D&D 5E WotC Explains 'Canon' In More Detail

Recently, WotC's Jeremy Crawford indicated that only the D&D 5th Edition books were canonical for the roleplaying game. In a new blog article, Chris Perkins goes into more detail about how that works, and why.

This boils down to a few points:

• Each edition of D&D has its own canon, as does each video game, novel series, or comic book line.
• The goal is to ensure players don't feel they have to do research of 50 years of canon in order to play.
• It's about remaining consistent.

If you’re not sure what else is canonical in fifth edition, let me give you a quick primer. Strahd von Zarovich canonically sleeps in a coffin (as vampires do), Menzoberranzan is canonically a subterranean drow city under Lolth’s sway (as it has always been), and Zariel is canonically the archduke of Avernus (at least for now). Conversely, anything that transpires during an Acquisitions Incorporated live game is not canonical in fifth edition because we treat it the same as any other home game (even when members of the D&D Studio are involved).

D&D Canon | D&D Studio Blog | Dungeons & Dragons

In this D&D Studio Blog, Chris Perkins describes the D&D Studio's position on canonicity.

dnd.wizards.com

D&D General - WotC: Novels & Non-5E Lore Are Officially Not Canon

At a media press briefing last week, WotC's Jeremey Crawford clarified what is and is not canon for D&D. "For many years, we in the Dungeons & Dragons RPG studio have considered things like D&D novels, D&D video games, D&D comic books, as wonderful expressions of D&D storytelling and D&D lore...

www.enworld.org

 

[Paul Farquhar]

False.

What makes them divine then? They are not all powerful. They are not all knowing. They are not particularly wise. They are just people that wield a bit more power than other people.

Definition of god​

God : the supreme or ultimate reality: such as
a: the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped (as in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism) as creator and ruler of the universe

 

[Maxperson]

Which makes the Forgotten Realms a grimdark world world ruled by a dictator god.

No. It just makes there a wall of the faithless. The world goes in with good, back, just, unjust, magic, etc. The faithless are few and Ao is a jerk face. The rest of the gods are just what they seem.

It's actually rather similar to Gnosticism. There is one God who is not good, served by a number of semi-divine powers with individual specialisms.

No. There are actual divine powers of various ranks. Demigod is the lowest rank. Then lesser gods. Then Greater gods. Then an overgod who is far more powerful than the rest. None of them are semi-divine, except MAYBE demigods. Saying that they are semi-divine because of the existence of a far stronger divine god, is like saying that you are semi-human because of far stronger heavyweight boxers and weight lifters.

 

[Maxperson]

What makes them divine then? They are not all powerful. They are not all knowing. They are not particularly wise. They are just people that wield a bit more power than other people.

Definition of god​

God : the supreme or ultimate reality: such as
a: the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped (as in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism) as creator and ruler of the universe

Why would you post an obviously wrong definition. I mean you're literally falsely equating monotheism with polytheism.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

No. It just makes there a wall of the faithless.

Ergo a world where people are not free to believe what they want.

Ao is a jerk face.

So there should be oposition.

The rest of the gods are just what they seem.

Useless.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Why would you post an obviously wrong definition. I mean you're literally falsely equating monotheism with polytheism.

Do how have a better definition? One that clearly shows how the "gods" differ from other beings?

 

[Maxperson]

Ergo a world where people are not free to believe what they want.

And?

So there should be oposition.

Then make a PC to oppose it.

Useless.

Factually wrong. They objectively have many useful qualities. They just don't have the one YOU want.

 

[Maxperson]

Do how have a better definition? One that clearly shows how the "gods" differ from other beings?

Sure. Here.

"Gods Oversee the World. The gods are real and embody a variety of beliefs, with each god claiming dominion over an aspect of the world, such as war, forests, or the sea. Gods exert influence over the world by granting divine magic to their followers and sending signs and portents to guide them. The follower of a god serves as an agent of that god in the world. The agent seeks to further the ideals of that god and defeat its rivals. While some folk might refuse to honor the gods, none can deny their existence."

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Then make a PC to oppose it.

No, as DM the Wall was destroyed and people have freedom of belief.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Sure. Here.

"Gods Oversee the World. The gods are real and embody a variety of beliefs, with each god claiming dominion over an aspect of the world, such as war, forests, or the sea. Gods exert influence over the world by granting divine magic to their followers and sending signs and portents to guide them. The follower of a god serves as an agent of that god in the world. The agent seeks to further the ideals of that god and defeat its rivals. While some folk might refuse to honor the gods, none can deny their existence."

How does that differ from a demon or devil?

 

[Maxperson]

No, as DM the Wall was destroyed and people have freedom of belief.

Cool. Your problem has been solved by you. The wall in anyone else's game is none of your business, so it shouldn't bother you at all.