View Single Post
 
Old 07-29-2006, 09:50 AM
Dan Davenport's Avatar
Dan Davenport Dan Davenport is offline
Texas Moderanger
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 7,794
Re: [RPG]: Victoriana, reviewed by Thanaeon (3/4)

Quote:
Originally Posted by chaosvoyager
Is it social commentary? Is the book making a statement to the effect that these social values were good or bad, or simply presenting them to give something for the characters to rebel against?

I find it annoying that so many people assume a setting featuring a society with strong values is making some kind of social commentary.
When it comes to avoiding turning people off outright, I think there's a right way and a wrong way to go about this.

If you are dealing with <u>real-world</u> politics, set up a situation that seems reasonable and allow people to draw their own conclusions. <b>Blue Planet 2.0</b> does this.

If, on the other hand, you set up a real-world political viewpoint as an objectively evil straw man, you can't be surprised if the people you're demonizing don't care to play the game. <b>Blue Planet <u>1.0</u></b> did <u>this</u>.

And you can substitute "politics" for any number of things. I mean, I'm sure <b>RaHoWa</b> gives its players a "good reason" for working together against a common enemy, but that doesn't make the game any less distasteful.

Please understand that I'm not equating <b>Victoriana</b> with <b>RaHoWa</b>. I'm just suggesting that calling (or even suggesting) that real-world political or social viewpoints are evil -- or even that some are objectively <u>good</u> -- is bound to turn people off.
<br>
__________________
RPG.net Moderator
Moderator comments in red.
Challenges to moderator calls should be posted in Trouble Tickets or mailed to Admin.rpgnet @gmail.com

dan.rpgnet@gmail.com
Forum Rules & Guidelines

Running: ---; Prepping: Earthdawn; Playing: Buffy; Reviewing: GODSEND Agenda; Reading: Earthdawn, Corporation
The hat of me know no limit!
"Did you know that your reviews take on an entirely new light, if you picture them as being read aloud by Frylock, as Meatwad listens intently?" - Cith, in #rpgnet
"You're more the lovable sort of odd. Like a retarded bear" - an IRL friend
Reply With Quote