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{{Infobox book
| name          = Book of Vile Darkness
| image        = [[Image:BoVDCover.gif]]
| caption = cover of ''Book of Vile Darkness''
| author        = Monte Cook
| genre        = Role Playing Game
| publisher    = Wizards of the Coast
| release_date  = October 2002
| media_type    = Print (Hardback)<br>eBook
| pages        = 192
| isbn          = 0-7869-2650-3
| oclc= 51034940
}}
''For an overall list of Succubus related articles, see [[Succubus (disambiguation)]].''


''For an overall list of Incubus related articles, see [[Incubus (disambiguation)]].''


''This entry is in the SuccuWiki for the sake of completeness with the D&D Universe.''


'''''Book of Vile Darkness''''' is an optional supplemental sourcebook for the 3rd edition of the ''Dungeons and Dragons'' role playing game. The book was written by Monte Cook and published by Wizards of the Coast in October 2002. Described as a "detailed look at the nature of evil,"<ref name="ProdEntry">{{cite web| title = Book of Vile Darkness| work = D&D Products| publisher = Wizards of the Coast|date=October 2002| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/881610000| accessdate = 2006-11-26}}</ref> it was the first ''Dungeons and Dragons'' book labelled for mature audiences. The second was the "good" companion volume ''[[Book of Exalted Deeds]]''. Another ''Book of Vile Darkness'' was published for the 4th edition of ''D&D'' in 2011.




==Before Release==
Ed Stark, Design Manager for the ''D&D'' game at Wizards of the Coast at the time, explained to ''Pyramid'' that "the idea for ''BoVD'' grew out of both the initial success of the new edition of ''Dungeons and Dragons'' game and the excitement about "nostalgia" products such as ''Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil''. The new game promised people the same "back to the dungeon" feel 1st Edition provided, but with all the improvements twenty-plus years can put on a game system."<ref>http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=3686</ref>


As with most new products, Wizards of the Coast announced and previewed ''Book of Vile Darkness'' on its website during the months before its release.  Unlike other products, previewer Mat Smith revealed virtually no hard details about the book's contents because the book "is being released as a 'Mature Audiences Only' title."  Instead, he stressed that this book was something its developers felt had been requested by the community, something that "many, many gamers have been asking for."<ref name="BoVDPreview">{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Mat |title=I thought things were slowing down! |work=Previews |date=2002-09-13 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20020913 |accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref>  Also, as part of the promotion of the book, Paizo Publishing included sealed "mature" sections in both official Dungeons & Dragons magazines.  ''Dragon'' issue 300 included flesh and skin themed magic,<ref name="DR300">{{cite journal| last = Jacobs| first = James| title = Arcane Lore: Secrets of the Skinscribes| journal = Dragon|issue = 300| publisher = Paizo Publishing |date=October 2002}}</ref> while an adventure printed in ''Dungeon'' issue 95, "The Porphyry House of Horror", called on players to infiltrate a harem in order to disrupt a sacrificial orgy intended to turn the city's residents into fiends.<ref name="Dung300">{{cite journal| last = Jacobs| first = James| title = The Porphyry House of Horror| journal = Dungeon|issue = 95| publisher = Paizo Publishing |date=October 2002}}</ref>


Author and co-creator of the Dragonlance campaign setting Tracy Hickman distributed an angry response to ''Dragon'' 300 in a mailing-list newsletter entitled "D20 Terrorism".<ref name="HN">Hickman, Tracy (2002-09-12). [http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/24200-tracy-hickmans-view-dragon-300-sealed-section.html D20 Terrorism]. ''Hickman Newsletter #96''. Retrieved on September 3, 2009</ref> Hickman described both the ''Dragon'' content and the then-unreleased ''Book of Vile Darkness'' as "excrement" and as "cheap, trashy and demeaning."  Following repeated references to the Comic Book Code, he stated, "Every dark fear that mothers and clergy across America have about D&D is now, suddenly, true.  In one stroke, I watched everything Laura [Curtis] and I had worked toward for the last 25 years come crashing to the ground."


