WotC WotC's Chris Perkins On D&D's Inclusivity Processes Going Forward

Over on D&D Beyond, WotC's Chris Perkins has written a blog entry about how the company's processes have been changed to improve the way the D&D studio deals with harmful content and inclusivity. This follows recent issues with racist content in Spelljammer: Adventures in Space, and involves working with external cultural consultants.

The studio’s new process mandates that every word, illustration, and map must be reviewed by multiple outside cultural consultants prior to publication.

Leveling Up Our Creative Process: Learnings From Spelljammer

In this blog post, I'll talk about how we in the D&D Studio are changing our review process following the problematic content that appeared in Spell...

www.dndbeyond.com

 

[Umbran]

People seem to be quite selective which people they should feel offended for and which people do not matter to them.

Yes, we do want to address the issues we have with our own neighbors first. The neighbors that our own forefathers subjugated, and who suffer the pains of that to this day we are more sensitive to. Go figure.

If your argument is that we must be perfect before we can take any action at all, I'm sorry, but that's not a practical approach to anything in this world. It is kind of a non-starter of a position, honestly.

 

[CleverNickName]

There are many, many real world cultures and religions in some way reflected in D&D, often not very accurately. When you take it upon yourself to feel offended on behalf of others, how do you know which one of those are offended enough so that you should too?

 

[Vaalingrade]

If you don't get the difference between discrimination and dehumanization of disenfranchised groups and historical inaccuracy... A forum about a game is not the place to seek your education. Or to loudly and continually broadcast it.

Also, if your response to a minority person being happy that someone has self-corrected a racist issue is 'what about white people?' then... public is probably not the best place to respond. Because people will that thing you're doing and draw conclusions.

 

[Incenjucar]

The depictions of Nordic peoples have generally been improving a bit over the years, as well, as more nuanced and accurate information comes into popular culture. "Vikings" and the cultures that produced them are rarely treated the way they were in the 70s and 80s anymore.

Also a huge difference between a raiding population and an oppressed population.

 

[Ixal]

The depictions of Nordic peoples have generally been improving a bit over the years, as well, as more nuanced and accurate information comes into popular culture. "Vikings" and the cultures that produced them are rarely treated the way they were in the 70s and 80s anymore.

Also a huge difference between a raiding population and an oppressed population.

You might want to read up on African history then. The distinction is not quite as clear cut with many Africans being the raiders and slavers too.

And while some people have tried to deflect by making fun of it, its still a fact that the decision to whom to feel offended for is quite arbitrary.
You know for example for a fact that religious Christians are offended (Satan panic), but their concerns are apparently not relevant (quite the contrary, people make fun of them instead).
Neither are the concerns of many other groups, some who might not feel all that offended in the first place, but then again the number of people offended was never a criteria, wasn't it?

So instead of arbitrarily deciding based on personal sympathies and gut feeling, which persons have to be offended by some portrayals in RPGs why not let those people speak for themselves?

 

[Vaalingrade]

You might want to read up on African history then. The distinction is not quite as clear cut with many Africans being the raiders and slavers too.

Apologia Bingo card filled.

God, these terrible 'arguments make me ill. Physically ill.

 

[Irlo]

So instead of arbitrarily deciding based on personal sympathies and gut feeling, which persons have to be offended by some portrayals in RPGs why not let those people speak for themselves?

Maybe even hire them as RPG writers, editors, and consultants!

 

[Incenjucar]

Anyways, really glad WotC is doing this. There's always room for improvement, but it's important to not just let that room grow into an Abyss.

 

[Irlo]

And, really, this whole notion of "deciding to feel offended" has got to go.

 

[darjr]

Apologia Bingo card filled.

God, these terrible 'arguments make me ill. Physically ill.

It’s utter grotesque garbage