History MisaimedFandom / TabletopGames

*** This has been gone back and forth with each edition. The first edition was pure parody, the second [[PoesLaw took the story seriously]], the third took itself so seriously and was so dark and miserable that it became a joke (creating the [[MemeticMutation meme]] "[[http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Grimdark grimdark"]] ), the fourth and fifth are LighterAndSofter with real heroes and villains, though still substantially darker than your average setting. The sixth edition seems to be going ''both'' ways with it, making the battles themselves and the people in them that much more glorious, with a heaping helping of fluff that indicates that every civilization in the galaxy, and maybe the galaxy ''itself'', is [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt literally on the verge of one great, big, all-consuming orgy of madness and carnage, leaving nothing left]]. (Not that the story will reach a point where Games Workshop have to draw a line under it and [[CashCowFranchise stop selling 40k merchandise]], though.)

* A good portion of the ''TabletopGame/{{Rifts}}'' fandom symphasise with the Coalition States. The Coalition States, for the record, is a totalitarian, Orwellian, fascist police state that heavily restricts media, education, and free speech, seeks to control the entire Earth, and is [[FantasticRacism violently racist]] [[HumansAreBastards against non-humans]] - either they're wiped out on sight or forced to live in underprivileged ghettos until the day they die. [[ANaziByAnyOtherName If any of this is lost on you, they're aesthetically, philosophically, and socially based on Nazi Germany]], which should tip people off that they're not supposed to be the good guys. Problem is, not only [[EvilIsCool are they badass]], but [[StrawmanHasAPoint a lot of nonhumans in the setting do pose an imminent danger to human civilisation]], leading to many people ignoring - or worse, glorifying - the Coalition's atrocities. The creator was so fed up with this that he included an {{Anvilicious}} AuthorFilibuster in a later book detailing that the Coalition is fundamentally evil, but this hasn't stopped a thing.

** In TabletopGame/MageTheAscension, The Technocracy was originally conceived as a belligerent faction who was trying to murder creativity and wonder by deluding the masses into believing such things don't exist, which, in a universe that operates on ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve, would remove their ability to do so in the real world. The problem was that their use of science to do so undermined this idea, since science and technology were profoundly liberating for the average person. Rather than clamp down on this, the writers embraced this, depicting the Technocracy as a WellIntentionedExtremist faction who wants to protect and empower the common man via science and technology (admittedly, under ''their'' terms), but have accumulated many, many skeletons in their closet to do so.
** TabletopGame/ChangelingTheDreaming was about fairies reborn as humans. While the line was considered "interesting, but flawed" by many, a group of people known as Otherkin adored the game, mainly cause they believe they ''are'' fairies reborn as humans. Their attachment to the game got so out of hand that the authors had to officially announce that they weren't Otherkin themselves.
* A good portion of the ''{{Rifts}}'' fandom symphasise with the Coalition States. The Coalition States, for the record, is a totalitarian, Orwellian, fascist police state that heavily restricts media, education, and free speech, seeks to control the entire Earth, and is [[FantasticRacism violently racist]] [[HumansAreBastards against non-humans]] - either they're wiped out on sight or forced to live in underprivileged ghettos until the day they die. [[ANaziByAnyOtherName If any of this is lost on you, they're aesthetically, philosophically, and socially based on Nazi Germany]], which should tip people off that they're not supposed to be the good guys. Problem is, not only [[EvilIsCool are they badass]], but [[StrawmanHasAPoint a lot of nonhumans in the setting do pose an imminent danger to human civilisation]], leading to many people ignoring - or worse, glorifying - the Coalition's atrocities. The creator was so fed up with this that he included an {{Anvilicious}} AuthorFilibuster in a later book detailing that the Coalition is fundamentally evil, but this hasn't stopped a thing.

*** And they're ''right'', of course: a universe where every other race/faction is out to get you, there are no "good guys", any attempts at peace or harmony are laughable and any horrible things you may do are justified since your enemies are just as bad if not worse? What's there for a Nazi ''not'' to like?
*** Note how the Imperium combines the worst parts of Stalinist Russia, Nazi Germany and Maoist China with added piles of awful awful awful leadership. Not to mention the worst parts of Dark Ages Europe and the colonization of the Americas.
*** It's probably safe to say the Imperium combines the worse aspects of most, if not all, of human history.

*** For added Irony one of the few positives about The Imperium is that ethnicity and gender are no longer used to discriminate against people and everyone is treated equally albeit equally poorly.
*** In theory. In practice, there aren't many women in the higher ranks of the Inquisition, Ecclesiarchy, Administratum, Adeptus Terra, etc. As for ethnicity, non-white people/people of color are so frickin' rare in the books that when they do show up, it's lampshaded almost into racism-through-anti-racism.
*** They make up for it with their FantasticRacism vs. aliens and abhumans, though.

***** How about the Ultramarines? White dudes that never error? Check. White superhumans that run a planet superbly? Check. Military geniuses? Check. They are the wet dream of a neo-nazi if there ever existed one. Just a glance on the name should say enough. It doesn't help that most of their fans actually have neo-nazi bearing and express themselves like the Nazis.

