think.  British sounds cultured and educated, but German sounds scary and mean to American ears.  Like Southern US accents sound dumb to Hollywood types.

 

In American TV, the go to bad guy is a white male over the age of 40, as Vondy noted though.  Most advertising has the white guy as the cloddish idiot (although any adult male will do).  Its just the way simple, limited minds with no creativity work: this is what I know and I don't have to think hard to figure it out!  Besides, if I bash the white guy, nobody is going to boycott me or accuse me of terrible intentions.

[Vondy]

 

 

Apologies again for veering a teensy bit off-topic. But part of this discussion is on how to attract new players to Hero? Well, the RPG community is a lot more diverse than it was 30 years ago, and if we really want to attract new players, One Simple Trick for doing that is to not use language and stereotypes that make them feel unwelcome. It's not rocket surgery. And it's not "political correctness" - it's just not being a dick when you don't have to be.

 

The term "rules rapist" is unfortunate and vulgar and ill-advised. I believe their are better terms and we should seek to use them. 

 

But...

 

My issue is not whether the term "rules rapist" is offensive. It is offensive. Rather, it is with the proportion of expressed outrage to the offense in question. We are talking about a 30+ year old reference in an out of print gaming book that was wholly metaphorical and had zero to do with actual rape. Its actual scope and intent is, while vulgar and meat-headed, eminently clear to the meanest of understandings. It is reasonable to expect people to not only measure their words, but to measure their reactions to words and their judgements of those who speak them as well.

 

It is not, in my opinion, remotely ban-worthy.

 

I had a handful of posters on these boards tell me my wife and daughters were legitimate terrorist targets because we lived in Beit El.

 

I did not report their posters or ask that they be banned.

 

One of those posters openly said they hoped I was killed on the road to Jerusalem over a difference of political opinion.

 

I did not report the poster or ask that they be banned.

 

I have, on these boards, been called a traitor to America because I accepted dual citizenship and lived abroad for many years.

 

I did not report the poster or ask that they be banned. 

 

I don't care for these individuals, but most of them aren't here anymore, anyways.

 

I outlasted the bastards.

 

That is how you win. 

 

Does using "rape" in metaphorical contexts rather than its literal context devalue the trauma suffered by rape victims? It may or may not. That is a very complex question with highly subjective answers. I'm open to having that discussion. I am open to the hypothesis. I am not, however, open to prima facie assassinating a dead man's character for words written decades ago. Nor am I for censoring someone who references his writing because someone else finds it "unpleasant." 

 

I am not living in a world devoid of unpleasantness, or in which I have a right not to be offended. Life is too short to sweat every offense I encounter. If I did, I'd never get anything done. And, no matter what I do or say, someone will take exception. I can't live by an ethic of "offend no one." Rather, I can only seek to be reasonable with reasonable people. I will do my best to be considerate, to be decent, and to consider my audience. I think we should all aspire to that. Do I use the term "rules rapist?" I do not. Have I been raped? I have not. What traumas I have suffered are my own.

 

I have not, however, been raped. So, what do I know? Of course, what to rape victims know about what I've endured? To that end, I asked my wife (who does not hide that she has been raped if asked) whether the term "rules rape" was offensive. Her exact words were "mildly so, but so is the hysteria princesses infuse it with. Rape isn't murder or torture, but it does get bandied about too easily." If you want to watch my wife get offended, tell her "rape is worse than death." She's of the opinion that mantra harms rape victims, impedes their recovery, and insensitively trivializes other grevious traumas people endure. Trauma is not a competition.

 

So, its not just me  (the meat-headed CIS, heterosexual, middle aged male) who thinks that the amplitude of the offense-taken, and the far reaching potential sociopolitical consequences people wish to ascribe to a dated reference in an out of print gaming book, is patently incredible.  I use "incredible" that in its classical sense, And credibility is what is at stake here. Credibility is important! If you overreact or start bandying evil-isms around at the drop of a hat you lose moral authority because you are perceived as being unreasonable.

 

Flag burning offends patriots. That does not mean I will ban flag burnings. That does not mean I call the FBI hotline and scream there is treason afoot. That would be both a mis-characterization and an overreaction. it would be a failure to measure myself. And that would make me the asshole. It would be better to say "your pig-headed display of pique is counter-productive because it alienates otherwise thoughtful patriots who would agree with your point and come to your cause." 

