D&D 5E D&D's Inclusivity Language Alterations In Core Rules

In recent months, WotC has altered some of the text found in the original 5th Edition core rulebooks to accommodate D&D's ongoing move towards inclusivity. Many of these changes are reflected on D&D Beyond already--mainly small terminology alterations in descriptive text, rather than rules changes.

Teos Abadia (also known as Alphastream) has compiled a list of these changes. I've posted a very abbreviated, paraphrased version below, but please do check out his site for the full list and context.

• Savage foes changed to brutal, merciless, or ruthless.
• Barbarian hordes changed to invading hordes.
• References to civilized people and places removed.
• Madness or insanity removed or changed to other words like chaos.
• Usage of orcs as evil foes changed to other words like raiders.
• Terms like dim-witted and other synonyms of low intelligence raced with words like incurious.
• Language alterations surrounding gender.
• Fat removed or changed to big.
• Use of terms referring to slavery reduced or altered.
• Use of dark when referring to evil changed to words like vile or dangerous.

This is by no means the full list, and much more context can be found on Alphastream's blog post.

 

[Charlaquin]

Scrooge McDuck from (…) The Muppet Christmas Carol

Umm, no? Scrooge was played by Michael Cain, and Scrooge McDuck is not a muppet at all.

 

[Charlaquin]

Great! And how does WotC represent those many different cultures, mechanically?

I'll wait.

Why would culture need mechanical representation?

 

[Charlaquin]

Start being angry and violent and you'll transform into a big muscled "super-predator" that according to collective internet wisdom represents Afro-Americans?

It’s probably not a great look either, but orcs don’t “represent Afro-Americans.” The ways in which the text presents orcs as monstrous bears a deeply uncomfortable resemblance to the ways in which many marginalized groups have been dehumanized in real life, most especially black people, most especially in America.

 

[Clint_L]

Telll that to wotc, not me. They are ones changing all their actual books to remove it.

I think this whole conversation is getting kind of overblown. WotC primarily is changing all their books because they want to update 5e and make it their evergreen version of D&D. While doing so, they are also updating the language where they see fit. This is pretty standard in the publishing business and has been happening for as long as books have been printed. It's not like WotC are tampering with the sacred texts of Shakespeare or something; they are updating their game manuals.

You can still use whatever words you want in your games. You can still use whatever books you want in your games. I still have my old Deities and Demigods with all the bewbs; no one has tried to take it from me. No one is telling you what to do. WotC is speaking for themselves.

 

[Charlaquin]

And who says when any thing is "cultural apropiation"?

The people who belong to the culture from which the thing in question is being appropriated. Obviously.

 

[Autumnal]

Benjamin Franklin wrote to warn his fellow Americans-to-be of the perils posed by a flood of swarthy southern immigrants, unfamiliar with the civilized ways of existing inhabitsnts and threatening violent depravity.

He meant Germans.

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reimaginingmigration.org

For those wondering how well we’ll probably come across to future generations.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Why would culture need mechanical representation?

Have you seen Level Up? You don't think where you grew up would effect you in any way worth representing mechanically? Why wouldn't you? It's just as important as heritage, background, or class.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The people who belong to the culture from which the thing in question is being appropriated. Obviously.

Anyone in particular? Does anyone from the culture in question just get to call something appropriation and everyone has to stop? Its a very vague concept.

 

[Nightfly]

Telll that to wotc, not me. They are ones changing all their actual books to remove it.

Thus becoming the very first writers/publishers in human history to consider which words would be used, and not used, in their publication.

 

[MGibster]

Umm, no? Scrooge was played by Michael Cain, and Scrooge McDuck is not a muppet at all.

Wasn't there a cartoon version? Or did I have too much eggnog?