Hero Wars, Orlanthi Sexism, and the solution...

From: Rick Meints <RMEINTS_at_ford.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 09:42:09 +0000


To help set the record straight, Hero Wars does (last time I read the draft) specifically state that the special requirement for joing the cult of Orlanth, including its aspects (Adventurous, Rex, Thunderous, Urox) is "open to males only". Note that none of the other lightbringers have such a restriction.

This isn't by any means "fair" by modern standards, but does that really matter?

The solutions are simple.

  1. MAKE EXCEPTIONS. Greg is the first one to point out that the word "All" in Orlanthi society means only 80 percent compliance. Live gloriously in the 20 percent minority.
  2. IGNORE THE RULE. This suggestion is not made lightly. There is nothing I can find in the rules or the nature of the game itself that will cause any problems. It's not like being a member of the cult of Orlanth requires daily gender checks, repeated antiwomen oath taking, testosterone level measurements, etc.
  3. Play RQ2 or RQ3. They don't have those restrictions. There are several examples of female NPCs that are Orlanthi initiates, etc. If you don't like the rules, change the game.

In the end, the last thing I enjoy is seeing a tedious debate of whether this is politically correct, fair or playable. Glorantha is full of all manner of things that

are shameful, inexcusable, reprehensible, etc. by modern standards.

This whole situation reminds me of an incident that occurred in the freeform
"How the West Was One" during its first running at RQ Con 2. MOB was
playing the main Rokari leader Theoblanc, who was in charge of the very chauvanistic and male dominated Rokari church. When a women (gasp) claimed that she was an ordained bishop of the church (more gasps) most of the other male bishops went nuts and demanded that Theoblanc discredit her immediately. MOB merely said "I see no woman before me", played his
"I Have Spoken" ability card, and the matter was over. The game went on,
everyone had a good time (even MOB who was later assassinated) and the universe kept on spinning. The Invisible God didn't strike anyone down either.

Play the game. Keep what works. Get rid of what doesn't.

Rick.

Powered by hypermail