[[Image:BoVDCover.gif|right]]
Following Hickman's statement and amidst substantial debate in the online community, Paizo president Johnny Wilson issued a statement defending the magazine material.<ref name="PaizoPost">{{cite web| last=Wilson| first=Johnny L.| title = Paizo Publishing: Were We Thinking? Or Were We?|publisher = GamingReport.com| date = 2002-10-18| url = http://www.gamingreport.com/article.php?sid=5446| accessdate = 2006-11-26}}</ref>  He drew comparisons between the growing ''Book of Vile Darkness'' controversy and that involving the video game ''Mortal Kombat''.  He also argued that "publishing a guide to the atrocities and perversions that put the VILE in EVIL" allows role-playing that is "truly heroic" in contrast, while citing real-world examples of horror and heroism, such as the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Vietnam War, and World War II.  Nevertheless, he did offer a partial apology, remarking that the introductory content outside the sealed sections was "as offensive (or more so)" than what was within them.


[[Image:BoVDOldCover.jpg|thumb|Unreleased cover art used in previews.]]
Game designer Dale Donovan noted in ''Pyramid'': "The fact that both the 300th issue of ''Dragon'' and issue #95 of ''Dungeon'' had sealed, "mature content" sections incited more than one Internet flame war, with lots of folks flying off the handle in this direction or that, numerous invectives being tossed back and forth like hot potatoes, and scores of teeth gnashed for one reason or another. All that, and the book wasn't even out yet."<ref>http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=3690</ref>
'''''Book of Vile Darkness''''' is an optional supplemental sourcebook for the [[Editions of Dungeons & Dragons#3rd edition|3rd edition]] [[Dungeons & Dragons]] [[role-playing game]]. The book was written by [[Monte Cook]] and published by [[Wizards of the Coast]] in October 2002. Described as a "detailed look at the nature of evil,"<ref name="ProdEntry">{{cite web| title = Book of Vile Darkness| work = D&D Products| publisher = Wizards of the Coast| month = October | year = 2002| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/881610000| accessdate = 2006-11-26}}</ref> it was the first Dungeons & Dragons book labelled for mature audiences. The second was the "good" companion volume ''[[Book of Exalted Deeds]]''.


==Before release==
As with most new products, Wizards of the Coast announced and previewed ''Book of Vile Darkness'' on its website during the months before its release.  Unlike other products, previewer Mat Smith revealed virtually no hard details about the book's contents because the book "is being released as a 'Mature Audiences Only' title."  Instead, he stressed that this book was something its developers felt had been requested by the community, something that "many, many gamers have been asking for."<ref name="BoVDPreview">{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Mat |title=I thought things were slowing down! |work=Previews |date=2002-09-13 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20020913 |accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref>  Also, as part of the promotion of the book, [[Paizo Publishing]] included sealed "mature" sections in both official Dungeons & Dragons magazines.  ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' issue 300 included flesh and skin themed magic,<ref name="DR300">{{cite journal| last = Jacobs| first = James| title = Arcane Lore: Secrets of the Skinscribes| journal = Dragon|issue = 300| publisher = Paizo Publishing | month = October | year = 2002}}</ref> while an adventure printed in ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' issue 95, "The Porphyry House of Horror", called on players to infiltrate a [[harem]] in order to disrupt a sacrificial [[orgy]] intended to turn the city's residents into fiends.<ref name="Dung300">{{cite journal| last = Jacobs| first = James| title = The Porphyry House of Horror| journal = Dungeon|issue = 95| publisher = Paizo Publishing | month = October | year = 2002}}</ref>


Author and co-creator of the [[Dragonlance]] [[campaign setting]] [[Tracy Hickman]] distributed an angry response to ''Dragon'' 300 in a mailing-list newsletter entitled "D20 Terrorism".<ref name="HN">Hickman, Tracy (2002-09-12). [http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24200 D20 Terrorism]. ''Hickman Newsletter #96''. Archived from the original on [[2002]]-[[09-13]]. Retrieved on [[2006]]-[[11-26]].</ref> Hickman described both the ''Dragon'' content and the then-unreleased ''Book of Vile Darkness'' as "excrement" and as "cheap, trashy and demeaning."  Following repeated references to the [[Comics Code Authority|Comic Book Code]], he stated, "Every dark fear that mothers and clergy across America have about D&D is now, suddenly, true.  In one stroke, I watched everything Laura [Curtis] and I had worked toward for the last 25 years come crashing to the ground."
==Content and Support==
''Book of Vile Darkness'' introduced several new mechanics relating to evil in Dungeons & Dragons, including rules for drug use, demonic possession, torture, and ritual sacrifice. It introduced 18 new prestige classes . Like most supplemental source books, it included new spells, feats, and magic items. Some, including corrupt spells and vile feats, introduced new mechanics supporting evil characters. Also included were several of the archdevils and [[Demon Lord (Dungeons and Dragons)|demon lords]], such as [[Asmodeus (Dungeons and Dragons)|Asmodeus]] and [[Orcus]], updated for 3rd edition.


