Doing “Unethical” Things in Games

Short post tonight because it’s the Monday before Christmas and I wasn’t going to post anything, until something on Boardgame Geek sparked a thought.

Sam C on Boardgame Geek asked this question about Architects of the West Kingdom (a fantastic game, though one that’s falling a bit in my estimation as other games overtake it):

“This may seem silly, but it’s important to me to not play games with stealing. This game looks like a really solid worker placement game though…

Would this game still be fun without stealing taxes? Would I not have access to the black market? Would I not be able to afford very much without stealing? Or would I need to play a straight virtue strategy every time?”

Now, I’ve seen questions about “take that” in games, including about Architects! I know some people don’t like to do anything bad to their opponents in a game.

But this is the first time I’ve really heard a question about doing something immoral in a game that wasn’t a game about immoral actions in general.

Granted, some games have you be pirates, or like Firefly where you can sometimes do immoral missions (like transport prisoners, I think?).

Why did this surprise me so much?

Probably because Architects of the West Kingdom is such an innocuous game that it just blew my mind that somebody would have a problem with one aspect of it that wasn’t a “take that” against your opponents.

The question kind of misses the point of the game, though, because stealing from the tax stand isn’t the only immoral thing in it.

Hell, the game has virtue itself as a trait that can go up and down depending on your actions!

By definition, you could be doing actions that will lower your virtue.

In a game where you can lower your virtue down to the point where you don’t have to pay “tax” money (I would guess avoiding taxes would be another “sin?”), why would you limit yourself to not wanting to steal from the tax stand?

The game also has you visiting the Black Market, which will lose you virtue but get you a bunch of stuff.

I love this line: “Would I not have access to the black market?“

So stealing from the Tax Stand is a no-go for you, but going to a black market isn’t?

The mind boggles.

It’s just a game!

You are not literally doing immoral things.

For God’s sake, even the really simple and (apparently, as I haven’t played it) fun Sheriff of Nottingham has you lying to the Customs people.

Pirates of Maracaibo is a brilliant game, but I guess this wouldn’t be good enough because you’re engaging in piracy.

Look, games are a way of telling a story in which you are an actual participant.

Just because you read a pirate story doesn’t mean that you endorse piracy.

Just because you watch and enjoy Ocean’s 11 does not meant that you condone robbery.

Just because you play Bad Company doesn’t mean that you want to participate in a robbery!

Even if you do have a cop car chasing you.

Don’t get me started on participating in, and even perhaps initiating, a global war.

Or how about Cover Your Assets, where the entire point of the game is stealing other players’ stuff?

The outrage!!!!

Some people really need to relax.

Perhaps I’m being unfair to the guy, but this just triggered me for some reason.

Maybe it’s the whiskey.

What are your thoughts about immoral actions in game?

Do you disagree with me?

Let me know in the comments.