***** How about the Ultramarines? White dudes that never error? Check. White superhumans that run a planet superbly? Check. Military geniuses? Check. They are the wet dream of a neo-nazi if there ever existed one.

*** [[http://www.tradyouth.org/2015/02/the-imperium-of-man/ This post from a reactionary traditionalist]] site cites the Imperium Of Man as a desirable guide for society, completely missing the point that the Imperium is a dying CrapsackWorld where rampant traditionalism has made life horrible for humanity, even if its keeping it alive. The highly fantastical nature of the setting where only there such dogmatic policies can be tolerated is also ignored by the author.

**** Gender, not so much. There aren't many women in the higher ranks of the Inquisition, Ecclesiarchy, Administratum, Adeptus Terra, etc.
**** Ethnicity, not so much, either. People of color are so frickin' rare in the books that when they do show up, it's lampshaded almost into racism-through-anti-racism.

*** [[http://www.tradyouth.org/2015/02/the-imperium-of-man/ This post from a reactioanry traditionalist]] site cites the Imperium Of Man as a desirable guide for society, completely missing the point that the Imperium is a dying CrapsackWorld where rampant traditionalism has made life horrible for humanity, even if its keeping it alive. The highly fantastical nature of the setting where only there such dogmatic policies can be tolerated is also ignored by the author.

*** This has been gone back and forth with each edition. The first edition was pure parody, the second [[ForgottenParody took the story seriously]], the third took itself so seriously and was so dark and miserable that it became a joke (creating the [[MemeticMutation meme]] "[[http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Grimdark grimdark"]] ), the fourth and fifth are LighterAndSofter with real heroes and villains, though still substantially darker than your average setting. The sixth edition seems to be going ''both'' ways with it, making the battles themselves and the people in them that much more glorious, with a heaping helping of fluff that indicates that every civilization in the galaxy, and maybe the galaxy ''itself'', is [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt literally on the verge of one great, big, all-consuming orgy of madness and carnage, leaving nothing left]]. (Not that the story will reach a point where Games Workshop have to draw a line under it and [[CashCowFranchise stop selling 40k merchandise]], though.)

*** This has been gone back and forth with each edition. The first edition was pure parody, the second [[ForgottenParody took the story seriously]], the third took itself so seriously and was so dark and miserable that it became a joke (creating the {{meme}} "[[http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Grimdark grimdark"]] ), the fourth and fifth are LighterAndSofter with real heroes and villains, though still substantially darker than your average setting. The sixth edition seems to be going ''both'' ways with it, making the battles themselves and the people in them that much more glorious, with a heaping helping of fluff that indicates that every civilization in the galaxy, and maybe the galaxy ''itself'', is [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt literally on the verge of one great, big, all-consuming orgy of madness and carnage, leaving nothing left]]. (Not that the story will reach a point where Games Workshop have to draw a line under it and [[CashCowFranchise stop selling 40k merchandise]], though.)

*** Take note that said CharacterDevelopment only appeared after fans complained that they weren't GrimDark enough, and most of their negative aspects are described [[UnreliableNarrator in quotes by Imperial characters]]. The Tau are either the best/least-worst dudes in the universe if Imperial propaganda isn't true, or merely as grey as the Imperium if it is.

** The whole thing isn't helped by Black Library writers trying to give the Imperium a human face in order to make ''[[GauntsGhosts political officers]]'' sympathetic.

* The ''OldWorldOfDarkness'' supplement ''The Book of Nod'' was originally a source of stories and a prop for the setting. Imagine the author's surprise when Noddism became a cult.

** In TapletopGame/MageTheAscension, The Technocracy was originally conceived as a belligerent faction who was trying to murder creativity and wonder by deluding the masses into believing such things don't exist, which, in a universe that operates on ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve, would remove their ability to do so in the real world. The problem was that their use of science to do so undermined this idea, since science and technology were profoundly liberating for the average person. Rather than clamp down on this, the writers embraced this, depicting the Technocracy as a WellIntentionedExtremist faction who wants to protect and empower the common man via science and technology (admittedly, under ''their'' terms), but have accumulated many, many skeletons in their closet to do so.

*** [[http://www.tradyouth.org/2015/02/the-imperium-of-man/ This post from a right wing traditionalist]] site cites the Imperium Of Man as a desirable guide for society, completely missing the point that the Imperium is a dying CrapsackWorld where rampant traditionalism has made life horrible for humanity, even if its keeping it alive. The highly fantastical nature of the setting where only there such dogmatic policies can be tolerated is also ignored by the author.

* If you're a fan of the board game ''{{Monopoly}}'', chances are you're part of its MisaimedFandom: the game was supposed to demonstrate [[AnAesop the evils of capitalism]], but most people see it as ''glorifying'' capitalism.

