Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => General Wargames and Hobby Discussion => Topic started by: Robosmith on March 02, 2021, 04:20:18 AM
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Everyone knows of the Perry twins and most know one of them is unfortunately disabled. While pondering this and some personal experiences it made me curious about other disabled people in the hobby. There's many of us out there with some kind of disability from physical ones to health conditions which can prevent us from working on our hobby projects or attending events we would like to. It would be interesting to see how the hobby impacts disabled tabletop gamers in both their experiences but also the benefits of the hobby.
I've noticed in some tabletop circles as of late there has been a lot of (to put it nicely) pandering towards some groups of disabled people. As someone who is disabled, I've found it's shallow and dishonest in the worst way. I don't think many people are looking for a Goblin Wheelchair when they go into their local hobby shop looking for a new project (I would have considered this a joke 15 years ago to be honest). There are a lot of disabled gamers out there with far more interesting stories than just being disabled. I'd like to avoid a pity party and discuss the impact of the hobby in both directions and maybe find some thing we wouldn't have discovered other wise.
I've had to adapt my painting style to avoid dry brushing and make extra use of ink washes to avoid painful flare ups. It's made me want to develop a more unique painting style all of my own because of my painting restrictions. I'm not a fan of woe is me stories and don't see it that way. I see it as an interesting journey to take where I get to explore new styles of paintings (and spend an awful lot of money on non-miniature painting books for research). It's pushed me to discover some interesting tricks and attempt colour combinations that wouldn't have crossed my path if I was copying the common tutorials.
In a less than stellar situation, I've found it impacts my army choice and game choice in a negative fashion. While many developers are fazing them out now, games which split players turns except in rare reactions give brief rest periods for disabled people. Being able to sit for a few minutes between moving models (I'm sure this helps chaps with bad backs too) is a godsend. Always being on your feet and leaning across the table to move things for hours or even a full day can be really taxing or lead to a worse condition for the next few days. Horde armies and games like Warhammer pushing army sizes can lead to difficulties too. When an average size game has 30 models there's a lot less to move than a game where a unit might have 30 or more models. It's a real shame because I love goblins but I'm never painting up a full goblin army or moving them across the table.
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Thank you for posting this it's nice to read this kind of sanity and practical approach to dealing with the challenges of daily life and the roadblocks that it can throw up between you and the hobby.
We are war gamers, so we know that sometimes the dice don't fall the way we want them to. The tabletop challenge is doing the best you can with the scenario you're given and adjusting your strategy to what the dice give you. Not demanding changes to the scenario and not demanding that we ignore the dice or change the game wholesale to suit your idea of "what should have happened". Your approach is the mature one and an honorable one.
I don't have much to add to the conversation, but wanted to let you know how much I respect the way you're approaching these challenges. And also that I'd be honored to share a table with you any day.
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It's possible that many are over compensating for what could be described as indifference in the past (in society in general). There does seem to be a drive to be inclusive that- despite the good intentions- comes across as overdone, or possibly even crass.
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It's possible that many are over compensating for what could be described as indifference in the past (in society in general). There does seem to be a drive to be inclusive that- despite the good intentions- comes across as overdone, or possibly even crass.
Wasn't my intention to take the topic that way, but since it's been brought up. I've never found anything to be excluding, players, club organizers and shop owners alike all take it in their stride and just roll with it. That's what bothers me most about the pandering, people who wanted to be involved already were. It's people who have no interest in the activity they're trying to change doing it and they will move on as soon as it's done.
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It's people who have no interest in the activity they're trying to change doing it and they will move on as soon as it's done.
This is the crux of the matter. The whole hateful woke thing is never about the supposed subject of the "injustice" it is a political ego trip for the twitter mobs.
The woman behind the "wheelchair of representation" is not disabled, she 'self identifies' as a disabled person to give gravitas to her repulsive stance, the syndrome she claims to have is not recognised as a disability. Thankfully idiots like her have not had much impact on the wargaming hobby yet, but they are actively trying to wreck the rpg hobby, and sadly seem to be succeeding.
I am legally a registered "disabled" person, having blinded myself in one eye in an accident on my farm, although compared to what I think qualifies as disability it is nothing. I had to adjust to a new way of painting as since the accident I have no depth of field and am red/green colour blind.
