WotC Older D&D Books on DMs Guild Now Have A Disclaimer

If you go to any of the older WotC products on the Dungeon Master's Guild, they now have a new disclaimer very similar to that currently found at the start of Looney Tunes cartoons.

We recognize that some of the legacy content available on this website, does not reflect the values of the Dungeon & Dragons franchise today. Some older content may reflect ethnic, racial and gender prejudice that were commonplace in American society at that time. These depictions were wrong then and are wrong today. This content is presented as it was originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed. Dungeons & Dragons teaches that diversity is a strength, and we strive to make our D&D products as welcoming and inclusive as possible. This part of our work will never end.

The wording is very similar to that found at the start of Looney Tunes cartoons.

Edit: Wizards has put out a statement on Twitter (click through to the full thread)

 

[Voadam]

Teiflings exist as red skinned characters that have devilblood and are typically outcasts and not trusted by society. No one has made the Native American association till now. You may have singlehandedly managed to ruin the tiefling race!

Goblins can be too as their classic skin color scheme was yellow, orange, and red, you just never saw much art of red-skinned goblins. And they are described as tribal.

Here is the 2e Monstrous manual entry: "Their skin colors range from yellow through any shade of orange to a deep red. Usually a single tribe has members all of about the same color skin. Their eyes vary from bright red to a gleaming lemon yellow"

I am not saying anyone must or will make such associations, but you can.

 

[FrogReaver]

Does it? OK.

I would like to apologize. My comment was rude and whether yours was or not that’s not how I wish to post anymore.

My issue was that I believe there is a difference between a hypothetical example and a slippery slope.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

If you make a literally red-skinned evil humanoid I expect it could be associated with a commonly known pejorative term for American Indians. I do not believe the exact hue would be a significant issue.

Hobgoblins weren’t. They’ve literally been red-skinned and evil for a few decades, and NOBODY has accused them of being a Native American stereotype, because they share precisely ZERO attributes with Native American stereotypes.

 

[Cthulhugh]

Totally unnecessary, surely as readers we can work all by ourselves that RPG stuff written in the past wont reflect current mores.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Maybe the adults will, though looking at this thread, it’s clearly no guarantee.

But kids? I came to D&D in 1977-78, about age 10-11. Kids that age may pick up on the overt stuff, but the dog whistles will elude them.

 

[MGibster]

But kids? I came to D&D in 1977-78, about age 10-11. Kids that age may pick up on the overt stuff, but the dog whistles will elude them.

It's been almost six years since 5th edition D&D was released, 2nd edition hasn't been produced in 20 years, and 1st edition in about 31 years. In all honesty, how many 10-15 year old kids do you think are interested in picking up books that haven't been made for AD&D since their parents were young children? I'm going to out on a limb and guess that Oriental Adventures, Al-Qadim, and the Menzoberranzan boxed set aren't high on the list of things tween gamers are interested in.

 

[Mercurius]

Current mores are varied, and depend upon ideology and sub-culture. There is no one-sized fits all set of mores. There are some general agreements that apply to a wide number of cultures, but lots of variations.

For instance, some have no problem with "non-pc" humor, while others think it is offensive. What are the proper current mores that should be applied?

Not only do we have different sub-cultures and ideologies, but different contexts. Humor, art, rpgs, etc. I would be hesitant to apply a broad-brush definition as to what constitutes appropriate mores in every context.

 

[Cadence]

It's been almost six years since 5th edition D&D was released, 2nd edition hasn't been produced in 20 years, and 1st edition in about 31 years. In all honesty, how many 10-15 year old kids do you think are interested in picking up books that haven't been made for AD&D since their parents were young children? I'm going to out on a limb and guess that Oriental Adventures, Al-Qadim, and the Menzoberranzan boxed set aren't high on the list of things tween gamers are interested in.

My 10yo browses my old game books all the time. Deities & Demigods seems a lot more popular though.

 

[Mercurius]

My 10yo browses my old game books all the time. Deities & Demigods seems a lot more popular though.

When I got into D&D back in the early 80s, Deities and Demigods (the Elric version, of course) was by far my favorite book to browse through.

 

[Eric V]

That response tells everyone all they need to know.

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