 

We should not use the term "rules rapist," but the fact that its derailed this thread and arguing like titans over it is a pretty good sign people are overreacting to start with. We're all flesh and blood. A little human grace is called for. Maybe we can just shrug and move on?

[Tasha]

 

 

 

The term "rules rapist" is unfortunate and vulgar and ill-advised. I believe their are better terms and we should seek to use them. 

 

But...

 

My issue is not whether the term "rules rapist" is offensive. It is offensive. Rather, it is with the proportion of expressed outrage to the offense in question. We are talking about a 30+ year old reference in an out of print gaming book that was wholly metaphorical and had zero to do with actual rape. Its actual scope and intent is, while vulgar and meat-headed, eminently clear to the meanest of understandings. It is reasonable to expect people to not only measure their words, but to measure their reactions to words and their judgements of those who speak them as well.

 

It is not, in my opinion, remotely ban-worthy.

 

I had a handful of posters on these boards tell me my wife and daughters were legitimate terrorist targets because we lived in Beit El.

 

I did not report their posters or ask that they be banned.

 

One of those posters openly said they hoped I was killed on the road to Jerusalem over a difference of political opinion.

 

I did not report the poster or ask that they be banned.

 

I have, on these boards, been called a traitor to America because I accepted dual citizenship and lived abroad for many years.

 

I did not report the poster or ask that they be banned. 

 

I don't care for these individuals, but most of them aren't here anymore, anyways.

 

I outlasted the bastards.

 

That is how you win. 

 

Does using "rape" in metaphorical contexts rather than its literal context devalue the trauma suffered by rape victims? It may or may not. That is a very complex question with highly subjective answers. I'm open to having that discussion. I am open to the hypothesis. I am not, however, open to prima facie assassinating a dead man's character for words written decades ago. Nor am I for censoring someone who references his writing because someone else finds it "unpleasant." 

 

I am not living in a world devoid of unpleasantness, or in which I have a right not to be offended. Life is too short to sweat every offense I encounter. If I did, I'd never get anything done. And, no matter what I do or say, someone will take exception. I can't live by an ethic of "offend no one." Rather, I can only seek to be reasonable with reasonable people. I will do my best to be considerate, to be decent, and to consider my audience. I think we should all aspire to that. Do I use the term "rules rapist?" I do not. Have I been raped? I have not. I have suffered other traumas. 

 

I have not, however, been raped. So, what do I know? Of course, what to rape victims know about what I've endured? To that end, I asked my wife (who does not hide that she has been raped if asked) whether the term "rules rape" was offensive. Her exact words were "mildly so, but so is the hysteria princesses infuse it with. Rape isn't murder or torture, but it does get bandied about too easily." . And, if you want to watch my wife get offended, tell her "rape is worse than death." She's of the opinion that mantra harms rape victims, impedes their recovery, and insensitively trivializes other grevious traumas people endure. Trauma is not a competition.

 

So, its not just me  (the meat-headed CIS, heterosexual, middle aged male) who thinks that the amplitude of the offense-taken, and the far reaching potential sociopolitical consequences people wish to ascribe to a dated reference in an out of print gaming book, is patently incredible.  I use "incredible" that in its classical sense, And credibility is what is at stake here. Credibility is important! If you overreact or start bandying evil-isms around at the drop of a hat you lose moral authority because you are perceived as being unreasonable.

 

Flag burning offends patriots. That does not mean I will ban flag burnings. That does not mean I call the FBI hotline and scream there is treason afoot. That would be both a mis-characterization and an overreaction. it would be a failure to measure myself. And that would make me the asshole. It would be better to say "your pig-headed display of pique is counter-productive because it alienates otherwise thoughtful patriots who would agree with your point and come to your cause." 

 

We should not use the term "rules rapist," but the fact that its derailed this thread and arguing like titans over it is a pretty good sign people are overreacting to start with. We're all flesh and blood. A little human grace is called for. Maybe we can just shrug and move on?

 

I what they do on other boards is out of my control. There are usually reasons that admin teams will seemingly overreact to some issues. On one board if someone brings up Gamergate, they are put on suspension. It doesn't matter what side they are on in the conversation, they are suspended (it's in the boards rules that we don't talk about that subject).

 

I will point out that when someone brought up "rules rapist", I did calmly suggest that we use another term because others find it to be offensive for reasons that I related in that post. It seemed that everyone agreed until someone brought up the RPG.net posting and banning. I don't report unless they threaten me(which thankfully has never happened). I prefer education to other ways. 