I accept now that I cannot work to the same level of detail as I used to and had to simplify a lot of previous techniques moving to more drybrush and wash or cell shading than blends. I need vastly more light to work now and cannot paint in long sessions but overall it does not affect my enjoyment of that side of my hobby. Although I do stub a lot of paintbrushes as I can't tell where the brush tip ends and the figure begins.
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This is the crux of the matter. The whole hateful woke thing is never about the supposed subject of the "injustice" it is a political ego trip for the twitter mobs.
The woman behind the "wheelchair of representation" is not disabled, she 'self identifies' as a disabled person to give gravitas to her repulsive stance, the syndrome she claims to have is not recognised as a disability. Thankfully idiots like her have not had much impact on the wargaming hobby yet, but they are actively trying to wreck the rpg hobby, and sadly seem to be succeeding.
I’ve got to confess that the woke wargame wave had completely passed me by...but then the WiFi is poor in my cave. Not sure if this is the same lady but I’m curious about the “professional Wargamer”.... clearly I’m doing this all wrong, I didn’t realise we got paid.
https://wavellroom.com/2021/01/15/wargaming-has-a-diversity-problem/
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For a forum with a no politics rule a lot of people here seem to have no problem bashing opinions that they disagree with.
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..... Not sure if this is the same lady....
No, that is different sjw, but claiming the same self elected right to tell you how to live your life.
@Ogrob. I am sure you don't really want to know how I feel about the SJWs.
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For a forum with a no politics rule a lot of people here seem to have no problem bashing opinions that they disagree with.
Correct.
No politics, current affairs or real world contentious issues here, thank you.
Perfectly valid to discuss issues of disability as relating to / experienced by wargamers, but it's going to take a lot of good sense and restraint to keep that discussion firmly on the rails without it veering off into the expression of views that are basically political (in the broadest sense) in nature.
So please try your best to keep the discussion on the OP's topic. So it can remain open.
Thank you :)
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@Ogrob. I am sure you don't really want to know how I feel about the SJWs.
Because you're doing such a good job of presenting a level headed and impartial opinion as it is...
the thing about a hobby is that you don't have to do all of it. some people don't want miniatures in wheelchairs, but alot of people clearly do or they'd have never made it to the shelf. People like to see themselves in the activities they spend their time on. if you don't want them then don't buy them and tada, problem solved.
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Lets not move too far away from the original post.
I've noticed actually a few posts by members of this forum lately commenting about having physical disabilities that are adversely affecting their hobby. In some cases it seems to force them to give up almost altogether and they're pushed to the sidelines so reading about how someone is overcoming this and getting around these issues is an important discussion to be had for cohorts of our community.
Personally until this thread I can honestly say with some regret that the subject never even occurred to me how folks with physical (or even mental?) disabilities engage with the hobby.
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The woman behind the "wheelchair of representation" is not disabled, she 'self identifies' as a disabled person to give gravitas to her repulsive stance, the syndrome she claims to have is not recognised as a disability. Thankfully idiots like her have not had much impact on the wargaming hobby yet, but they are actively trying to wreck the rpg hobby, and sadly seem to be succeeding.
I don't know the lady in person to comment on her health condition. Depending on the day of the week and who you see you can be disabled or not disabled officially. You can even be told you're disabled but not enough disabled to be counted as disabled. There's disabilities like chronic fatigue or fibro which have flare up cycles and you can be fine one day and at a 8-9 pain the next day because you woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
the thing about a hobby is that you don't have to do all of it. some people don't want miniatures in wheelchairs, but alot of people clearly do or they'd have never made it to the shelf. People like to see themselves in the activities they spend their time on. if you don't want them then don't buy them and tada, problem solved.
I think you underestimate how much money there is in "support" groups of various kinds. There's a lot of grants you can get for producing things like this. They don't have to make money and often they don't. Marvel comics is a good example of something which pushes this angle heavily and bleeds money for it, which is crazy since the movies have been huge for so long. The mini games sell really well and have made an active choice not to use the modern comic characters but stick to the originals.
Lets not move too far away from the original post.
I've noticed actually a few posts by members of this forum lately commenting about having physical disabilities that are adversely affecting their hobby. In some cases it seems to force them to give up almost altogether and they're pushed to the sidelines so reading about how someone is overcoming this and getting around these issues is an important discussion to be had for cohorts of our community.
Personally until this thread I can honestly say with some regret that the subject never even occurred to me how folks with physical (or even mental?) disabilities engage with the hobby.
