D&D (2024) One D&D Permanently Removes The Term 'Race'

In line with many other tabletop roleplaying games, such as Pathfinder or Level Up, One D&D is removing the term 'race'. Where Pathfinder uses 'Ancestry' and Level Up uses 'Heritage', One D&D will be using 'Species'.

Moving On From 'Race' in the 2024 Core Rulebooks

We understand "race" is a problematic term that has had prejudiced links between real world people and the fantasy peoples of D&D worlds.

www.dndbeyond.com

In a blog post, WotC announced that "We have made the decision to move on from using the term "race" everywhere in One D&D, and we do not intend to return to that term."

 

[Charlaquin]

No D&D setting I am aware of has direct crossbreeding of elves and thri-kreen or centaurs and tritons - I do not remember any such hybrids existing but I am prepared to take your word for it that they do, but I would like a citation that they are the result of direct cross-breeding and not magical hybridisation.

I mean, the Origins playtest explicitly says your character can be half-anything.

To reiterate, "What's your folk?" is weird.

In what way? That doesn’t sound weird to me at all.

 

[Charlaquin]

Granted that these aren't restricted to the biological meaning... but I'm intreagued by 'Kindey' on the list of synonyms for species...

View attachment 268563
I had no idea...
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*kidney

 

[Cadence]

*kidney

Typing while multitasking, or misspelling to fit relations more?

 

[Azzy]

To reiterate, "What's your folk?" is weird.

Try "What kind of folk are you?" instead.

 

[Davinshe]

I'm all for dropping the term "race" but I don't love the term "species." It sounds too modern. It'll suffice, but hopefully they can come up with something better over the course of the play test. What about "Kind?" As in humankind, elfkind? Clunky, but it feels more in keeping medievalish fantasy lingo.

I'm glad I'm not the first to think of this -- I think this has a nice archaic feel that maps well to the old "race" term.

 

[Xamnam]

Try "What kind of folk are you?" instead.

Or, "Who are your folk?"

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

After giving it much thought and ponderation, I've picked my definite choice.

I hereby propose to replace race with "running contest".

 

[BookTenTiger]

Or, "Who are your folk?"

Or "Who is your favorite New Zealand rock / rap / folk parody band?"

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

I vote for Schmorp.

Nah, I prefer "Smeerp". (Warning: TV Tropes link.)

 

[Jahydin]

Good news, no one will stop you from putting a 17 Dex and 8 Con on every Elf you play.

I switched to Pathfinder actually, but good looking out.