History MisaimedFandom / TabletopGames

** If you can believe it, while they aren't as prevalent as Imperium or T'au defenders, there are people who are willing to call the ''[[OurOrcsAreDifferent ORKS]]'' the 'good guys'. Their reasoning is usually that the Orks are at least enjoying themselves, though it's almost always at the expense of others. This even happens in-universe, with one Eldar philosopher pointing out that as a species, the orks have won: while the Eldar and humans are fighting to survive as a species, the orks will never be fully eradicated and so are free of the angst and soul-searching thta plagues the other two. Do note that said philosopher's moniker is [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "the Perverse"]].

* Any time 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.
** Some neo-Nazis think that the Imperium is some kind of post-neo-fascist paradise. Similarly, the Ultramarines tends to have a very large following in Neo-Nazi-circles with that perfection-angle and being ubermench and such. There are quite a few neo-nazi/alt-right types who embrace the paranoia, intolerance, fanaticism, and FantasticRacism of the setting, and project it into other games, media and real life (most infamously, appropriating the "God Emperor" title for a certain former US president). It got so bad that Games Workshop had to issue [[https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/11/19/the-imperium-is-driven-by-hate-warhammer-is-not/ an official statement]] that declared 1) the Imperium is ''not'' the 'good guy' faction and 2) people wearing hate symbols will be asked to leave stores.
*** [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150420002332/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 it's 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. Interestingly, [[{{Irony}} the author's logo is oddly similar to Warhammer's symbol of Chaos, the Imperium's principal archenemy]].

** 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 [[DarkerAndEdgier 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 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.
*** Some of the authors (especially Josh Reynolds) portray them as having BlueAndOrangeMorality and existing only to make sure events play out like whatever story they're doing at the time (and the metaplot) says they should. If that means steering a Chaos army into an unprepared Eldar Craftworld, so be it.
** The whole thing isn't helped by Black Library writers trying to give the Imperium a human face in order to make ''[[Literature/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. 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 went ''both'' ways with it, making the battles themselves and the people in them that much more glorious, with a heaping helping of lore 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]]. 7th edition continues with the direction 6th was going: the galaxy is being ripped apart by Chaos and the Imperium is closer to total collapse than it ever has been, but Roboute Guilliman is back and working to make the place less of a hellhole. At this point Games Workshop authors have clearly found a balance point of playing the absurd, glorious bleakness of the setting completely straight while winking at its readers.
** This also makes the franchise a major IndecisiveParody. For a perfect example, the Commissars were originally created as what was basically a joke; a statement that the Imperial Guard was such an ill-run shambles that they had to insert political officers whose primary duty is to shoot anyone who looks like they're about to run away, a perfect symbol of the callousness of the military state that glorifies troopers even as it tosses them into the grinder. But many writers fell in love with their cool looks and outside-the-system role and featured Commissar protagonists meant to be exceptional sorts who almost never shoot any of their BadassCrew. Nowadays you have people who will insist that most Commissars don't shoot their troops willy-nilly except as a last resort... ignoring that this is literally their signature ability and the entire reason they were added to the setting to begin with.
** If you can believe it, while they aren't as prevelant as Imperium or T'au apologists, there are people who are willing to call the ''[[OurOrcsAreDifferent ORKS]]'' the 'good guys'. Their reasoning is usually that the Orks are at least enjoying themselves ... which ignores that it's almost always at the expense of others.
*** This even happens in-universe, with one Eldar philosopher pointing out that as a species, the orks have won: while the Eldar and humans are fighting to survive as a species, the orks will never be fully eradicated and so are free of the angst and soul-searching thta plagues the other two. Do note that said philosopher's moniker is [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "the Perverse"]].

** ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'' introduced a ''lot'' of players to the game if not the hobby - unfortunately this has resulted in the dreaded [[https://screenrant.com/critical-role-dnd-mercer-effect-dungeons-dragons-expectations/ Mercer Effect]]. As many people have assumed ''all'' D&D or TTRPG games are like this, and are [[HypeBacklash disillusioned when it's not]] - and this has resulted in a bit of a backlash from the community.
*** Related, Mercer also provides a lot of advice for aspiring [[GameMaster Game Masters]]. Unfortunately, a lot of people have also taken it to mean that Mercer's "Advice" is actually a rule - that must be followed to the tee. Mercer himself has stated his advice isn't intended to be rules, nor is Critical Role intended to be a window as to ''how'' Dungeons and Dragons is "supposed" to be played.

*** Related, Mercer also provides a lot of advice for aspiring [[GameMaster Game Masters]. Unfortunately, a lot of people have also taken it to mean that Mercer's "Advice" is actually a rule - that must be followed to the tee. Mercer himself has stated his advice isn't intended to be rules, nor is Critical Role intended to be a window as to ''how'' Dungeons and Dragons is "supposed" to be played.

