IN MY PANTS!

But seriously, in what feels like countless rpg art flame wa...discussions I've seen this complaints tossed up: I can't read this book in public because it makes people look at me funny. IMO, the covers depicted are no more racy than any number of romance novel covers or magazines (God I'm old...) than I used to see people reading in public constantly with undue shame or gawking. Really these days it seems like reading a book in public is more like to draw looks because its a actual dead tree book.

Which isn't to say there aren't some risque rpg covers (the old Avalanche Press stuff, the Savant and Sorcerer cover was kind of racy, etc). But was it really that embarrassing in light of what people read in public otherwise or more so than reading one of them satanic D and D books in general? Have things just gotten more uptight or am I just clueless so I didn't notice the horrified and offended stares?

I guess you could chalk it up to prudishness. At the same time, I can't think of any of my books, and like a good geek I have dozens, having a cover approaching Harlequin-Romance levels of sexy. A little weird, maybe even a hint of action movie violence, but not really sexy.

I guess the closest book in my collection to anything racy would be RIFTS core? That's girls with guns in one-piece bathing suits.

To me, these sorts of claims would carry more weight if people didn't read books like 50 Shades of Grey in public. Compared to the content in something like that, the average RPG cover is really tame. What really gets me are the people who claim they even have to hide their books at home because heaven forbid their friends and family see that they own a book that might show a few square inches of female flesh.

But to answer your question, yes. There are people that are just that uptight when it comes to anything remotely sexual. And there are lots more people who will pretend to be that uptight just to push their latest agenda.

It seems things may have gotten more uptight, but perhaps only online and in "safe spaces" like colleges. But then I don't hang out with uptight people, if I can help it. Nowadays reading an actual Playboy magazine becomes a retro nostalgic indulgence, so it'd be the perfect cover for your RPG books. It'd also blend well with one's hipster black frame glasses, button down shirts, and microbrew.

I'm sure it's a matter of degree. The Avalanche stuff isn't just "racy", it's such an obvious attempt to exploit juvenile sensibilities that I wouldn't want to read it in public. Or really, I expect the contents to be awful (not indecent or offensive, just bad) when they have those covers.

On the other hand something that's just sexy or gory (within reason) or whatever, no, I've got no problem with it.

I did have a slight bit of self-consciousness reading William Sanders' The Wild Blue and the Gray the other day since it has a painting of an airplane with the Confederate battle flag on the cover, and I happened to be standing near a seated lady who was black. I try not to wave it around now.

The only time I had trouble with cover art was back in the 80's when I was a teenager and my mother saw the cover to a PBM game called Venom. It had a picture of a demon's head (which was bad enough, but the picture had nothing to do with the game.) I had to awkwardly explain that I wasn't reading about demons.

The only thing I can think of is that in general, rpg books are way oversized compared to a novel.

Delta Green: Countdown got me a lot of measured looks at a resort in Florida, which had a lot of Jewish and Israeli guests.

While it's true that some RPG covers in the past (like, approx. 10 years ago at least) were sleazy or tacky, I find it weird that some people in the community were recently complaining that they were embarrassed to go up to the counter to buy them... I mean, think about it: odds are you'd only be able to get these books at the dorkiest of comic or gaming shops. Hell, the guys in the same lineup were probably holding Heavy Metal magazine or those weird anime toys of mostly naked cartoon women. I doubt that bus loads of soccer moms, children and Social Studies college kids would've been gawking in horror.

In another forum complaining about this subject (as if it were still a rampant epidemic and a major deterrent to new or diverse gamers), I argued that it wasn't an issue in mainstream RPGs. You know, the ones that newcomers usually dive into. I even browsed through the top 100 RPGs on Amazon and RPG.net and literally NONE of them had naughty or lewd covers. I even showed them the links but I was told that I was denying other people's experiences. GROAN.

Sometimes I think that people on the internet are just tripping over each other in a race to see who can appear as the most socially conscious and upset whistleblower. "Look at me! Look at how offended I am!"

Could not give fewer shits. We have the 1st Amendment. Put whatever you want on/in your books. Screw anyone who complains. They're merely showing themselves to be assholes. The more in your neighbor's eye, etc.

I've heard a guy saying he didn't want to bring out his Kult (1st edition) book in public because of the art... but I see nothing that transgressive about it.

Of the original AD&D covers, the MM was very far from Dave Sutherland at his best


while the DMG screamed FANTASY FANATIC FUCK YEA a bit more loudly than was sometimes appropriate for mixed company


and likewise the Otus Deities & Demigods


so I had them under plain brown dust covers sometimes.

The PHB, despite being the same size, seemed less garish but still maybe a bit much.


SPI had really cheesy covers

"and when you smile for the camera, I know I love you better"
Notice it's the woman actually taking care of business.


RuneQuest was a thing of beauty!


Then there was the naked hard cover, classic elegance:


The Avalon Hill ed. didn't have proper covers, but what a box! It looks like freaking Apple Computer Lane.

That Dragonquest guy's boobs are kinda titillating...

... but have his nipples been shaved off, or what? (Okay, I guess it's stiff leather or metal or something.) Got a sort of proto-Elmore thang going with the pose, but no big-hair chick in leggings to make it so totally '80s. More leather, studs, a mullet? Still a Disco dragon daddy, I'm afraid.

It's definitely an American thing.  Up here in the Frozen North, it ain't all that.