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.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I guarantee you that he understands that it's not literal. The way you wrote the statement made it seem like YOU thought it was literal, which is why he objected.

Oh, and here's a youtube video for you because you've said that you've never heard anyone say "Top of the morning to ye" on St Patrick's Day.

I have never heard the phrase "Top of the morning.. " outside a US context but St. Patties Day really grinds my gears.

 

[Lanefan]

Now if WotC said they were publishing the original text of, say, AD&D, but changed a bunch of language without being upfront about it, I think that would make me uncomfortable. And that may be because they are not the current "caretakers" of AD&D, and those authors don't have agency in the change.

Errr...WotC are the current caretakers of AD&D, and will be until-unless they sell the rights to 0-1-2e to someone else.

That they don't do anything with that IP doesn't remove their owner/caretaker status.

 

[MGibster]

Is that OK? Have you ever been on the other end of stereotyping by a more powerful culture who repeatedly insists you're being too sensitive to be bothered by it and you're wrong to speak up about it? (And to be clear, I understand the argument would be stronger were I not a white citizen of a western democracy).

When you're living in a country of 330,000,000 people most of whom are descendants of those who emigrated from other parts of the world things get a little complicated. We're not just talking about Americans and the Irish we're talking about Irish-Americans, other Hpyhenated-Americans, and the Irish. While the Irish were treated like garbage when they started arriving in big numbers during the 1850s, they pretty much became integrated and accepted in the years following the Civil War. i.e. They're not exactly what you'd call an oppressed minority here in the United States. Like many other immigrant groups, the Irish formed their own Irish American identity and their presence had an impact on our culture.

Whose concerns should I give the most weight to? Here in the United States, excluding the Scotch-Irish, an ethnic group most British people don't actually recognize, we have approximately 11,000,000 self-identified Irish Americans whereas Ireland has a population of 7,000,000. If we include the Scotch-Irish we're talking 36,000,000 people. I wouldn't dream of going to Dublin and celebrating St. Patrick's day like we do in the United States. On that same token, I'm not going to worry if someone from Dublin doesn't like how we celebrate it.

 

[Charlaquin]

Self-censorship is still censorship.

No, it isn’t.

 

[Morrus]

Whose concerns should I give the most weight to?

That's something only you can decide.

formed their own Irish American identity

Indeed, it is a very separate culture.

I'm not going to worry if someone from Dublin doesn't like how we celebrate it.

Clearly.

 

[The Myopic Sniper]

I think there's a difference between describing people as savage, and describing things as savage. To me, "savage" implies some level of being like an animal, and applying that to people is not ideal – especially not to groups of people.

"Savage" seems to be undergoing the same sort of drift that "oriental" has undergone . I would have a hard time imagining a corporate chain department store selling "oriental rugs" even though that usage was the encouraged one as recently as the 90s. I've seen people express discomfort over the name of the "Savage Coast" product based on nothing but the name. I assume if that line was ever rebooted, it would get a new name.... though if I recall correctly, the name is just one of many possibly problematic elements with those products.

 

[Parmandur]

excluding the Scotch-Irish, an ethnic group most British people don't actually recognize

I mean, I'm pretty sure most British people would understand "Irish Protestant" just fine.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I mean, I'm pretty sure most British people would understand "Irish Protestant" just fine.

There is a difference between Scots Irish and Irish Protestant

Edit: Since my original comment was ambiguous, Scots Irish (or Ulster Scots) are distinct subgroup within Irish Protestantism.

 

[Bedrockgames]

I am a person of Irish descent. But I'm English, so I don't presume to speak for Irish people. I find it curious that people speak of "people of Irish descent" like Ireland doesn't exist any more or something, but nobody ever mentions the actual Irish. Maybe somebody should ask them?

Americans have a very different way of thinking about Ancestry I think than Europeans. We are a nation of immigrants. We aren't really a 'people', usually that part of your identity is connected to your ancestry. This is doubly the case on the east coast where you have long standing areas where the descendants of immigrants still think of themselves as Irish, Italian, etc. We understand being Italian American isn't the same as being from Italy, but we still feel a connection to that culture. It is also important here. Being Irish in Boston means something. It doesn't mean Ireland doesn't exist, it doesn't mean there aren't substantive differences between Boston Irish and the people of Ireland, but it is a very important identity and there is a culture that gets passed down through the generations. I myself am mostly Italian, Irish and Jewish. There is still a connection to these cultures too. My grandfather spoke Italian before he learned English. The food, the music, etc was largely Italian. Now when I went to Italy for the first time, there were things that surprised me but also things that were familiar and it was definitely a place I felt a strong sense of connection to. I don't mistake that for being Italian the same way someone from Italy is, but it is a very strong part of how I came up through the world. Again though, we get it doesn't change our nationality. It is just that ethnic heritage matters a lot here.

All that said, I agree with you that the association with Irish pride and drinking in the US is very idiotic. Living in Boston it is something that comes up a lot and, not being a fan of alcohol and public drunkenness, I find green beer and people getting hammered on Saint Patrick's day pretty obnoxious (I am not offended by it, but I think it is really stupid behavior).

 

[Morrus]

There is a difference between Scots Irish and Irish Protestant

Yeah I'm not sure where that came from.