It's not something you should be actively chasing if it's not something you're personally effected by IMO. Unless you are unable to use your arms/hands at all, there's always a way to do hobby projects. Army painter and contrast paints do a great job of making painting models fast and good enough for the table.
One issue I didn't address which maybe of interest is the structure of tournament play and often the location. If you have a disability that isn't stable and changes from day to day booking in advance can be risky. You could wake up unable to attend and if you do it repeatedly I would expect you to get black listed by TOs. There's only so many times you can cancel before people write you off (and I don't blame them). It's a barrier you can't do much about but it has come to mind when I see an event I would like to go to and then back out for that reason. Multi day events or long drawn out events increase the likelihood of symptoms appearing and needing to back out. I remember a TCG tournament where half way through my condition got worse and I was struggling to play at any reasonable level by round 7 or so. I don't have a good solution for this, it's how life is for some people and that's fine. Finding ways to better manage events to make them one day instead of a final game on day two for example might make it easier for some people. Some conditions have a boom/bust style pattern where today you can act fine and tomorrow you're cursing your existence from the rebound. Like kicking a football at a wall and it hitting you in the face a day later.
Location is something which could be improved but might cause a small cost increase and could be too much for TOs to increase by. Lots of tournaments are held in major cities like London, traveling to and from those locations can often involved multiple stops and long walks between train/bus and venue. Selecting locations where the car park is right by the door, a bus or train stops right on top of it are small changes which can make a big difference. Big cities can be harder to navigate, and I've found smaller towns are better suited to this type of arrangement. Venues are usually picked by what can be had on the cheap with the needed space, yet many church halls and village halls are ideal venues for pretty cheap which towns and even large villages are happy to let you use. It may even be worth some of the more popular tournament and company venues like Mantic and Element games having a word with the local council and asking if an additional stop could be added to a common bus route to make it easier to attend events there.
Again, not looking for a pity party, I'm just a dude dealing with what I have how I can. It can get frustrating at times and discussing it with others in the same boat is a good way to let off steam and see ways to do things I may have missed.
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I thought long and hard about this before answer this topic.I know both sides of this conversation Very very well and theirs The bigotry of personal experiences on both sides.But worst of all misunderstanding. Including the experience of the young lady in the link her sweeping generalization and subsequent conclusion.Is the result of a very unpleasant encounter with a Bell End. Every club has one at the very least.Just as every workplace has one reguardless of gender.
Just a we all know most club's don't consist of mainly university graduates.( Yes I have a degree but not till my late twenties. My only experience of a Russell group university was waking up with' strange ceiling syndrome' and panicking about getting back to Catterick on time)
Over the year's I've been shot at, stabbed, set on fire, beaten, bitten, spat at,scalded, run over. Verbally abused, drinks spiked,and thrown through window's. Only two these things didn't happen when I was a nurse( RN MH,RN LD, & CNB thats the degrees ) and several of these were from the members public.Whilst accompanying someone with a disability.
Captain Blood is absolutely correct.
I assure you all if you wander of the original topic .Your in danger of being totally mis understood and mis quoted. Reguardless your intentions .This is a minefield and your wandering in on a pogo stick.
Back on topic.
Figure painting , model painting , and gaming are valid therapeutic tools.
Over the years I've used these with people both physical and mental health challenges.Working for several charities.
Now I make toys and museum pieces for a living( it's a lot less stabby :D ) I just meander aimlessly on this forum for the sense of community. I know there's a fair few veterans on hear with their own challenges be it chatting in PM's about nights punctuated by History lessons and the insomnia that merrily plonks you on here in the middle of the night.
I while back found my self triggered quite out of the blue. By a thread on the Tan Wars .Totally unexpected .Ireland was a particularly tough paper round .But I chat with its author gave some perspective and common ground.
I quite happy as member of this forum to have my brain's picked and will help people find short cuts and techniques that work for them.As is the forum membership as a whole.
I will no longer write public tutorials on here( as they have of late become blueprints for several small companies which was not what they were intended for.) But I'll happily talk you through problems and methods to achive a goal .Or through a PM.
So to the OP.( and anyone else of course.)
Is there anything in particular work around you'd like to find for your original technique or a project you'd like to do . But not sure how to achieve. I've probably in one work role solved a similar issue or know how too( it's amazing how quickly you find solutions when your income is dependent on your outcomes!)