Following Hickman's statement and amidst substantial debate in the online community, Paizo president Johnny Wilson issued a statement defending the magazine material.<ref name="PaizoPost">{{cite web| last=Wilson| first=Johnny L.| title = Paizo Publishing: Were We Thinking? Or Were We?|publisher = GamingReport.com| date = 2002-10-18| url = http://www.gamingreport.com/article.php?sid=5446| accessdate = 2006-11-26}}</ref>  He drew comparisons between the growing ''Book of Vile Darkness'' controversy and that involving the video game ''[[Mortal Kombat (video game)|Mortal Kombat]]''.  He also argued that "publishing a guide to the atrocities and perversions that put the VILE in EVIL" allows role-playing that is "truly heroic" in contrast, while citing real-world examples of horror and heroism, such as the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], the [[Vietnam War]], and [[World War II]].  Nevertheless, he did offer a partial apology, remarking that the introductory content outside the sealed sections was "as offensive (or more so)" than what was within them.
Cover art was by Henry Higginbotham, with interior art by Daren Bader, Thomas Baxa, Matt Cavotta, Brian Despain, Jeff Easley, Scott Fischer, Lars Grant-West, Quinton Hoover, Jeremy Jarvis, Raven Mimura, Vinod Rams, Wayne Reynolds, David Roach, Richard Sardinha, Brian Snoddy, Arnie Swekel, and Anthony Waters.


==Content and support==
Wizards of the Coast provided additional support for the book through its website, including rules clarifications,<ref name="BoVDFAQ">{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Skip |title=Book of Vile Darkness Frequently Asked Questions |work=Official D&D Game Rule FAQ |date=2002-12-10 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20030221a |accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref> details on additional archfiends,<ref name="WebSup">{{cite web |last=Cook |first=Monte |title=Even More Archfiends! |date=2003-01-17 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/we/we20030117a |accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref> adaptations of ''Book of Vile Darkness'' content to epic levels,<ref name="EpicBoVD">{{cite web |last=Collins |first=Andy |title=Book of Vile Darkness |work=Epic Insights |date=2003-01-17 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/we/we20030117a |accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref> and even a screensaver.<ref name="BoVDSS">{{cite web |title=A Little Something Vile |date=2002-12-07 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/dx20021207ss |accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref> However, no update to ''Book of Vile Darkness'' content was provided after the release of the 3.5 revision.
''Book of Vile Darkness'' introduced several new mechanics relating to evil in Dungeons & Dragons, including rules for drug use, demonic possession, torture, and ritual sacrifice.  It introduced 18 new [[prestige class]]es (see [[List of prestige classes#Book of Vile Darkness|List of prestige classes]]). Like most supplemental source books, it included new spells, feats, and magic items. Some, including corrupt spells and vile feats, introduced new mechanics supporting evil characters.  Also included were several of the [[Lords of the Nine Hells|archdevils]] and [[Demon lord (Dungeons & Dragons)|demon lords]], such as [[Asmodeus (Dungeons & Dragons)|Asmodeus]] and [[Orcus (Dungeons & Dragons)|Orcus]], updated for 3rd edition.
 
