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I'm of mixed feelings on racial stats/bonuses. On the one hand, it can be used to differentiate how it feels, mechanically, to play as and against a certain type of enemy. This is especially true of non-sentient monstrous beasts where one of the only things that'll make a bear fight different...

I have read a little bit more, doing some deep dives on some studies and such, the links provided gave me a lot to think about. Actually researching it was a bit difficult until I came across the TERM for this though: Cultivation Theory. The idea that media has long term effects on attitudes...

Reavers existing for decades only makes sense if you squint but then again this is a universe where they have cool western train robberies in space so I don't hold up the lens TOO close. They fulfill the role of 'ravening horde' narratively for the story, as well as acting as a mystery plot hook...

That is a question: Is it still problematic to portray a race as All Evil if the REASON they are all evil is not their fault? Think reavers from firefly/serenity. They cannot be reasoned with, there are no good reavers. But it is also entirely not their fault, they are 100% victims in a way...

I've done them a few ways. When I was younger I did the 'from another world' way, where they came over with the Elves to flee a dying world that both sides had reduced to inhabitable, and the basic campaign idea was that the Elves arrived first and portrayed themselves as victims, but the Orcs...

As well, another poster earlier quite rightly game-theoried out their options, they chose the correct one. The risks of NOT changing, especially in todays environment, are grave and the rewards for not changing are...well, there *aren't really any concrete rewards. The secondary sanctions that...

Well sure but thats part of the problem, innit? That a whole race does this as default seems to be just as problematic as portraying all gnolls/orcs/drow/oozes as violent killing machines that go around eating people and enslaving them. Monocultures in the default lore are, it is being argued...

Also, I want to make very clear that the answers/solutions to this stuff, I am making a BEST GUESS at. I recognize that I can come off sometimes as preachy, but lets be honest here one with another: I dont know. I dont know what they correct answer is to MOST of the questions that are posed...

This has solved SO many issues. It also acts as a great plot hook! One day, the NPC they've grown attached to begins to exhibit...symptoms. There are some morally/ethically questionable methods they might try to stop these symptoms becoming worse. Does the party do it? That, to me, is a VERY...

1. Ya'll keep saying that 'nobody is arguing that' but we have a lot of posters saying 'these types of imagery are causing harm' and I think we can all agree that harming others is morally wrong, no? So that is literally what you are arguing. This comes off as dishonest when you deny it. And...

Okay, so there are a lot of cultures. But were those cultures based on physical differences? Environmental, yes. Technological, yes. But physical? No. So certainly, you can portray the Ogre as coming from a certain style of society. But then the question becomes: Why that culture/society and...

They are physically different. Why would there physical differences dictate how you treat them? Do you...usually treat people differently based on how they look? Not in any meaningful way, since we act how we do based on our culture (broadly speaking). A giant may duck a bit lower passing...

Serious question: Aside from how they look, what IS the difference? If Ogres and Humans and Centaurs all built cities and raised families and were of a similar culture, why would you not interchange them? If each had the same culture the way they would behave would be, well, so similar as to...

Putting aside the rest of your bullet point list for a moment, I am genuinely curious! It is a long thread and I no doubt missed it, but I AM actually interested in reading the experiences of TTRPG creators activism. Do you have links to their stories?

Okay. Thank you for the explanation (and the other poster for the link). I understand a bit better now the argument.

I confess I am not that familiar with consequentialism. Is the argument that "Because antisemitism/racism/gender inequality is removed in D&D lore, there will be a good done to (on?) society"?

Oh of course. It was 100% good business sense. It is the same reason that they made the changes they did in 2E. It was good business sense THEN too. Its all about perspective and presentation and the almighty dollar.

But you just said there was no concern... I do not mean to be obtuse, but I am confused. Is there or is there not a concern that D&D will influence people (kids or adults) to be more okay with racism in real life? Your first response would lead me to believe that NO, that is NOT the concern...

Indeed. The merits are in question, in my opinion. Again though, I am not a scientist. So, you know. Take that as you will!

This concern is literally what Justice and Rule just expressed. Perpetuating harmful stereotypes...the harm (it is argued) being that such stereotypes negatively influence the player to be more okay with such attitudes.