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Hey folks,
Let’s talk about edginess in RPGs. In particular, let’s go into what edge does for media, how it can go wrong, and why marketing something as edgy tends to set off alarms for me.
(Below, I’ll stick to calling it “edge” to save characters.)
CW: Swords
(Below, I’ll stick to calling it “edge” to save characters.)
CW: Swords
To me, “edge” is what happens if you go look at a list of lines, veils, and taboos, and go:
“What if I cross these?”
Edge correlates to the length of a content warning list. This, naturally, means edge is somewhat in the eye of the beholder, but that’s a different thread.
“What if I cross these?”
Edge correlates to the length of a content warning list. This, naturally, means edge is somewhat in the eye of the beholder, but that’s a different thread.
As an example, consider the Hotline: Miami games—they’re gory as hell, they feature war and police violence, and many of the missions are designed to shock you.
Also, much of horror media counts as edgy under this definition—which tracks, I think.
Also, much of horror media counts as edgy under this definition—which tracks, I think.
Now, edge can often be good!
There’s often catharsis in staring at the vile and the distressing, and congealing it into something you can punch or claim for yourself.
But edge is also dangerous if used improperly.
There’s often catharsis in staring at the vile and the distressing, and congealing it into something you can punch or claim for yourself.
But edge is also dangerous if used improperly.
Think of edge like a sword. When swinging a sword, I have 3-1/2 questions:
1. How sharp is that sword?
2. Who’s the target, and how sure is the grip?
3. How accurate is the strike?
To wield edge without hurting the wrong people, you need clear answers to all these questions.
1. How sharp is that sword?
2. Who’s the target, and how sure is the grip?
3. How accurate is the strike?
To wield edge without hurting the wrong people, you need clear answers to all these questions.
1. SHARPNESS
By sharpness, I mean, “how far and boldly do you cross people’s boundaries?”
That could mean extreme gore, or that could mean REALLY biting satire.
By whatever means, very sharp edge “pulls no punches,” to mix metaphors.
By sharpness, I mean, “how far and boldly do you cross people’s boundaries?”
That could mean extreme gore, or that could mean REALLY biting satire.
By whatever means, very sharp edge “pulls no punches,” to mix metaphors.
@/jaboukie is a good example of this. Briefly putting on the Twitter persona of the FBI or Ted Cruz to say absolutely ridiculous shit is...well, it’s brutal.
Cutting, if you will.
It cut so hard, he lost Twitter verification for it.
Cutting, if you will.
It cut so hard, he lost Twitter verification for it.
Contrast @/jaboukie’s shot at white nationalists with Far Cry 5’s swipe.
The game was MARKETED against white nationalist imagery, but it brings up race too rarely to follow through on its promise of edge.
Because TRUE edge might turn away some white gamers with 60 USD.
The game was MARKETED against white nationalist imagery, but it brings up race too rarely to follow through on its promise of edge.
Because TRUE edge might turn away some white gamers with 60 USD.
The sharper the edge, the more it hurts on contact—for good AND for ill.
It’s okay to blunt your edge. It reduces the risk of hurting the wrong people, especially if you don’t trust your own aim.
It’s okay to blunt your edge. It reduces the risk of hurting the wrong people, especially if you don’t trust your own aim.
2. THE TARGET & THE HILT
If you’re wielding a sword, it’s really important who’s getting the pointy end, and how easy it is for A Bad Person
to rip that sword out of your hand.
If you’re wielding a sword, it’s really important who’s getting the pointy end, and how easy it is for A Bad Person
to rip that sword out of your hand.
Flying Circus does a good job of this—by design. The writer, Erika Chappell, pretty quickly realized her Fantasy Germany was at risk of appealing to fascists.
And she took the cutting route, but putting those fascists in true-to-life behavior in her book as the Goths.
And she took the cutting route, but putting those fascists in true-to-life behavior in her book as the Goths.
But Chappell took pains to draw up them up like Mad Max war-boys, dangerous yet pathetic, looking as ugly as the Nazis were.
Actually bringing the Goths to a game might be too close to home for your table, but it’s a clear jab at fascists looking for a Fantasy Germanic RPG.
Actually bringing the Goths to a game might be too close to home for your table, but it’s a clear jab at fascists looking for a Fantasy Germanic RPG.
Contrast that with Warhammer 40k. Games Workshop claims the Imperium is a parody of fascism, but GW couldn’t help but make the Space Marines *cool*.
Their grip on their sword was weak, and it took little for internet fascists to knock it away and claim the blade for themselves.
Their grip on their sword was weak, and it took little for internet fascists to knock it away and claim the blade for themselves.
If you’re going to play with a sword, be intentional where you point it, and keep a FIRM hand on the hilt.
A Nazi-Punks-Fuck-Off paragraph up top is a good start, but you HAVE to keep a strong grip on your edge, or else horrible people may take your “satire” very seriously.
A Nazi-Punks-Fuck-Off paragraph up top is a good start, but you HAVE to keep a strong grip on your edge, or else horrible people may take your “satire” very seriously.
3. ACCURACY
A common mistake edgy writers make is being reckless with their strikes. Sadly, Cyberpunk 2020 is an example of this recklessness.
CP2020’s worldbuilding is eerily prescient for ‘91. Reading through this book is often spooky for me.
A common mistake edgy writers make is being reckless with their strikes. Sadly, Cyberpunk 2020 is an example of this recklessness.
CP2020’s worldbuilding is eerily prescient for ‘91. Reading through this book is often spooky for me.
But holy chrome, it gets yikes!
I still want to run CP2020 at some point, but I would have to spend half the session making players duck under sexist and ableist and orientalist jabs.
It’s hard to navigate, to be honest!
I still want to run CP2020 at some point, but I would have to spend half the session making players duck under sexist and ableist and orientalist jabs.
It’s hard to navigate, to be honest!
This is what sensitivity consultants are for.
Their input improves the accuracy of your strikes, pointing out risks of collateral damage before you hurt the wrong people.
...Provided you pay them well, and heed their advice BEFORE you start swinging.
Their input improves the accuracy of your strikes, pointing out risks of collateral damage before you hurt the wrong people.
...Provided you pay them well, and heed their advice BEFORE you start swinging.
Hiring and listening to sensitivity consultants doesn’t dull your edge. That’s a dangerous misconception.
If anything, it lets you SHARPEN your edge, with the knowledge that your sword’s coming for the RIGHT target, clearly and elegantly.
If anything, it lets you SHARPEN your edge, with the knowledge that your sword’s coming for the RIGHT target, clearly and elegantly.
This lack of accuracy is what I’m most worried about when I hear people show off their edginess.
It’s quite easy to sharpen one’s edge to grimdark levels, and a sword-fighter unafraid to make specific people angry will keep their target clear and their hilt secure.
It’s quite easy to sharpen one’s edge to grimdark levels, and a sword-fighter unafraid to make specific people angry will keep their target clear and their hilt secure.
But bravado about this sick sword you‘re brandishing makes me worry that you’re not careful with where it’s pointing.
That worry deepens if I hear you’re ignoring or Twitter-blocking people who shout, “Hey, watch where you swing that!”
That worry deepens if I hear you’re ignoring or Twitter-blocking people who shout, “Hey, watch where you swing that!”
Edge is valuable. Sometimes, it’s essential. But it can also be dangerous, if you’re not careful about it.
So mind the sharpness of your blade.
Be clear about where the pointy end is going. Grip the hilt securely.
And mind your aim. Strike true, or don’t strike at all.
And mind your aim. Strike true, or don’t strike at all.
