D&D 5E Rename the Monster Manual

[The Mirrorball Man]

If we're serious about getting rid of stereotyping and othering in Dungeons & Dragons, I think it's time to act on one of the worst offenders: the Monster Manual.

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong per se about a book which lists opponents and adversaries. But let's call it what it is: a Manual of Opponents. The "monster" epithet is outdated and oppressive. With the exception of predatory animals, theses creatures are called "monsters" because their appearance doesn't conform to arbitrary humanocentric standards of beauty, they are called "monsters" because their social and cultural values are deemed "primitive", they are called "monsters" because they don't belong to the same "camp" as the player characters. These are outdated ideas which should simply not exist in the 21st century. Honestly, as it is the book might as well be called the "Othering Manual".

I'd rather have a "Cultures Manual" which details and celebrates the diversity of cultures and heritage of all the different D&D species. And if we really want to have a book called the "Monster Manual", maybe Wizards could release a book about racism, bigotry, sexism and homophobia in D&D.

 

[Mercurius]

3...2...1...

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

I realize that this may look like a parody thread. It is not. I'm completely serious. I'm still on the fence about whether or not sterotyping in D&D is akin to real-world stereotyping, I've heard good points from both sides. But if it is, I think we should remove it completely from the game, and perhaps more importantly, we should be coherent about the way we deal with it.

 

[Dioltach]

Anthology of Antagonists
Folio of Fun (well, for the DM at least)
Whole Load of Hazards

 

[Mercurius]

I realize that this may look like a parody thread. It is not. I'm completely serious. I'm still on the fence about whether or not sterotyping in D&D is akin to real-world stereotyping, I've heard good points from both sides. But if it is, I think we should remove it completely from the game, and perhaps more importantly, we should be coherent about the way we deal with it.

I'm skeptical, but I'll give you an honest answer:

No.

 

[Horacio]

Well, reading the first post I wasn't sure if it was a parody thread or a serious one... and I think that's part of the problem.

A part of me would see the name changing of the Monsters Manual as something really sad, the part that has been used to PHB, DMG et MM for more than 30 years, and that would see that like deeply changing one of the core pillars of my favorite hobby.

Another part of me understands the logic behind, and likes the idea of a more neutral Anthology of Antagonists or something like that.

And as a privileged white European middle-aged guy, I am not the best suited to know if the need for changing Monsters Manual's name is an important matter or not

 

[Olrox17]

I realize that this may look like a parody thread. It is not. I'm completely serious. I'm still on the fence about whether or not sterotyping in D&D is akin to real-world stereotyping, I've heard good points from both sides. But if it is, I think we should remove it completely from the game, and perhaps more importantly, we should be coherent about the way we deal with it.

I was going to ask if you were being serious, but you already answered that, so I have to take your suggestion at face value.
In the wise words of Mercurius:

No.

Mah God, people calling fallacy on the slippery slope arguments were wrong, weren't they?

 

[Sadras]

Well, reading the first post I wasn't sure if it was a parody thread or a serious one... and I think that's part of the problem.

A part of me would see the name changing of the Monsters Manual as something really sad, the part that has been used to PHB, DMG et MM for more than 30 years, and that would see that like deeply changing one of the core pillars of my favorite hobby.

You were doing fine up to here.

On another note I REALLY love Anthology of Antagonists as a name for a book.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

I'm skeptical, but I'll give you an honest answer:

No.

Fair enough.

Care to explain why ? Is it because you feel that the creatures included in the book really are best described as "monsters"? Is it because of tradition?

 

[Sadras]

Mah God, people calling fallacy on the slippery slope arguments were wrong, weren't they?

I'm surprised the Dungeon Master's Guide wasn't included on the call for change