Monte Cook was asked about his concerns in determining the content of the book: "My primary concern was, 'What will Wizards of the Coast let me get away with?' The answer turned out to be 'pretty much anything.' I didn't push it as far as I could have, though, and that made some people happy and others disappointed. Ultimately, the content in the book is as vile as I'd want from a book."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ps/20030104a| title=Product Spotlight: Book of Vile Darkness| date=January 4, 2003| publisher=Wizards of the Coast| accessdate=August 10, 2013| last=Ryan| first=Michael}}</ref>
 
 
==Reception==
Ken Gustafson of Silven Publishing authored a positive outlook.  "Overall," Gustafson wrote in August 2003, "''Book of Vile Darkness'' is quite possibly the best supplement that Wizards of the Coast has put out in recent memory."<ref name="SPRev">{{cite web |last=Gustafson |first=Ken |title=Review of Book of Vile Darkness |publisher=Silven Publishing |date=2003-08-04 |url=http://www.silven.com/resources/Default.asp?case=show&id=103&pageid=1 |accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref>


Wizards of the Coast provided additional support for the book through its website, including rules clarifications,<ref name="BoVDFAQ">{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Skip |title=Book of Vile Darkness Frequently Asked Questions |work=Official D&D Game Rule FAQ |date=2002-12-10 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20030221a |accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref> details on additional archfiends,<ref name="WebSup">{{cite web |last=Cook |first=Monte |title=Even More Archfiends! |date=2003-01-17 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/we/we20030117a |accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref> adaptations of ''Book of Vile Darkness'' content to epic levels,<ref name="EpicBoVD">{{cite web |last=Collins |first=Andy |title=Book of Vile Darkness |work=Epic Insights |date=2003-01-17 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/we/we20030117a |accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref> and even a screensaver.<ref name="BoVDSS">{{cite web |title=A Little Something Vile |date=2002-12-07 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/dx20021207ss |accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref>  However, no update to ''Book of Vile Darkness'' content was provided after the release of the 3.5 revision.


==Reviews and reactions==
==Influence==
Reviews of the book presented mixed opinions about its quality.  [[RPGnet]] reviewer Alex deMorris found fault with the book's presentation of evil.  "The evil here is more cartoon than anything else," he wrote.  "What about the world's evil: like pedophiles, rapists and other degenerates?  Why are they missing in a mature title about the nature of evil?"<ref name="AdMRev">{{cite web |last=deMorris |first=Alex |title=Review of Book of Vile Darkness |publisher=RPGnet |date=2004-01-12 |url=http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/10/10026.phtml |accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref> Darren MacLennan, also of RPGnet, gave the book a more positive rating and a recommendation, despite his determination that "one of the book's major problems is its inability to come to terms with evil" due to a lack of "moral complexity and shading" and "points where the evilness takes on ... a juvenile quality,"<ref name="DMLRev">{{cite web |last=MacLennan |first=Darren |title=Book of Vile Darkness |publisher=RPGnet |date=2002-10-23 |url=http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_7403.html |accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref> while Ken Gustafson of [[Silven Publishing]] authored a more positive outlook.  "Overall," Gustafson wrote in August 2003, "''Book of Vile Darkness'' is quite possibly the best supplement that Wizards of the Coast has put out in recent memory."<ref name="SPRev">{{cite web |last=Gustafson |first=Ken |title=Review of Book of Vile Darkness |publisher=Silven Publishing |date=2003-08-04 |url=http://www.silven.com/resources/Default.asp?case=show&id=103&pageid=1 |accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref>
Much of the content and concepts of ''Book of Vile Darkness'' have since been reprinted or adapted in source books without the "Mature Audiences Only" label.  Rules for drug use had in fact already been printed,<ref name="LoD">{{cite book |author= Carl, Jason and Sean K. Reynolds |title=Lords of Darkness |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |date=2001-11-01 |isbn=0-7869-1989-2}}</ref> while later material included corrupt spells,<ref name="CoR">{{cite book |author= Crook, Jeff, Wil Upchurch and Eric L. Boyd |title=Champions of Ruin |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |date=May 2005 |isbn=0-7869-3692-4}}</ref> vile feats,<ref name="CoR" /> possession,<ref name="FCI">{{cite book |author= Jacobs, James, Erik Mona and Ed Stark |title=Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |date=June 2006 |isbn=0-7869-3919-2}}</ref> and detailed discussions of demon lords.<ref name="FCI" />
 
