Ironworks Gaming Forum - What a boring game!!!!!!!!

Ironworks Gaming Forum (http://www.ironworksforum.com/forum/index.php)

- Neverwinter Nights 1 & 2 Also SoU & HotU Forum (http://www.ironworksforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=16)

- - What a boring game!!!!!!!! (http://www.ironworksforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34023)

A reply....

Quote:

Very interesting letter Mr. Wilson, our thanks for making us aware of the use of the word 'Gypsy' as a race instead of a subclass as it is represented in Neverwinter Nights. The game takes place in the fictional world of the Forgotten Realms which is not based on any place in the real world of North America or Europe. If I would make a guess as to why the word was used in
the description of the Rogue subclass I would say that they were referencing the dictionary description:

Gyp·sy also Gip·sy■■ Pronunciation Key■ (jps)
n. pl. Gyp·sies
1. A member of a people that arrived in Europe in migrations from northern
India around the 14th century, now also living in North America and
Australia. Many Gypsy groups have preserved elements of their traditional
culture, including an itinerant existence and the Romany language.
See Romany.
gypsy One inclined to a nomadic, unconventional way of life.
2. A person who moves from place to place as required for employment,
especially: A part-time or temporary member of a college faculty. A member
of the chorus line in a theater production.

Note that, yes, the historical and racial definition of Gypsy is first and foremost, but I believe the idea was to incorporate the "inclined to a nomadic, unconventional way of life." and "A person who moves from place to place as required for employment" definitions of the word. You mentioned
that people enjoy role-playing the stereotyped Gypsy character who travels the world without rules or restrictions and that is why the description was included. We certainly did not mean to cast a negative image of any particular race or nationality in the subclass descriptions. I also note that Gypsy is not an official subclass, in the strict 3rd edition rules of the Rogue, and more of a description of a type of character a new player
would want to play if they do not know the Dungeons and Dragons rules at all. Furthermore, the word 'Rogue' itself has been the subject of negative stereotypes but it is always up to the player what sort of Rogue they want to play- good or bad. I believe this also the reason why the word 'Thief' was dropped from the class title and replaced with the more neutral 'Rogue'.

Again all of this is based in a fantasy world and should not be considered offensive to any particular group that exists today. The word Gypsy is used in a descriptive sense as provided by the dictionary and not as the title of a particular race that exists today.

I hope that makes sense and clarifies that no offense was intended, and certainly none should be taken as the word was used purely from a descriptive context.

Jay Watamaniuk
Community Manager
BioWare Corp.
Email: jay@bioware.com

[ 07-09-2002, 03:41 AM: Message edited by: Yorick ]

I'll post my reply to Jay once I've written it. As it's 3:34am, that can wait till tomorrow. [img]smile.gif[/img] ;)

It goes without saying that I disagree with that. It is the effect, not the intent that is the problem. I have no doubt offense was not intended. ;) :D Ah well. Sleeeeep beckons.

i dont care about a big ego online.or being a sore loser either(there are no winners or losers on a debate cause neither really are going to change their minds). i simply did not want this kind of discussion in this part of the forum.it was innapropriate to have it in the first place. besides why does it come down to who has a big ego or whos a sore loser. i said i wanted this topic to end. and i was being called a sore loser a while back cause i wanted this thread to stop. who was being egotistical with that remark. didnt you complain about that one memnoch?

my whole purpose on this thread was not that whos right or wrong but does it belong.i felt this topic did not belong. i say im gonna drop the thread then some one had to act chidish and call me a sore loser.

and by that reply from bioware only proved my point earlier. that you can complain and it did not do anything.it will not change anything. like none of my requests will be taken seriously.

Quote:

Originally posted by theifprowess:
and by that reply from bioware only proved my point earlier. that you can complain and it did not do anything.it will not change anything. .

I have not yet begun to fight. ;)

well, at least people from bioware took the effort to reply yorick's mail. some company don't even bother.

good luck with the battle, just remember in the book david beat goliath. it doesnt work that way in these modern times.99.9% of the time the giant will always win the battle.

Quote:

Originally posted by theifprowess:
good luck with the battle, just remember in the book david beat goliath. it doesnt work that way in these modern times.99.9% of the time the giant will always win the battle.

Thanks dude, this is what I mean by maturity. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Quote:

Originally posted by Kakero:
well, at least people from bioware took the effort to reply yorick's mail. some company don't even bother.

I agree! Jay is a very nice person. I have talked with him a few times in email. One thing about Bioware, like MOST large companies, or small companies that become big usually become poor in the customer service dept, but not Bioware. They really DO care what people think, and treat each email personally.

Personally, I don't agree with Yorick's claim, but I support what he is doing.

To me, it's like what I read on the RPG Newsgroup about the 'Drow'. and why "The only Black people in AD&D are Drow, and they are all EVIL" Then they go on to say "TSR was making Black people out to all be Evil".. It's not totally the same thing, but the guy that posted this Drow thead didn't know that black, white, asian--ALL RACES are in AD&D. Now, as you know Usenet, the thread turned into a flamewar. (A reason I don't visit Newsgroups as much these days).

99% of my time 'online' was reading Newsgroups. but now I stick to this Forum and a few bookmarks..

To Yorick once more: Read the letter and understand what it says *it is a game, it is fiction* and drop your oh I am so good politicly correctness.