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It is also worth being reminded that we should be compassionate and make every effort to make reasonable accommodations for people whose eyesight or mobility is limited. The classic example is gaming with someone who is legally blind. It's happened to me at a number of conventions, and it really wasn't that big of a deal. The game slowed down a little bit because one of the players required the use of certain visual aids to see the table. Some kind of high powered monocle that gave him a keyhole view of the table. As a result, he sometimes needed reminding of which units are where. No one took advantage of that, and if they had they would have been called out for it. Everyone at the table understood and wanted to help him enjoy the day, so we did what we could to make that happen.
Within reason.
At one convention we had a player who was wheelchair bound who asked, after the table and armies were set up, that we break everything down and change the 5x8 ft table to a longer 2.5x16 ft table so that he could always move his own figures. Given the scenario we were playing and the time constraints we were under, it just wasn't practical at the time. He had to settle for directing others as to how to move his figures for him. we also did that for a few weeks for a regular player that showed up to the table after having shoulder surgery. It wasn't a perfect solution but it was one everyone could live with.
The key is "reasonable accomodations". Don't be smug or patronizing. Don't take advantage of the situation. Just be cool, man. On both sides. That's all it takes.
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Inclusion and appropriate considerations for them are good for the hobby and the buisness element of the hobby.
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I think a lot of people forget that Disability like wargaming is a broad church , I 'm speaking as a father of two grown up disabled sons both with different hidden disabilities ( both gamers). Treat everyone with respect and do not patronize . If you are not disabled take a moment and think how would you like to be treated if you were, also what is disability?
I could go on but to quote my oldest son who has not let his define him ," It is merely a series of speed bumps in life's long road".
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Frankly I think the issue is, as always, what appeals to one may not the other. The DnD minis in wheelchairs turned off some wheelchair users whilst others found it delightful. Though you have to laugh at people trying to argue that "realistically they'd do this with magic and enchant that thing etc" in a game where a bunch of murderhobos solve the universes problems with convenient storytelling tropes
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Frankly I think the issue is, as always, what appeals to one may not the other. The DnD minis in wheelchairs turned off some wheelchair users whilst others found it delightful. Though you have to laugh at people trying to argue that "realistically they'd do this with magic and enchant that thing etc" in a game where a bunch of murderhobos solve the universes problems with convenient storytelling tropes
Yes, the argument about "This fantasy game isn't realistic enough in the exact way I feel is appropriate" always gets quite silly, IMO. They're all fantasies. They're all games. Even the "strictly historical" ones - there's a thread here which talks about the amusing and sometimes pants-on-head absurdity which can occur in those wargame sessions where a historical battle is being recreated on the tabletop, which gave me more than a few laughs and knowing nods (can't find the link at the moment, sorry!).
Unsurprisingly, hobbies which parallel our own have similar issues at times - I've seen shocking comments about something as pedestrian as a model railway's layout, when (as most railway modellers happily agree, thank goodness), virtually all model railway layouts are pure fantasy. And let's not even get into the bizarre, strident politics some folks attach to their video games.
I find that those statements are never genuinely about accuracy, instead, they're about satisfying the complainant's own prejudices, and - to bring it back to the topic at hand - if we want to be fair not just to to genuinely disabled people but to ALL players, a hobby community should generally not tie themselves into knots to satisfy some grognard's prejudices. I always try to remember it's ALL a bit of fantasy, or, if you prefer "it's just a game" and I find the more importanting thing about a game is not that it meet some nebulous and personal definition of "accurate", simply that it be fair. And in ensuring everything is fair - and fun - a little bit of simple courtesy goes a long way.
I myself suffer from PTSD, something I didn't really understand until the ways it affected my gaming came out (more online than in-person, but I can recall a small number of occasions I was set off at a live game). Merely knowing that I had a real condition rather than some amorphous personality defect helped a good deal in that regard. In my case, I feel it's on me far more than others to self-monitor so I don't find myself needing or asking for accommodations, certainly none the OP or others with more severe disabilities might need, but sometimes all you need is just the tiniest bit of help.
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Yes, the argument about "This fantasy game isn't realistic enough in the exact way I feel is appropriate" always gets quite silly, IMO. They're all fantasies. They're all games. Even the "strictly historical" ones - there's a thread here which talks about the amusing and sometimes pants-on-head absurdity which can occur in those wargame sessions where a historical battle is being recreated on the tabletop, which gave me more than a few laughs and knowing nods (can't find the link at the moment, sorry!).