 
==Within the Game==
Within the fictional world of the game, the ''book of vile darkness'' (also sometimes capitalized as ''Book of Vile Darkness''<ref name="Dung128">{{cite journal| last = Leati| first = Tito| title = The Champion's Belt| journal = Dungeon|issue = 128| publisher = Paizo Publishing |date=November 2005}}</ref>) is a supernatural book that serves as a reference guide to evil and granting experience points and a bonus to the wisdom attribute of evil spellcasters, while harming or corrupting those of other alignments.  Although listed as a magical item in 2nd edition, the history of this tome and its copies is first detailed in the supplemental source book that shares its name.  Most recently, the ''book of vile darkness'' has been included in the ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' for the 3.5 revision, where it is now considered a minor artifact.<ref name="DMG35">{{cite book| last = Cook| first = Monte| title = Dungeon Master's Guide| edition = v.3.5|date=July 2003| publisher = Wizards of the Coast| location = Renton, WA}}</ref>
 


Much of the content and concepts of ''Book of Vile Darkness'' have since been reprinted or adapted in source books without the "Mature Audiences Only" label. Rules for drug use had in fact already been printed,<ref name="LoD">{{cite book |author= Carl, Jason and Sean K. Reynolds |title=Lords of Darkness |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |date=2001-11-01 |id=ISBN 0-7869-1989-2}}</ref> while later material included corrupt spells,<ref name="CoR">{{cite book |author= Crook, Jeff, Wil Upchurch and Eric L. Boyd |title=Champions of Ruin |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |month=May | year=2005 |id=ISBN 0-7869-3692-4}}</ref> vile feats,<ref name="CoR" /> possession,<ref name="FCI">{{cite book |author= Jacobs, James, Erik Mona and Ed Stark |title=Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |month=June | year=2006 |id=ISBN 0-7869-3919-2}}</ref> and detailed discussions of demon lords.<ref name="FCI" />
==In Other Media==
The film ''Dungeons & Dragons: The Book of Vile Darkness'' was released August 2012.<ref>http://www.wizards.com/dnd/promotions.aspx</ref><ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1733125/</ref>


==Within the game==
Within the fictional world of the game, the ''book of vile darkness'' (also sometimes capitalized as ''Book of Vile Darkness''<ref>{{cite journal| last = Leati| first = Tito| title = The Champion's Belt| journal = Dungeon|issue = 128| publisher = Paizo Publishing | month = November | year = 2005}}</ref>) is a supernatural book that serves as a reference guide to evil and granting experience points and a bonus to the wisdom attribute of evil spellcasters, while harming or corrupting those of other alignments.  Although listed as a magical item in 2nd edition, the history of this tome and its copies is first detailed in the supplemental source book that shares its name.  Most recently, the ''book of vile darkness'' has been included in the ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' for the 3.5 revision, where it is now considered a minor artifact.<ref>{{cite book| last = Cook| first = Monte| title = Dungeon Master's Guide| edition = v.3.5| year = 2003| month = July| publisher = Wizards of the Coast| location = Renton, WA}}</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
 
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Vile_Darkness The original source of this page on Wikipedia]
==Additional Reading==
*[http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/881610000  The Official ''Book of Vile Darkness'' Homepage]
*"How Far Should You Go?", ''Dragon'' #300
*[http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article9.asp?x=dnd/ag/ag20030126a&p=bovd&g=full ''Book of Vile Darkness'' Art Gallery]
*"Sage Advice", ''Dragon'' #304
 
 
==External Links==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Vile_Darkness The original source of this article at Wikipedia]
*[http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ag/20030126a ''Book of Vile Darkness'' Art Gallery]
*[http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_7374.html Review of ''Book of Vile Darkness'' at RPG.net]

Latest revision as of 09:59, 3 September 2014

Book of Vile Darkness
BoVDCover.gif
Author(s) Monte Cook
Genre(s) Role Playing Game
Publisher Wizards of the Coast
Publication date October 2002
Media type Print (Hardback)
eBook
Length 192
ISBN 0-7869-2650-3
OCLC Number 51034940

For an overall list of Succubus related articles, see Succubus (disambiguation).

For an overall list of Incubus related articles, see Incubus (disambiguation).


Book of Vile Darkness is an optional supplemental sourcebook for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons and Dragons role playing game. The book was written by Monte Cook and published by Wizards of the Coast in October 2002. Described as a "detailed look at the nature of evil,"[1] it was the first Dungeons and Dragons book labelled for mature audiences. The second was the "good" companion volume Book of Exalted Deeds. Another Book of Vile Darkness was published for the 4th edition of D&D in 2011.


