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.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I didn't mean to be Orwellian. I was basing my opinion on what I had read in this forum thread. To me, it sounded like this was something WoTC did.

Yeah, if they were straight-forward about it on their own I have less of a problem with it.

 

[Charlaquin]

I would Update the Unicorn mythos to "person who is pure of heart".
First of all, it would remove the sex out of the equation and second removes the gender.
Like, it doesn't matter if you are a virgin. If you are an a-hole the Unicorn will nor touch you (or maybe just with the horn right trough your heart).

Yeah, that’s also a solid way to go about it. I tend to lean in favor of moral complexity which is why my first instinct was “keep the virginity angle but make it a bad thing,” but I do think “keep the purity but make it about other virtues than chastity” is more approachable for a broad audience and is probably the direction that would better suit WotC’s needs. I’d drop the gender specificity either way.

 

[Cordwainer Fish]

Proud?

I've got ancestors who "fled the first Famine wearing all that they owned", so yeah.

 

[Morrus]

And yeah a very modern d&d party of half bunny bards that look like cartoon characters within a game of none to little conflict resolution or action not my thing, as much as an action packed adventure Conan/Elric inspired Frazetta and classic Greyhawk are my thing.

But didn't they super water down the Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft book, just asking? I was never a huge Ravenloft guy but my friends who are were not thrilled with the new content interpretations. We did play the 5e Ravenloft adventure though and it was awesome, my friend who is Ravenloft aficionado ran it and it rocked even for me.

So I just don't find the neo-d&d enjoyable and inspiring but I do find it all over time funneling down to looking very much like the same thing over and over with most of the flavor, lore and mayube ironicall meaningful diversity removed. It's all becoming the same thing with no room to explore lore because they might step on someone some where's toes.

You’re just not going to let up, are you?

 

[Hussar]

I didn't mean to be Orwellian. I was basing my opinion on what I had read in this forum thread. To me, it sounded like this was something WoTC did.

Not to pick on you but this is pretty much how this goes in a nutshell.

Someone reads or hears something and can’t be bothered actually learning the facts first, comes in with a strong opinion and then, unlike you, refuses to budge an inch from that opinion.

If people put half the effort into actually learning facts that they seem to be putting into their misguided and usually harmful opinions the world would be a much better place.

 

[Hussar]

Yeah, if they were straight-forward about it on their own I have less of a problem with it.

Oh ffs. No you 100% would not.

 

[AstroCat]

You’re just not going to let up, are you?

I was speaking with others, that line was obviously a satirical exaggeration, but hinted at direction, we got it and moved on from there if you read the rest of the posts. I am actually totally spent on this discussion, and don't have really more to contribute at this point.

So no worries, I'm gonna go play some BG3 for a bit, which is a super modern 5e d&d based game but extremely well made, huge props to the love Larian put into it!

 

[Hussar]

I was speaking with others, that line was obviously a satirical exaggeration, but hinted at direction, we got it and moved on from there if you read the rest of the post. I am actually totally spent on this discussion, and don't have really more to contribute at this point. So no worries, I'm gonna go play some BG3 for a bit, not ironically a super modern 5e d&d based game but extremely well made, huge props to the love Larian put into this game!

Rotflmao. You picked BG3 as your go to example for traditional DnD tropes?

Hahahahahahahahahaha.

 

[AstroCat]

Rotflmao. You picked BG3 as your go to example for traditional DnD tropes?

Hahahahahahahahahaha.

No, I just said "a super modern 5e d&d based game". Where'd you'd get the traditional DnD tropes thing from?

I'm saying BG3 is super new school D&D but I'm still enjoying the game because Larian did such a good job with it even if I don't love all the changes to FR or all of the content, I still can have a good time with it. It's leagues beyond the content wotc has been putting out.

And again it's ultra new school, without a doubt. Not barely a "LotR" trope as far as the eye can see, well mostly. Heck, even most dwarves don't even have beards! I pretty much don't even think of it as "d&d", it's almost like it's own separate thing for me, setting and game.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Oh ffs. No you 100% would not.

Maybe, maybe not. I'll admit it's not really in my character, but I like to think I'm capable of seeing things from a different perspective (a little irony there perhaps).

I hope you didn't unblock me just to say that, although I'm glad to see you again. I'll do my best to leave WotC alone.