I find that those statements are never genuinely about accuracy, instead, they're about satisfying the complainant's own prejudices, and - to bring it back to the topic at hand - if we want to be fair not just to to genuinely disabled people but to ALL players, a hobby community should generally not tie themselves into knots to satisfy some grognard's prejudices. I always try to remember it's ALL a bit of fantasy, or, if you prefer "it's just a game" and I find the more importanting thing about a game is not that it meet some nebulous and personal definition of "accurate", simply that it be fair. And in ensuring everything is fair - and fun - a little bit of simple courtesy goes a long way.
I disagree with this on the grounds that even fantasy worlds do need some grounding in reality or they become nothing but murder hobo games every one is super man and nothing really matters. If being in a magic wheelchair was as good as they made the rules then everyone would have one just for the insane perks it gave you for minimal costs. There are plenty of in world solutions which make far more sense for an adventurer than a flying wheel chair, which is ultimately what you're getting. There's cool solutions like riding a golem around or having someone make you mechanical legs. Things which fit within the universe far better than the evil lord of death and doom making sure his dungeon has wheel chair ramps and fire exits. D&D is a fantasy world originally written with real world background, there's plenty of places you could fit disabled people (lets be honest, if they didn't get thrown down a well in whatever setting it is) which make sense. A potion maker doesn't need to walk, the shop keeper or the scholar. All perfectly fine and fitting roles for someone in a wheelchair without sending the old bill around to lord evil Mcbugger to complain the dwarf in the wheelchair can't loot his fortress built in an active volcano. Having your legs cut off should be a real threat to an adventurer, it shouldn't be "woo hoo flying wheelchair time, how many bonus attacks do I get now?" Which is what they made it into.
When things are added they also take away in other areas. If you really enjoy a book series with dark fantasy elements and some gritty depth to it having a guy in a wheelchair turn up to be the barbarian hero who curb stomps everyone shatters that world's entire concept. It's something you would expect in a disc world book. If you want to have it in your own home brew setting that's fine, no one but your group is going to care about it. Making it a huge deal and pushing it into the main books (which I'm sure will happen next edition) leads to a terrible slippery slope. They will make every disability an over powered perk to avoid upsetting people like the flying wheelchair does. We will end up with power gaming being a blind guy with no limbs in a flying wheelchair and 10 swords flying round him like a blender. This is the path they're going down and we now have rights holders suing WOTC over their conduct harming their universes already. It would be much healthier for everyone to not include these type of things in official rule books and let people home brew them as fits their own settings better. If they make them over powered and completely dismiss the realities of people's situation it's insulting to them and may as well not be included at all. If they make it realistic then people will complain it's not the power fantasy they wanted or they thought someone else should have. It's a no win situation that ends in Disc world if we're lucky and Looney tunes if we're not.
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Unless you are unable to use your arms/hands at all, there's always a way to do hobby projects.
That reminds me of this fellow: Frank LeSquirrel (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008629624045&sk=photos). (warning: Facebook link- don't go there of you think Zuckerberg will be able to read your mind if you do).
He paints minis to a very good standard with his mouth.
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That reminds me of this fellow: Frank LeSquirrel (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008629624045&sk=photos). (warning: Facebook link- don't go there of you think Zuckerberg will be able to read your mind if you do).
He paints minis to a very good standard with his mouth.
No he will read my preferences and spam my account with 'targeted' ads... never mind... I use adblocker! lol
Now to the thread at hand... I think that we should be inclusive, and certainly there is no reason to not be. I think Warren's example are spot on. Said that, I would not complain if game table are a bit lower and you can play seated. My own is done that way, much better playing seated, even if you have no registered disability. Said that, I can see some problems in shows. Chairs are always in short supply, sometime even space. In the latter case it could be even worse. But I have seen people in wheelchairs or with walking aids at Salute and Cavalier. Tournaments could be problematic but I think that organizer should be accommodating as far as reasonable. I have, sadly, seen the opposite in practice... a Referee penalizing (or even kicking out) a player... (memory is fuzzy... shades of old age incoming) because he was late for the second day morning game. Reason... he was a doctor and had provided first aid after a car crash (a serious one) on the way between his accommodation and the game venue. The referee said he should have ignored the crash... now this shows in the game community we can have some... jerks... (the referee in question approximate to the stereotyped definition of it...).