Before Release

Ed Stark, Design Manager for the D&D game at Wizards of the Coast at the time, explained to Pyramid that "the idea for BoVD grew out of both the initial success of the new edition of Dungeons and Dragons game and the excitement about "nostalgia" products such as Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil. The new game promised people the same "back to the dungeon" feel 1st Edition provided, but with all the improvements twenty-plus years can put on a game system."[2]

As with most new products, Wizards of the Coast announced and previewed Book of Vile Darkness on its website during the months before its release. Unlike other products, previewer Mat Smith revealed virtually no hard details about the book's contents because the book "is being released as a 'Mature Audiences Only' title." Instead, he stressed that this book was something its developers felt had been requested by the community, something that "many, many gamers have been asking for."[3] Also, as part of the promotion of the book, Paizo Publishing included sealed "mature" sections in both official Dungeons & Dragons magazines. Dragon issue 300 included flesh and skin themed magic,[4] while an adventure printed in Dungeon issue 95, "The Porphyry House of Horror", called on players to infiltrate a harem in order to disrupt a sacrificial orgy intended to turn the city's residents into fiends.[5]

Author and co-creator of the Dragonlance campaign setting Tracy Hickman distributed an angry response to Dragon 300 in a mailing-list newsletter entitled "D20 Terrorism".[6] Hickman described both the Dragon content and the then-unreleased Book of Vile Darkness as "excrement" and as "cheap, trashy and demeaning." Following repeated references to the Comic Book Code, he stated, "Every dark fear that mothers and clergy across America have about D&D is now, suddenly, true. In one stroke, I watched everything Laura [Curtis] and I had worked toward for the last 25 years come crashing to the ground."

Following Hickman's statement and amidst substantial debate in the online community, Paizo president Johnny Wilson issued a statement defending the magazine material.[7] He drew comparisons between the growing Book of Vile Darkness controversy and that involving the video game Mortal Kombat. He also argued that "publishing a guide to the atrocities and perversions that put the VILE in EVIL" allows role-playing that is "truly heroic" in contrast, while citing real-world examples of horror and heroism, such as the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Vietnam War, and World War II. Nevertheless, he did offer a partial apology, remarking that the introductory content outside the sealed sections was "as offensive (or more so)" than what was within them.

Game designer Dale Donovan noted in Pyramid: "The fact that both the 300th issue of Dragon and issue #95 of Dungeon had sealed, "mature content" sections incited more than one Internet flame war, with lots of folks flying off the handle in this direction or that, numerous invectives being tossed back and forth like hot potatoes, and scores of teeth gnashed for one reason or another. All that, and the book wasn't even out yet."[8]


Content and Support

Book of Vile Darkness introduced several new mechanics relating to evil in Dungeons & Dragons, including rules for drug use, demonic possession, torture, and ritual sacrifice. It introduced 18 new prestige classes . Like most supplemental source books, it included new spells, feats, and magic items. Some, including corrupt spells and vile feats, introduced new mechanics supporting evil characters. Also included were several of the archdevils and demon lords, such as Asmodeus and Orcus, updated for 3rd edition.

Cover art was by Henry Higginbotham, with interior art by Daren Bader, Thomas Baxa, Matt Cavotta, Brian Despain, Jeff Easley, Scott Fischer, Lars Grant-West, Quinton Hoover, Jeremy Jarvis, Raven Mimura, Vinod Rams, Wayne Reynolds, David Roach, Richard Sardinha, Brian Snoddy, Arnie Swekel, and Anthony Waters.

Wizards of the Coast provided additional support for the book through its website, including rules clarifications,[9] details on additional archfiends,[10] adaptations of Book of Vile Darkness content to epic levels,[11] and even a screensaver.[12] However, no update to Book of Vile Darkness content was provided after the release of the 3.5 revision.

