The errata on Tomb of Annihilation:
- Entertainer (p. 10). In the last sentence, cut the words "and exotic".
- Chultans (p. 12). In the last sentence of the third paragraph, delete the word "tribal".
- Introduction (p. 15). In the last sentence of first paragraph, delete the word "exotic".
- Introduction (p. 15). In the first sentence of the second paragraph, change the word "savage" to "terrifying".
- Garden (p. 28). In the first sentence, delete the word "exotic".
- Prisoners of the Yuan-ti (p. 118). In the last sentence of the first paragraph, change the word "tribes" to "homes".
I don't expect to convince Lyxen, and I'm only quoting the above for context for my comments to follow. I'm posting this for folks who aren't already entrenched in their opinions on the use of these terms -- focusing on tribal, particularly, as an example -- who might want to understand the objections.
The article linked here is a clear, cogent analysis of the use of the term
tribe specifically related to African cultures. I encourage everyone to read it. I
really like this article. It was published in 1997 and cites sources from the'70s. This is not new information or a new perspective.
https://projects.kora.matrix.msu.edu/files/210-808-1340/Background_Paper_010_opt.pdf
An argument was made in this thread that the term tribal is a "good word," "very good," and "useful." In it's context when applied to real world African cultures, it turns out it's not especially useful.
The word has no coherent meaning. (You don't need to read past Page 1 of the linked article to find supporting arguments for that assertion.)
How is it more useful when applied to fantasy African analogs in the Forgotten Realms? What does it convey about the unreal world fantasy culture?
There's a reason that Chultan's were described as
tribal in ToA, and there's a reason that Chult itself was described as a
savage land. (The post earlier in this thread about the Dark Continent addresses
savage well enough.) It's because the writers use those terms as loaded short-hand to bring to mind all the tropes, inaccurate ideas, and mish-mash of semi-emotional reactions that some of us are used from the "history" we're taught and the pop culture we're exposed to. Not because they are well-considered terms with accurate, precise meanings that no other words can convey.
I read reviews of ToA before deciding to purchase it. One reviewer explained that, although the adventure was good, with a lot of good things going for it, it fell flat due to WotC's lazy fall-back to those tired savage, tribal, exotic references. It was a disappointment. With slight additional effort and consideration, that failing could have been prevented. So why not make the slight additional effort?
In the end, WotC heard at least part of that message and made tiny changes that make the adventure a little better for some people. (I would argue it's a little better for all of us, but I don't want to argue today.)
It's not Orwellian, it's not a word-ban, and it's not a moral condemnation of people who still use
tribal,
savage, and
exotic in their games or anywhere else. It's a change that acknowledges that those terms in this context do not convey anything specific or useful, that they do convey an awful lot of unconsidered baggage, and that they disappoint at least some of their customers.
If you use these words in your game, why not think about what you are really trying to say? I bet you'll find more accurate and useful ways to convey the information.