As for rules, having played interminable igo-yugo standing games, I remember my back aching... having shorter turns would have been better, but here the crux is that both sides of the equation can be painful. Certainly games you ca play being seated are a good thing for everyone, especially long games. Certainly Standing for long tournaments is something we shall avoid in principle...
Car parks near venues are useful, but the downside could be venues very difficult to reach for non 'motorized' people, including people with disabilities that lend themselves to use public transport rather than personal cars. But even suitably connected venues could be then too cramped and create other issues. I pity (and do not envy) Show organizers...
But IMHO avoiding to place barriers is common sense rather than the fashionable 'inclusion' word.
Now this is clear cut... and it is common sense rather than the fashionable 'inclusion' word.
On the other hand there are people that are politicizing what should be basically standard behavior. I have to agree with RobH on the idea that just giving superpowers to wheelchairs seems a bit out of context... it is also something that looks more like a statement rather than a real gaming 'enhancement'.
Now it is worth mentioning that the weelchair miniatures and rules were also advertised here... https://paxsims.wordpress.com/2020/09/20/play-with-us-however-you-roll-combat-wheelchair-rules-for-dd-5e/ same place were the lady 'professional wargamer' (I call them professional chalratans...) posted some of her rants (and the ad was posted by her...). I do not think it is 100% germane to the discussion, but I have had the misfortune to deal with the owner of the blog... and if online he and his pals looks like stereotyped SJW, in person... they often looks as imbeciles... Mr. Brynnen in particular came across as someone who had zero understanding of wargaming or conflict... despite teaching them... and also someone who has his own gigantic bag of prejudices... but is part of a group who is trying to monopolize professional wargaming using rants against everyone who is not supporting his ideas. That speaks volumes on the so called 'professional wargaming'...
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I disagree with this on the grounds that even fantasy worlds do need some grounding in reality or they become nothing but murder hobo games every one is super man and nothing really matters. If being in a magic wheelchair was as good as they made the rules then everyone would have one just for the insane perks it gave you for minimal costs. There are plenty of in world solutions which make far more sense for an adventurer than a flying wheel chair, which is ultimately what you're getting. There's cool solutions like riding a golem around or having someone make you mechanical legs. Things which fit within the universe far better than the evil lord of death and doom making sure his dungeon has wheel chair ramps and fire exits. D&D is a fantasy world originally written with real world background, there's plenty of places you could fit disabled people (lets be honest, if they didn't get thrown down a well in whatever setting it is) which make sense. A potion maker doesn't need to walk, the shop keeper or the scholar. All perfectly fine and fitting roles for someone in a wheelchair without sending the old bill around to lord evil Mcbugger to complain the dwarf in the wheelchair can't loot his fortress built in an active volcano. Having your legs cut off should be a real threat to an adventurer, it shouldn't be "woo hoo flying wheelchair time, how many bonus attacks do I get now?" Which is what they made it into.
When things are added they also take away in other areas. If you really enjoy a book series with dark fantasy elements and some gritty depth to it having a guy in a wheelchair turn up to be the barbarian hero who curb stomps everyone shatters that world's entire concept. It's something you would expect in a disc world book. If you want to have it in your own home brew setting that's fine, no one but your group is going to care about it. Making it a huge deal and pushing it into the main books (which I'm sure will happen next edition) leads to a terrible slippery slope. They will make every disability an over powered perk to avoid upsetting people like the flying wheelchair does. We will end up with power gaming being a blind guy with no limbs in a flying wheelchair and 10 swords flying round him like a blender. This is the path they're going down and we now have rights holders suing WOTC over their conduct harming their universes already. It would be much healthier for everyone to not include these type of things in official rule books and let people home brew them as fits their own settings better. If they make them over powered and completely dismiss the realities of people's situation it's insulting to them and may as well not be included at all. If they make it realistic then people will complain it's not the power fantasy they wanted or they thought someone else should have. It's a no win situation that ends in Disc world if we're lucky and Looney tunes if we're not.
Perhaps it wasn't as clear as it might've been, but I was coming at this from the angle of the players and their attitudes, rather than any specific set of rules. I don't have any experience of the D&D offering, but I'm sure I would leave that to whatever a local playgroup felt comfortable with - that is after all a defining feature of RPGs, that playgroups can add, remove, or alter rules as they see, so long as the group agrees to it. If you and your mates don't like those rules you're certainly under no obligation to include them in your own campaign.