*** This even happens in-universe, with one Eldar philosopher pointing out that as a species, the orks have won: while the Eldar and humans are fighting to survive as a species, the orks will never be fully eradicated and so are free of the angst and soul-searching thta plagues the other two. Do note that said philosopher's moniker is "the Perverse".

** If you can believe it, while they aren't as prevelant as Imperium or T'au apologists, there are people who are willing to call the ''[[OurOrcsAreDifferet ORKS]]'' the 'good guys'. Their reasoning is usually that the Orks are at least enjoying themselves ... which ignores that it's almost always at the expense of others.

* 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.
** Some neo-Nazis think that the Imperium is some kind of post-neo-fascist paradise. Similarly, the Ultramarines tends to have a very large following in Neo-Nazi-circles with that perfection-angle and being ubermench and such.
** [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150420002332/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 it's 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. Interestingly, [[{{Irony}} the author's logo is oddly similar to Warhammer's symbol of Chaos, the Imperium's principal archenemy]].

** There are quite a few neo-nazi/alt-right types who embrace the paranoia, intolerance, fanaticism, and FantasticRacism of the setting, and project it into other games, media and real life (most infamously, appropriating the "God Emperor" title for a certain former US president). The less said about that, the better.
** If you look hard enough you can even find [[InsaneTrollLogic Chaos apologists]].

* ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' was based on a game called "The Landlord's Game", which was meant to demonstrate [[CapitalismIsBad the evils of capitalism]] and how socialism is good. It didn't really work; the intended message has largely gone over everyone's heads, and it remains one of the most popular board games of all time, with a mountain of different sequels and variations.

** Many anti-furries (most notably on [[Website/FourChan /tg/]]), for one reason or another, have used references to the franchise in their trolling antics (e.g. drawing pictures of SpaceMarines killing furries).

* ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' was based on a game called "The Landlord's Game", which was meant to demonstrate [[CapitalismIsBad the evils of capitalism]].

** Many anti-furries, for one reason or another, have used references to the franchise in their trolling antics.

** Even those who aren't coming from a reactionary or fascist standpoint will argue that the Imperium are the good guys since everyone else is just that bad, and [[IDidWhatIHadToDo violence, intolerance, and repression are needed to defend humanity]] from the horrors of the grim dark galaxy (take [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D60PWEVgJXU this video from Generation films]] for instance). While this argument is certainly more justified than ones put forth by actual neo-nazis, it often neglects to mention how [[FascistButInefficient many of the Imperium's policies are inneficient]], and [[CreateYourOwnVillain some of it's enemies are it's own creation]].

** There are quite a few diehard fans who embrace the paranoia, intolerance, fanaticism, and FantasticRacism of the setting, and project it into other games, media and real life. The less said about that, the better.

** Even those who aren't coming from a reactionary or fascist standpoint will argue that the Imperium are the good guys since everyone else is just that bad, and [[IDidWhatIHadToDo violence, intolerance, and repression are needed to defend humanity]] from the horrors of the grim dark galaxy (take [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D60PWEVgJXU this video from Generation films]] for instance). While this argument is certainly more justified than ones put forth by actual neo-nazis, it often neglects to mention how [[FascistButInefficient some of the Imperium's policies are inneficient]], and [[CreateYourOwnVillain some of it's enemies are it's own creation]].

** Even those who aren't coming from a reactionary or fascist standpoint will argue that the Imperium are the good guys since everyone else is just that bad, and [[IDidWhatIHadToDo violence, intolerance, and repression are needed to defend humanity]] from the horros of the gim, dark galaxy (take [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D60PWEVgJXU this video from Generation films]] for instance). While this argument is certainly more justified than ones put forth by actual neo-nazis, it often neglects to mention how [[FascistButInefficient some of the Imperium's policies are inneficient]], and [[CreateYourOwnVillain some of it's enemies are it's own creation]].

** Even those who aren't coming from a reactionary or fascist standpoint will argue that the Imperium are the good guys since everyone else is just that bad, and [[IDidWhatIHadToDo violence, intolerance, and repression are needed to defend humanity]] from the horros of the gim, dark galaxy (take [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D60PWEVgJXU this video from Generation films]] for instance. While this argument is certainly more justified than ones put forth by actual neo-nazis, it often neglects to mention how [[FascistButInefficient some of the Imperium's policies are inneficient]], and [[CreateYourOwnVillain some of it's enemies are it's own creation]].

* ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' was based on a game called "The Landlord's Game", which was meant to demonstrate the evils of capitalism.

** Some neo-Nazis think that the Imperium is some kind of post-neo-fascist paradise.
** The Ultramarines tends to have a very large following in Neo-Nazi-circles with that perfection-angle and being ubermench and such.
** [[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 it's 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. Interestingly, the author's logo is similar to Warhammer's symbol of Chaos, the Imperium's principal archenemy.