* A good portion of the ''{{Rifts}}'' fandom symphasise with the Coalition States. The Coalition States, for the record, is a totalitarian, Orwellian, fascist police state that heavily restricts media, education, and free speech, seeks to control the entire Earth, and is [[FantasticRacism violently racist]] [[HumansAreBastards against non-humans]] - either they're wiped out on sight or forced to live in underprivileged ghettos until the day they die. [[ANaziByAnyOtherName If any of this is lost on you, they're aesthetically, philosophically, and socially based on Nazi Germany]], which should tip people off that they're not supposed to be the good guys. Problem is, not only [[EvilIsCool are they badass]], but [[StrawmanHasAPoint a lot of nonhumans in the setting do pose an imminent danger to human civilisation]], leading to many people ignoring - or worse, glorifying - the Coalition's atrocities. The creator was so fed up with this that he included an {{Anvilicious}} AuthorFilibuster in a later book detailing that the Coalition is fundamentally evil, but this hasn't stopped a thing.

*** And they're ''right'', of course: a universe where every other race/faction is out to get you, there are no "good guys", any attempts at peace or harmony are laughable and, no matter what horrible things you do, your enemies are just as bad if not worse? What's there for a Nazi ''not'' to like?

*** Take note that said CharacterDevelopment only appeared after fans complained that they weren't GrimDark enough, and most of their negative aspects are described [[UnreliableNarrator in quotes by Imperial characters]]. The Tau are either the best dudes in the universe if Imperial propaganda isn't true, or merely as grey as the Imperium if it is.

*** This has been gone back and forth with each edition, 1st was pure parody, 2nd took the story seriously, 3rd took itself so seriously and was so grimdark it became a joke, 4th and 5th are LighterAndSofter with real heroes and villains, though still substantially darker than your average setting. Now 6th edition seems to be going ''both'' ways with it, making the battles themselves and the people in them that much more glorious, with a heaping helping of fluff that indicates that every civilization in the galaxy, and maybe the galaxy ITSELF, is [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt literally on the verge of one great, big, all-consuming orgy of madness and carnage, leaving nothing left]].

** Ditto that for the Sabbat faction in ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade''. Originally little more than [[OurOrcsAreDifferent vampiric orcs]], the Sabbat became the setting's most popular faction among players, despite (or perhaps [[EvilIsCool because of]]) the gory and sadistic supplements that described their behavior.
*** Some of the additional depth (and sympathetic elements) the Sabbat later received may have been an attempt to move the target a little closer to where fandom was aiming. They're still liberatingly horrible by and large, but with a few legitimate points to stand for.

**** Ethnicity, maybe: gender, not so much. There aren't many women in the higher ranks of the Inquisition, Ecclesiarchy, Administratum, Adeptus Terra, etc.

* Anytime anyone at all thinks that one of the factions in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' is "the good guys" (hint: EvilVersusEvil is one of the foundations of the setting). This is almost always directed at the [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Tau]], the [[HumansAreBastards Imperium of Man]] (mostly via the [[RedShirtArmy Imperial Guard]]) and/or the [[ManipulativeBastard Eldar]] (and occasionally [[BloodKnight Da Orks]]), probably because [[BlackAndGrayMorality their most common enemies routinely perform actions several orders of magnitude worse]] than anything the previous factions could possibly achieve.

*** Note how the Imperium combines the worst parts of Stalinist Russia, Nazi Germany and Maoist China with added piles of awful awful awful leadership. Not to mention the worst parts of Dark Ages Europe and the colonization of the Americas.
*** It's probably safe to say the Imperium combines the worse aspects of most, if not all, of human history.
*** For added Irony one of the few positives about The Imperium is that ethnicity and gender are no longer used to discriminate against people and everyone is treated equally albeit equally poorly.
**** They make up for it with their FantasticRacism vs. aliens and abhumans, though.
** It was a bit more justified originally with the Tau, since the original material on them kind of glossed over any of their negative aspects. CharacterDevelopment fixed that, though they still offer conversion as an alternative to extermination, which none of the other factions really do.
*** Except [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Chaos]]... sometimes.
*** Take note that said CharacterDevelopment only appeared after fans complained that they weren't GrimDark enough, and most of their negative aspects are described [[UnreliableNarrator in quotes by Imperial characters]]. The Tau are either the best dudes in the universe if Imperial propaganda isn't true, or merely as grey as the Imperium if it is.
** The Harlequin as portrayed are probably the closest thing to "the good guys" in the setting. They also are severely underdeveloped.
*** They are implied to be trying to reunite the Eldar race but don't really care about changing the ideologies of their allies.
** The whole thing isn't helped by Black Library writers trying to give the Imperium a human face in order to make ''[[GauntsGhosts political officers]]'' sympathetic.
** Some claim that ''the whole setting'' was never meant to be taken as seriously as many fans do. In a fine example of this trope and/or PoesLaw, things intended as parody and BlackComedy were embraced unironically.
*** This has been gone back and forth with each edition, 1st was pure parody, 2nd took the story seriously, 3rd took itself so seriously and was so grimdark it became a joke, 4th and 5th are LighterAndSofter with real heroes and villains, though still substantially darker than your average setting. Now 6th edition seems to be going ''both'' ways with it, making the battles themselves and the people in them that much more glorious, with a heaping helping of fluff that indicates that every civilization in the galaxy, and maybe the galaxy ITSELF, is [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt literally on the verge of one great, big, all-consuming orgy of madness and carnage, leaving nothing left]].