D&D 5E Orcs and Drow in YOUR game (poll */comments +)

[Blue]

I'm a player in one 5e game, and given the setting I don't think there are any orcs or drow (it's mostly humans, and it is not western fantasy in genre). I'm not sure if we are using alignment even; it's never come up as such.

"Not using alignment" doesn't stop you from using alignment as descriptor. It's like saying "When I drive I use miles per hour, so my car doesn't have a speed in km/hour". It does, you can describe it even if that term isn't what you would use elsewhere.

 

[Azzy]

And that's fine, you are left with the options of creatures being genetically evil like the WH orcs, or of any alignment, just be careful of the combination of genetically evil and dark skin...

Well, I do try to avoid the genetically "alignment" thing for all (but the possible exception) of sapient creatures from the prime material (in D&D parlance).

 

[Lyxen]

Well, I do try to avoid the genetically "alignment" thing for all (but the possible exception) of sapient creatures from the prime material (in D&D parlance).

I think that's the general perspective in most settings/games, ever since 3e started to use probabilistic alignment descriptors. But as demonstrated with D&D orcs and drows where no-one ever said that they were genetically evil, it was not sufficient to avoid criticism.

 

[DarkMantle]

I think that is a bit of the ambiguity in your question. You meant probably some sort of « innate » predisposition when you used « Typically ». But the difficulty is that I did not read it that way, I can see at least four different cases:

• Innate, genetic or otherwise, I think your view.
• Innate, but due to an external factor like the influence of a divinity. This the way that orcs where presented in the original 5e PH, where the orcs, having been created by evil gods, where predisposed to evil, but not inherently.
• Cultural/Divine because due to a deity influencing strongly the cultures of the race, the fact that most orcs and/or drows are born in that culture predisposes them.
• Simply cultural, because most of the cultures of the race have an evil outlook, members of the race are usually born within a culture that predisposes them

I wrote:

"Yes, this is what the survey presupposes, that "Any Alignment" means no predisposition and "Typically Evil" does mean a predisposition, for whatever reason in your own game, similar to 5E monster manual terminology"

(emphasis mine)
So it's true that predisposition to evil could be nature, nurture, divine puppet strings, etc. but that should all be covered under "for whatever reason on your game"

The topic seems already too complex to dive into the wherefores of evil predispositions, if the end result is mostly the same anyway.

 

[Lyxen]

So it's true that predisposition to evil could be nature, nurture, divine puppet strings, etc. but that should all be covered under "for whatever reason on your game"

Right, which is why I used "typically evil" as a reason for mostly divine influence, but since then you seemed to be focussing more on genetically evil.

The topic seems already too complex to dive into the wherefores of evil predispositions, if the end result is mostly the same anyway.

Not really, because there is also the question of free will linked in there. For me, it's way more damning if you have a dark skinned race being genetially evil than having one which is actually a bit more tragic in having limited free will and being forced to evil by an external force.

 

[J-H]

I usually run orcs as neutral, with most [descriptors for their culture omitted due to the OP's request], right alongside other tribals with similar [descriptors], which are typically human. When you're on the frontier or in Fantasy Alaska/Siberia, an orc or half-orc spouse is a very practical choice. This would be different if set in FR, probably?

The drow live in the underdark and worship Lolth and are evil slavers designed to be opponents in most games. There's basically no historical/cultural identity outside of that in anyone's head, and it doesn't matter that their society collapses as presented... they're designated Really Tough Bad Guys in a Really Tough Bad Guy environment (the Underdark). No changes planned. Random retcon "there all along" surface drow have no place in any of my games.

 

[DarkMantle]

What's the best option to select if you don't use Alignment at all?

Could you select Any Alignment?

The intention of Any Alignment is no predisposition.

If you don't use capital A Alignment, would that be equivalent?

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

@Lyxen: as far as I understand the OP's premise, it's a poll to evaluate the shift in habits (what is traditionnally done at your table vs what will be done in the future), irrespective of the motivations of such change, hence the lumping of all the causes in a single answer.

 

[DarkMantle]

Right, which is why I used "typically evil" as a reason for mostly divine influence, but since then you seemed to be focussing more on genetically evil.

Oh, not me. I'm not focusing on genetics or whatever the fantasy equivalent is. But it depends on your game.

 

[DarkMantle]

@Lyxen: as far as I understand the OP's premise, it's a poll to evaluate the shift in habits (what is traditionnally done at your table vs what will be done in the future), irrespective of the motivations of such change, hence the lumping of all the causes in a single answer.

Yes exactly.

For example, if somebody killed Lolth, and all the drow were suddenly any Alignment again, without being under her influence, that for example would qualify as a shift in portrayal.

Or if your PCs went to a different Material World where races were of any alignment, that would qualify as a shift in portrayal.

Could be any reason at all whatsoever OR having no reason at all to make any changes, in your game.