* ''TabletopGame/Cyberpunk'': Trauma Team's paramedics were intended to be a commentary on the role of medicine in a society dying in the throes of late-stage capitalism. They can save the life of anyone, even the recently deceased, since they have state-of-the-art medical technology and training and firepower which allows them to extract people from places even MAX-TAC units avoid like the plague. However, they only do so for people who can afford one of their insanely expensive insurance policies, and are more than willing to gun down a dozen innocent people and step over their corpses if it gets them to their target a fraction of a second quicker than stepping around them. A significant fraction of the fandom missed the contents of the last sentence, and focused on how cool it would be to be a badass CombatMedic.

* A good portion of the ''TabletopGame/{{Rifts}}'' fandom sympathize with the Coalition States. The CS is a totalitarian, Orwellian, fascist police state which is a stabilizing force for North America. It feeds many beyond its borders and is the only reliable basis of credit currency. It heavily restricts media, education, and free speech, which protects people from accidentally reading magical scrolls that summon demons. It seeks to free the entire Earth for humanity: not only themselves but also their NGR allied in Europe and Free Quebec allies up north. It is [[FantasticRacism violently racist]] against alien invaders and [[HumansAreBastards humans who summon them]] - those who refuse to leave human territory may be imprisoned or shot. The CS make their lands so safe that many aliens choose to live in underprivileged ghettos until the day they die, rather than brave the untamed wilderness. [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Nazi Germany was probably one contributing inspiration]] for the CS, as Hitler was mentioned as one of Karl Prosek's inspirations. GodwinsLaw leads to critics only focusing on this, completely ignoring Karl's concirre t negative opinions about Hitler and the other leaders who inspired him: Caesar, Khan and Napoleon. They will also act as if Nazis invented the DeathsHead and ignore its recurrantuse in the American military or use by classic heroes like Ivanhoe . 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 tolerating, some ignoring, and a few even glorifying - the Coalition's atrocities.

** [[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. Interestingly, the author's logo is similiar to Warhammer's symbol of Chaos, the Imperium's principal archenemy.

** Given the sheer number of "This is a GAME. You are NOT a vampire/werewolf/demon/mage and the Devil is NOT your unholy master. If you actually believe any of this stuff, get some help" warnings in some of the later supplements, it's fair to say that the old World of Darkness had a definite problem with misaimed fandom.
*** And/or MoralGuardians.

** ''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.

**
[[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. Interestingly, the author's logo is similiar to Warhammer's symbol of Chaos, the Imperium's principal archenemy.

* The ''TabletopGame/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.
** 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.
** Given the sheer number of "This is a GAME. You are NOT a vampire/werewolf/demon/mage and the Devil is NOT your unholy master. If you actually believe any of this stuff, get some help" warnings in some of the later supplements, it's fair to say that the old World of Darkness had a definite problem with misaimed fandom.
*** And/or MoralGuardians.
** 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 ''TabletopGame/{{Rifts}}'' fandom sympathize with the Coalition States. The CS is a totalitarian, Orwellian, fascist police state which is a stabilizing force for North America. It feeds many beyond its borders and is the only reliable basis of credit currency. It heavily restricts media, education, and free speech, which protects people from accidentally reading magical scrolls that summon demons. It seeks to free the entire Earth for humanity: not only themselves but also their NGR allied in Europe and Free Quebec allies up north. It is [[FantasticRacism violently racist]] against alien invaders and [[HumansAreBastards humans who summon them]] - those who refuse to leave human territory may be imprisoned or shot. The CS make their lands so safe that many aliens choose to live in underprivileged ghettos until the day they die, rather than brave the untamed wilderness. [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Nazi Germany was probably one contributing inspiration]] for the CS, as Hitler was mentioned as one of Karl Prosek's inspirations. GodwinsLaw leads to critics only focusing on this, completely ignoring Karl's concirre t negative opinions about Hitler and the other leaders who inspired him: Caesar, Khan and Napoleon. They will also act as if Nazis invented the DeathsHead and ignore its recurrantuse in the American military or use by classic heroes like Ivanhoe . 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 tolerating, some ignoring, and a few even glorifying - the Coalition's atrocities.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'' was based on a game called "The Landlord's Game", which was meant to demonstrate the evils of capitalism.

***

*** [[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. Interestingly, the author's logo is similiar to Warhammer's symbol of Chaos, the Imperium's principal archenemy.

** The creator was so fed up with this that he might have included an {{Anvilicious}} AuthorFilibuster in a later book (which one? Which page?) detailing that the Coalition is fundamentally evil, (source?) but this hasn't stopped a thing.
*** while C.J. Carella described the CS as having an equivalent to Miscreant/Aberrant alignment in Dimension Book 2, Siembieda in World Book 11 explicitly states the average citizen or soldier is not evil. A recent book is titled "Heroes of Humanity", referring to the CS.
* If you're a fan of the board game ''TabletopGame/{{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.
** The game that started the genre, The Landlord's Game, was against capitalism, but Monopoly itself is simply escapism.

* 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.

** The Ultramarines tends to have a very large following in Neo-Nazi-circles.