From: [m--se--n] at [io.org] (mooseman)
Newsgroups: rc.games.frp.misc,rec.games.frp.advocacy,rec.games.frp.announce
Subject: 700 Club propoganda (review?)
Date: 4 Jul 1994 18:44:26 -0400


DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Adventure or Abomination?

The tract, as expected, is mostly one sided, having just barely enough
arguments from the opposite side to avoid the charge of blatant
propagandizing. As a tract from a religious group interested in blocking a
game it considers evil, it _is_ propaganda.

Critical consumers of information will be able to read between the lines to
get some grains of truth hidden behind the rhetoric. The two examples of
supposed D&D suicides are striking in that, even though the victim shot
himself, the parents were much more concerned with the fact that he owned
odd books than the fact that he obviously owned (or had access to) a handgun.
Also, the parents seemed to have absolutely no idea of their sons' interests
or mental state. They had not apparently even seen the inside of their rooms
until after the suicides!

"Occult paraphernalia found in his room after his death - books, pictures,
symbols - indicated his fascination with the dark side of the supernatural.
Medieval weapons found under his bed revealed his identification with the
Fighter/Magic-user character he played in the D&D campaigns.
'The game tells you to make your own weaponry' said Pat Pulling [victim's
mother - ed.]. 'He could have killed the whole family in our sleep with
these things.'" (D&D:A/A p.5)

Again please notice (1) the preoccupation with the books and "medieval
weapons" by the parents and (2) the fear of these items when the victim died
of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The message: guns are safe and proper for
young boys, D&D is dangerous.

Much is made of D&D's supposed purposeful use of Satanic symbolism. While
falling short of outright accusing TSR of Satanism and Satanic recruiting,
the tract does indicate that TSR ignored all calls to change the game and
remove the supposedly Satanic images. TSR did nothing that any successful
company would not do. They had a good product which they promoted and sold.
The sales were still rising, so they did not change it. The minor change of
renaming the Demons seems to be all that the tract is calling for, although
they do claim (in a roundabout way, to hedge their bets against civil
action, no doubt) that the game is a tool of brainwashing. Unfortunately, by
the same route, so is bridge or checkers.

"'Since it is a role-playing game, it's used for behavior modification.
Brainwashing can take place in 72 hours if the proper elements and pressures
are used,' she says." (D&D:A/A p.3)

If you are familiar with brainwashing techniques from Psychology studies,
then you know (1) it can be done in less than 72 hours and (2) very little
tools are needed. Give Charles Manson 72 hours and a bunch of suggestive
teenagers eating nothing but potato chips and soda and he will give you his
next family. The charge is too ambiguous to be believed.

Slightly more disturbing is the charge that D&D encourages the Dungeon
Master player to act as a god. One suicide example was of a player told by
his DM that his "character's soul belonged to (the DM player)." (p.4) This
shows either (1) a lack of understanding of the game by the author, (2) a
lack of understanding of the game by the player/victim, or (3) a lack of
understanding of the game by the DM. The tract quotes from the D&D "Legends
& Lore" rule book where it says "Depending on religion (and the DM's
decision), certain rituals and services must be performed." (p.4 in
tract/no ref for L&L) Clearly this rule is meant to be applied to the
character not the player, but by quoting without proper context it certainly
makes us (RPG players) out to be evil Satanic cultists.

The tract doesn't come right out and say that D&D is evil, but it points out
its perceived Satanic influence. It is reprinted from an article in "The
Standard" in 1987. The copyright holder is Regent University. If permission
can be gained, or if someone would direct me to Regent University to get
permission, I will transcribe the article in its entirety.

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