Monte Cook was asked about his concerns in determining the content of the book: "My primary concern was, 'What will Wizards of the Coast let me get away with?' The answer turned out to be 'pretty much anything.' I didn't push it as far as I could have, though, and that made some people happy and others disappointed. Ultimately, the content in the book is as vile as I'd want from a book."[13]


Reception

Ken Gustafson of Silven Publishing authored a positive outlook. "Overall," Gustafson wrote in August 2003, "Book of Vile Darkness is quite possibly the best supplement that Wizards of the Coast has put out in recent memory."[14]


Influence

Much of the content and concepts of Book of Vile Darkness have since been reprinted or adapted in source books without the "Mature Audiences Only" label. Rules for drug use had in fact already been printed,[15] while later material included corrupt spells,[16] vile feats,[16] possession,[17] and detailed discussions of demon lords.[17]


Within the Game

Within the fictional world of the game, the book of vile darkness (also sometimes capitalized as Book of Vile Darkness[18]) is a supernatural book that serves as a reference guide to evil and granting experience points and a bonus to the wisdom attribute of evil spellcasters, while harming or corrupting those of other alignments. Although listed as a magical item in 2nd edition, the history of this tome and its copies is first detailed in the supplemental source book that shares its name. Most recently, the book of vile darkness has been included in the Dungeon Master's Guide for the 3.5 revision, where it is now considered a minor artifact.[19]


In Other Media

The film Dungeons & Dragons: The Book of Vile Darkness was released August 2012.[20][21]


Notes

  1. ↑ "Book of Vile Darkness". D&D Products. Wizards of the Coast. October 2002. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/881610000. Retrieved 2006-11-26. 
  2. ↑ http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=3686
  3. ↑ Smith, Mat (2002-09-13). "I thought things were slowing down!". Previews. Wizards of the Coast. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20020913. Retrieved 2006-11-27. 
  4. ↑ Jacobs, James (October 2002). "Arcane Lore: Secrets of the Skinscribes". Dragon (300). Paizo Publishing. 
  5. ↑ Jacobs, James (October 2002). "The Porphyry House of Horror". Dungeon (95). Paizo Publishing. 
  6. ↑ Hickman, Tracy (2002-09-12). D20 Terrorism. Hickman Newsletter #96. Retrieved on September 3, 2009
  7. ↑ Wilson, Johnny L. (2002-10-18). "Paizo Publishing: Were We Thinking? Or Were We?". GamingReport.com. http://www.gamingreport.com/article.php?sid=5446. Retrieved 2006-11-26. 
  8. ↑ http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=3690
  9. ↑ Williams, Skip (2002-12-10). "Book of Vile Darkness Frequently Asked Questions". Official D&D Game Rule FAQ. Wizards of the Coast. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20030221a. Retrieved 2006-11-27. 
  10. ↑ Cook, Monte (2003-01-17). "Even More Archfiends!". Wizards of the Coast. http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/we/we20030117a. Retrieved 2006-11-27. 
  11. ↑ Collins, Andy (2003-01-17). "Book of Vile Darkness". Epic Insights. Wizards of the Coast. http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/we/we20030117a. Retrieved 2006-11-27. 
  12. ↑ "A Little Something Vile". Wizards of the Coast. 2002-12-07. http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/dx20021207ss. Retrieved 2006-11-27. 
  13. ↑ Ryan, Michael (January 4, 2003). "Product Spotlight: Book of Vile Darkness". Wizards of the Coast. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ps/20030104a. Retrieved August 10, 2013. 
  14. ↑ Gustafson, Ken (2003-08-04). "Review of Book of Vile Darkness". Silven Publishing. http://www.silven.com/resources/Default.asp?case=show&id=103&pageid=1. Retrieved 2006-11-27. 
  15. ↑ Carl, Jason and Sean K. Reynolds (2001-11-01). Lords of Darkness. Wizards of the Coast.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Crook, Jeff, Wil Upchurch and Eric L. Boyd (May 2005). Champions of Ruin. Wizards of the Coast.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Jacobs, James, Erik Mona and Ed Stark (June 2006). Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss. Wizards of the Coast.
  18. ↑ Leati, Tito (November 2005). "The Champion's Belt". Dungeon (128). Paizo Publishing. 
  19. ↑ Cook, Monte (July 2003). Dungeon Master's Guide, v.3.5, Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast.
  20. ↑ http://www.wizards.com/dnd/promotions.aspx
  21. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1733125/


Additional Reading

  • "How Far Should You Go?", Dragon #300
  • "Sage Advice", Dragon #304


External Links

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