As far as the rest of what you're saying goes, what it's really coming down to is internal consistency. Sure many of these worlds have some derivation from real life (rather difficult to make a game which is wholly and entirely alien to the human experience!), but what most credible fictional worlds do is set rules and abide by them. It need not mirror real life, it just needs to be internally consistent to that imagined world. The experience you describe is where you feel something is clearly breaking the established rules about how the D&D world works, and since D&D does use a fair bit of medieval human history to base itself on, it's easy to conflate that with how the real world works (or worked). But they're not quite the same thing.
Perhaps one group prefers things more realistic, with minimal magic and more grit and punishment, primitive medicine, and necromancy being a dire thing not to be used on party members, whereas another might prefer their easy flights of fancy, with the classic instant cure-all healing potions (or pausing mid-battle to instantly eat 45 cheese wheels lol) and easy resurrections. This is an argument between play groups which as old as roleplay, and luckily each group has the option to agree to disagree, and continue on their respective merry ways as was always the case.
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No he will read my preferences and spam my account with 'targeted' ads... never mind... I use adblocker! lol
Now to the thread at hand... I think that we should be inclusive, and certainly there is no reason to not be. I think Warren's example are spot on. Said that, I would not complain if game table are a bit lower and you can play seated. My own is done that way, much better playing seated, even if you have no registered disability. Said that, I can see some problems in shows. Chairs are always in short supply, sometime even space. In the latter case it could be even worse. But I have seen people in wheelchairs or with walking aids at Salute and Cavalier. Tournaments could be problematic but I think that organizer should be accommodating as far as reasonable. I have, sadly, seen the opposite in practice... a Referee penalizing (or even kicking out) a player... (memory is fuzzy... shades of old age incoming) because he was late for the second day morning game. Reason... he was a doctor and had provided first aid after a car crash (a serious one) on the way between his accommodation and the game venue. The referee said he should have ignored the crash... now this shows in the game community we can have some... jerks... (the referee in question approximate to the stereotyped definition of it...).
As for rules, having played interminable igo-yugo standing games, I remember my back aching... having shorter turns would have been better, but here the crux is that both sides of the equation can be painful. Certainly games you ca play being seated are a good thing for everyone, especially long games. Certainly Standing for long tournaments is something we shall avoid in principle...
Car parks near venues are useful, but the downside could be venues very difficult to reach for non 'motorized' people, including people with disabilities that lend themselves to use public transport rather than personal cars. But even suitably connected venues could be then too cramped and create other issues. I pity (and do not envy) Show organizers...
But IMHO avoiding to place barriers is common sense rather than the fashionable 'inclusion' word.
Now this is clear cut... and it is common sense rather than the fashionable 'inclusion' word.
On the other hand there are people that are politicizing what should be basically standard behavior. I have to agree with RobH on the idea that just giving superpowers to wheelchairs seems a bit out of context... it is also something that looks more like a statement rather than a real gaming 'enhancement'.
Now it is worth mentioning that the weelchair miniatures and rules were also advertised here... https://paxsims.wordpress.com/2020/09/20/play-with-us-however-you-roll-combat-wheelchair-rules-for-dd-5e/ same place were the lady 'professional wargamer' (I call them professional chalratans...) posted some of her rants (and the ad was posted by her...). I do not think it is 100% germane to the discussion, but I have had the misfortune to deal with the owner of the blog... and if online he and his pals looks like stereotyped SJW, in person... they often looks as imbeciles... Mr. Brynnen in particular came across as someone who had zero understanding of wargaming or conflict... despite teaching them... and also someone who has his own gigantic bag of prejudices... but is part of a group who is trying to monopolize professional wargaming using rants against everyone who is not supporting his ideas. That speaks volumes on the so called 'professional wargaming'...
Avoid the politics please, if you cant talk in a discussion without using hackneyed buzzwords like "SJW" then better to not post at all, theres already been one warning, lets not make it another eh?
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I am afraid there was no politics. Actually I qualified the comment saying 'stereotyped'... because they fit well in a certain stereotype. I have also met people who seems the classical RWNJ stereotyped incarnated... so well it is not about politics, is about people who plays certain stereotype. Hopefully the explanation has made the thing clear.