Uh, pretty sure I made a comment a not-too-long while back about the Witch playbook; namely the note attached to it.
Specifically how the gender essentialist elements in that note have some unfortunate implications, and are alienating to transmasculine and non-binary players.
Did that point of criticism get deleted?
If so, why?
(Without context, that is deeply concerning.)
Hello! I apologize for the error; the comment was deleted by mistake, and I couldn't find a way to restore it. That said, I'll do my best to address those concerns now.
I don't believe the Witch's note encourages gender essentialism at all; I made a point of being very clear that the feminine traits I encourage players to express in their Witches are socially determined, not biologically determined. (This is to say, the traits I list as examples are considered feminine in many specific societies, but are not biologically feminine in any sense.) The transmasculine and nonbinary people I've encountered so far haven't expressed any discomfort with the note or what it's intended to communicate, but if the topic does come up from such a person, I'll be happy to clarify.
I also vaguely remember your comment expressing surprise that Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts wasn't cited as a touchstone; Kipo was released after the v0.4 edition of this game, and its genre, while close, is slightly orthogonal to what Songs is intended to be.
Ugh, I just typed up a whole response and lost it to a misclick, so I guess I'm going to try and summarise what I recall.
Apologies if bullet-pointing it comes off as harsh or curt as a result; not at all my intent, and I appreciate the response.
Fair enough on the error. Itchio could perhaps use an 'undo' function there.
- The note explicitly refers to certain traits and behaviours as "feminine" and "femininity"; there's no pushback on such claims at all.
The only comment on societal aspects is that they are traditionally devalued. Maybe a phrasing issue? - I feel like it is possible to still nudge players towards those behaviours without playing into the notion that empathy and gentleness is inherently or innately or necessarily feminine.
I'd also question the association of witches with "concern with appearance", but that's a bit of an aside. Unless it's meant to include those whose concern for appearance may be less conventional beauty and more other concerns. - There seems to be a bit of touching on historical persecution, tying it in to modern discrimination and bigotry, but it comes with a seeming neglect of the fact that, in several nations, it was instead men who were the primary demographic tried for witchcraft and killed?
I know that historical fact and the narrative tropes do diverge, but it stills a little off to have such a strong focus on 'Witch = woman'.
Especially with the mention of the 21st century also, in which witchcraft now very much has a strong Queer element to it. - Given that focus, mentioned briefly in the description and then hammered home with the note, the comments on not having to play a woman and how others at the table should not be policing gender expression... kinda seem incongruous.
It comes off a bit "You don't have to, but-"; as though the people at the table shouldn't because the book's already on it.
(I know part of the point may be to challenge preconceptions and get people to think about such things, but... I wonder if perhaps that might work even better separated from the Witch playbook as a sort of general blurb on roleplaying and how one might approach the setting?) - I would love to see just as much attention paid to the association of witchcraft with liminality and the navigation/management/safeguarding of boundaries and gaps and the people/creatures/ideas within such spaces.
It's mentioned briefly in the description with the "on the edge of society" element but overwhelmed and left aside by the note, which seems such a shame because that is where a lot of interesting material and characterisation can arise.
(I may be somewhat biased by Pratchett here admittedly, but it definitely feels like a recurring role and definition of witches and witchcraft that crops up a lot elsewhere. The subversive aspect has a lot of room to play.)
I know I'm missing one or more things that I definitely typed up before, but I can't recall right now so I guess that's the best I can do.
Sorry again if the readability and tone has suffered in the retype, and thanks again for the time and effort you've taken.