D&D (2024) How did I miss this about the Half races/ancestries

[Incenjucar]

There seem to be a lot of foundational aspects of D&D as it was envisioned that, at least according to this and similar threads, a number of folks have a real problem with. I am forced to ask: what exactly do these folks want D&D to be? What's in the books? Specifically, because there's a lot of "I don't want/think this is boring/we could do without" this or that thing. I want to know what the actual game of D&D is supposed to be like, if all the people who have problems with this stuff get their way.

Serious question.

A game where a diverse cast of folks from all kinds of backgrounds get together in a fantastic place to work toward a goal, often a heroic one, using their unique skills and backgrounds and working together as a unit or found family.

Edit: You know, like Lord of the Rings.

 

[Guest 85555]

I'm not sure what it is you are saying. Are you saying that all people who have a problem with the word "half" are racial purists?

Because from my perspective, people who don't like the word "half" are not about racial purity. They are saying the word "half" has historically had a negative connotation (like half-breed or half a person), and they prefer other words like "mixed" or "biracial" and the like.

I don't think it was the intention but when Crawford said:

Frankly, we are not comfortable, and haven’t been for years with any of the options that start with ‘half’.....The half construction is inherently racist so we simply aren’t going to include it in the new Player’s Handbook.

I think a lot of people, particularly those who are half something and/or involved in interracial marriage felt their antennae go up. I've encountered classic bigotry against interracial marriage from the right but there is also a branch of it that sometimes appears on the left and is couched in these terms. It wasn't clear to me what he was saying, but I can see how it would be interpreted negatively. There is also the issue where many people who are half, find their dual identity is denied. I don't think people on this thread have veered into that, but again it is something people get wary of if folks say 'half' as a category is inherently racist (because some people, not all, are perfectly comfortable thinking of themselves as half this or half that).

 

[Guest 85555]

A game where a diverse cast of folks from all kinds of backgrounds get together in a fantastic place to work toward a goal, often a heroic one, using their unique skills and backgrounds and working together as a unit or found family.

Edit: You know, like Lord of the Rings.

So evil orcs?

 

[Incenjucar]

<edited because this no longer makes sense>

 

[Guest 85555]

Orcs directly created by, indoctrinated by, and enslaved by the villain.

Those sound like evil orcs to me

 

[Micah Sweet]

A game where a diverse cast of folks from all kinds of backgrounds get together in a fantastic place to work toward a goal, often a heroic one, using their unique skills and backgrounds and working together as a unit or found family.

Edit: You know, like Lord of the Rings.

Well, that is definitely an answer, so thank you for that.

As fun a game as that might be though, it is limiting, it is one of many ways the game can be played, as evidenced by 50 years of gaming.

 

[Incenjucar]

Well, that is definitely an answer, so thank you for that.

As fun a game as that might be though, it is limiting, it is one of many ways the game can be played, as evidenced by 50 years of gaming.

It's not a gun to the head. You can play a non-diverse cast of a combined entity in a mundane place working toward unrelated goals, often evil ones, using a singular skill set and avoiding any self-cooperation and discarding any relationships that become possible, if that's your thing.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

Well, that is definitely an answer, so thank you for that.

As fun a game as that might be though, it is limiting, it is one of many ways the game can be played, as evidenced by 50 years of gaming.

I disagree that it is limiting. The design that Wizards is working on doubles down on allowing and encouraging that type of game, more than it has ever done so.

In the past there were more blatantly uncomfortable themes that had built in conflict, like orcs and drow and other "humanoids" being inherently evil, making it normal that the populace hated them, and was therefore making it ok to be "racist" against them and kill their babies.

But a focus on inclusive design at a species level does not prevent groups from continuing to play with inherently evil races, or racism, or sexism, or any kind of -ism in their home games if that makes sense for their campaign settings. But if Wizards doesn't want those uncomfortable themes to have the spotlight in the published core book, all the more power to them. Let the gamers put that in their home games if they want. Such playstyles don't need Wizards' permission, nor do they need Wizards to spotlight them as valid.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I disagree that it is limiting. The design that Wizards is working on doubles down on allowing and encouraging that type of game, more than it has ever done so.

In the past there were more blatantly uncomfortable themes that had built in conflict, like orcs and drow and other "humanoids" being inherently evil, making it normal that the populace hated them, and was therefore making it ok to be "racist" against them and kill their babies.

But a focus on inclusive design at a species level does not prevent groups from continuing to play with inherently evil races, or racism, or sexism, or any kind of -ism in their home games if that makes sense for their campaign settings. But if Wizards doesn't want those uncomfortable themes to have the spotlight in the published core book, all the more power to them. Let the gamers put that in their home games if they want. Such playstyles don't need Wizards' permission, nor do they need Wizards to spotlight them as valid.

One could argue that you don't see it as limiting because you are getting exactly what you want, and other playstyles aren't important to you personally, so it's fine that only your desired playstyle is focused upon.

And that makes sense if true, but it is a perspective.

 

[Incenjucar]

One could argue that you don't see it as limiting because you are getting exactly what you want, and other playstyles aren't important to you personally, so it's fine that only your desired playstyle is focused upon.

And that makes sense if true, but it is a perspective.

WotC doesn't really need to actively court people who are only happy if everyone is constantly exposed to racism. Making a game non-hostile to players allows everyone to do what they want in their home games without having to ignore uncomfortable stuff.