On page ten of the rulebook there is a note:
You may only choose the Court option if your character is of the opposite gender of the person your encountered! (Not my exclamation)

Was that supposed to be a joke or a political statement? Or does the paragraph system breakdown?


EDIT: I read more of the rules and noticed that there is an "other" system in the text, the note seems utterly superfluous as far as reading goes.

Also, if continuity is argued, not only does the game make a conscious effort to empower women, but admits that this goes contrary to historical reference.

Fine, but choosing to not be similarly counter-source against other parts of heteronormativity is NOT the same thing as homophobia.

I would suggest it is neither a joke nor a political statement

Okay...I can go along with that. But, if it is neither, the question remains: What is it? Some way to simplify the game system? Curious minds , and all that.

Fine, but choosing to not be similarly counter-source against other parts of heteronormativity is NOT the same thing as homophobia.

Staggering that this sort of blatant homophobophobia exists in this day and age.

Was that supposed to be a joke or a political statement? Or does the paragraph system breakdown?

Having not read the rules I may be a bit off base, but you also need to consider the time period; yes, homosexuality and practices have pretty much existed throughout history, yet "Courting" is a fairly formal ritual that is open to the community; at that time period, it would have been entirely unacceptable to openly court in that manner (again, I'm no historian, so if I'm wrong please correct me).

It could be any number of reasons, historically it does fit though.

I'm quite surprised by this rule. The original edition is quite open about same-sex courting. There are results in the original book of tales that apply only to same-sex couples. The original rules even have a whole passage explaining the game's inclusion non-traditional cultural perspectives.

So yeah, what gives? Anyone want to blow it off now? It's a cut-and-dry, unmistakable change. But that won't stop the proud "anti-PC" folks from talking out of their asses having never played the game.

I'm quite surprised by this rule. The original edition is quite open about same-sex courting. There are results in the original book of tales that apply only to same-sex couples. The original rules even have a whole passage explaining the game's inclusion non-traditional cultural perspectives.

So yeah, what gives? Anyone want to blow it off now? It's a cut-and-dry, unmistakable change. But that won't stop the proud "anti-PC" folks from talking out of their asses having never played the game.

I have the 1985 edition in front of me. I can find NO mention of same-sex courting - it's amazing what people think they can remember.

Presumably whoever was writing the rules thought that only allowing heterosexual "Courtship" actions "made sense", and simply didn't think about the heteronormative implications of that choice. Heteronormativity remains embedded in mainstream North American culture in much the same way that racism or anti-Semitism were mainstream in earlier years...most people in the dominant culture don't even think twice about assuming that heterosexuality is "normal".

When wargamers see a rule they don't agree with we make up a house rule. You can too.

Is the game "homophobic"? In the late Soviet Union they wouldn't put political prisoners in labor camps, they would put them in mental hospitals. Homophobic is a pseudo-medical term to characterize political opponents as mentally ill in a similar way.

So is Tales of the Arabian Nights homophobic? Is the game anti-gay in a political/pathological sense. No more than the Brady Bunch or Odd Couple are homophobic. They are a products of their times. In the future, gay marriage and gay TV shows will perhaps be common place. Then the 4th or 5th edition of Tales of the Arabian Nights will address this outstanding if minor issue. We are apparently on the 2nd edition right now. More will follow.

Homophobic though is a poor choice of word, loaded with unintended psyco-pathological implications. Better to just ask is Tales of the Arabian Nights anti-gay? And if it doesn't explicitly have the players beating up gay characters, it's obviously not anti-gay.

Nor is Age of Conan: The Strategy Board Game pro-family (Conan ravishes women from land to land). I have a family with a wife and two kids but I'm not going to demonstrate against the game. In fact, I look forward to playing it and ravishing a few of my own.

I'm almost more offended by the people that find this thread "hilarious" or "pointless."

I have the 1985 edition in front of me. I can find NO mention of same-sex courting - it's amazing what people think they can remember.
Under Skills & Effects(p.11) "Seduction: You may use this only against characters of the opposite sex." ."

Basically, Jack's research into the past rules has undone the majority of your arguments here.