D&D General Old School DND talks if DND is racist.

[doctorbadwolf]

What about red dragons?

Right, they shouldn’t be always-evil. They’re very clearly a “natural” species, insofar as D&D peoples are natural.

 

[Justice and Rule]

What about red dragons?

I mean I know, I know those don't look like people, etc. But to me it's the mind, the brain encased in the head of the dragon, that matters. I don't personally have an issue with dragons being evil (or orcs) but if we're going to say that it's "bad" to have a default alignment, I don't see why form should matter.

It's not racism, but it is ... formism (I guess?).

No it is racism. Its fundamental 'this thing is other'. If that 'other' is a sapient being, the argument that its OK for IT to be labeled and judged because it doesnt look like ME, is absolutely racism.

I mean how is it not?

I mean... I'm more concerned with stuff that has more real-world implications than anything. Like, I'm not sure if Red Dragons really track to the depictions of any real-world ethnicity or hold tropes/traits that might track to something that could track with that.

Like, I'm cool with making "default alignments" less of a thing, but I think a certain amount of focus is needed in the changes made.

 

[CleverNickName]

(Re: good-aligned liches in your campaign)
Do you use the 5e MM lich as written needing to feed souls to their phylacteries?

Yep, liches need to feed souls to their phylacteries via the Imprisonment spell. And the cool thing about that spell is that it can target any creature, not just sentient humanoids with families and jobs and stuff.

So while the evil liches might feed on children and family pets or whatever, the non-evil ones would feed on elk, rabbits, and cows. Vegan liches probably feed on shriekers, shambling mounds, and the occasional violet fungus. Enthusiastically good-aligned ones probably feed on fiends and other undead. (See also: vampires.)

 

[Scribe]

I mean... I'm more concerned with stuff that has more real-world implications than anything. Like, I'm not sure if Red Dragons really track to the depictions of any real-world ethnicity or hold tropes/traits that might track to something that could track with that.

Like, I'm cool with making "default alignments" less of a thing, but I think a certain amount of focus is needed in the changes made.

I mean honestly, I dont think anyone is arguing against cleaning up Volo's. If that is the primary concern you have, I believe everyone is on board and we can pack it up.

Looking forward however, there is this clear line between 'no we just need to fix THIS lineage' and 'this actually is a question of all lineages'.

Its not just Orcs that have the issue, when we assume Volo's will be cleaned up (or simply Errata fixed like the Wall of the Faithless).

 

[Justice and Rule]

I mean honestly, I dont think anyone is arguing against cleaning up Volo's. If that is the primary concern you have, I believe everyone is on board and we can pack it up.

Looking forward however, there is this clear line between 'no we just need to fix THIS lineage' and 'this actually is a question of all lineages'.

Its not just Orcs that have the issue, when we assume Volo's will be cleaned up (or simply Errata fixed like the Wall of the Faithless).

I'm fine with all that as long as we get the big stuff out of the way. I'm a guy who likes to subvert the classic ideas anyways, so none of this is particularly new to me. I just don't want it to overshadow the other stuff.

 

[Charlaquin]

Aboleth? Beholders? Mind Flayers?

Native to the Far Realm. Also, falls under “special exceptions for creatures who’s very existence is antithetical to that of other sapient beings.” I also generally prefer aberrations be unlaligned, so as to emphasize their alienness. Blue and orange morality and all that.

 

[Morrus]

It is most comparable to ISIS, not to an entire religion.

Killing invading nazis isn’t murder. The end.

I think you're done here. You're not talking about D&D, you're talking about real world politics. Don't post again in this thread, please.

 

[Lanefan]

From what I've gathered, I can drop a fireball on demons, no problem.

In my game, definitely no problem - even for the Demons, as given where they live most are immune to fire......

 

[Oofta]

I'm fine with a world's culture having suggested alignments/worldviews, but I'm not okay with it being attached to race/lineage.

See I think that's worse. To say that everyone from Someplaceistan is evil or has the same worldview? No. To much like real world bias.

 

[Azzy]

See I think that's worse. To say that everyone from Someplaceistan is evil or has the same worldview? No. To much like real world bias.

My only disagreement here is that I think that it's equally appalling.