 

BTW I hate that people on this board wished such nasty things on you and your family. Our politics don't often agree, but do say what those people did was very wrong. Damn, that really annoys me. 

[Shigeru]

Well, in light of this thread I decided to run a Roll20 Hero game. In particular, because I really want to run a Champions game again and because I really want to make it work on Roll20 (where I play other games). I am not sure how well it will go, because of the poor match of Roll20 and Hero, but I am hopeful and think that the impetus to keep a game moving forward might motivate me to incorporate some macros or character sheet solutions into the game. I've seen a few "anybody playing Champions" posts in their forums, but not many people running anything. The Adventurer's Club looks interesting, but it is a format that doesn't suit me as a GM( fixed setting, episodic on-shots).

 

Let's face it, Hero is pretty crunchy in comparison to other, current games. I don't mind the crunch too much, but I also want to make the game go fast without losing some of the best parts (detailed, interesting combat being a big one). I hope I can get a game running to inspire others to try it.

[Vondy]

I what they do on other boards is out of my control. There are usually reasons that admin teams will seemingly overreact to some issues. On one board if someone brings up Gamergate, they are put on suspension. It doesn't matter what side they are on in the conversation, they are suspended (it's in the boards rules that we don't talk about that subject).

 

I will point out that when someone brought up "rules rapist", I did calmly suggest that we use another term because others find it to be offensive for reasons that I related in that post. It seemed that everyone agreed until someone brought up the RPG.net posting and banning. I don't report unless they threaten me(which thankfully has never happened). I prefer education to other ways. 

 

BTW I hate that people on this board wished such nasty things on you and your family. Our politics don't often agree, but do say what those people did was very wrong. Damn, that really annoys me. 

 

I found your position eminently reasonable. But, then, I appear to share it. 

 

Your hypothesis that the casual use of "rape" out of context desensitizes people to real rape is interesting.  I find it "plausible, but unproven." I'm not certain it is falsifiable. It is, at least, worthy of some consideration.  As for my politics, they aren't what they used to be. My life and worldview have changed dramatically over the past 3-4 years. I would like to think they have "evolved," but that may be giving myself too much credit. But, I wouldn't make too many assumptions based on what I believed and wrote many years ago. Those are the historical me. I won't deny them. I won't delete them. They are what they are. The contemporary me, however, might not be who you think he is.

[Tasha]

I found your position eminently reasonable. But, then, I appear to share it. 

 

Your hypothesis that the casual use of "rape" out of context desensitizes people to real rape is interesting.  I find it "plausible, but unproven." I'm not certain it is falsifiable. It is, at least, worthy of some consideration.  As for my politics, they aren't what they used to be. My life and worldview have changed dramatically over the past 3-4 years. I would like to think they have "evolved," but that may be giving myself too much credit. But, I wouldn't make too many assumptions based on what I believed and wrote many years ago. Those are the historical me. I won't deny them. I won't delete them. They are what they are. The contemporary me, however, might not be who you think he is.

 

I HAVE seen the difference between the younger you and now. We agree on more things than we did in the past.

[Vondy]

You don't see Arabs often as bad guys any longer but yeah Germans are the go-to bad guy.  Its the accent I think.  British sounds cultured and educated, but German sounds scary and mean to American ears.  Like Southern US accents sound dumb to Hollywood types.

 

The thing is, by and large, our media tends to present a vulgar (even profane) German delivered angrily and harshly.

 

Its adversarial and abusive drill sergeant and camp guard German.

 

If you listen to educated, intelligent, calm German's speak you hear an entirely different accent.

 

Its actually quite pleasant, and frankly, I've met a few German women whose English and German was quite appealing.

 

Yummy.

[zslane]

All of this discussion is interesting, but continues to ignore the elephant in the room: that the Hero System is no longer in the hands of an active publisher with the resources or the drive/vision to lead the system and the brand into a healthy, vibrant future. Instead, it has essentially been put into the ad hoc custodianship of its users. All forthcoming "product" is now the sole responsibility of fans who have the time and energy to write something long enough to be called a supplement.

 

If the goal is to just talk whimsically about an alternate Earth where revamping the system and its presentation for newbies would have a meaningful impact all by itself, then this discussion is exactly what it needs to be. On the other hand, if its goal is to spark effective positive change for the game's future, then y'all need to start formulating a plan for turning Hero Games into a real publishing company again. Because from what I can tell, nobody is more interested/invested in the game's future right now than all of us, its hardcore fans.