D&D General Drow & Orcs Removed from the Monster Manual

[Reynard]

So far, we have two perfect books for 3PP to make:
A "monster manual" of PC race NPCs.
And a book of monsters and NPCs infused with various planar qualities.
Let's Go!

 

[Remathilis]

Well, I think that's pretty awful design, and more than enough reason not to give WotC my money for it.

You mean reason 1,486 why you aren't giving WotC money?

 

[Deset Gled]

So far, we have two perfect books for 3PP to make:
A "monster manual" of PC race NPCs.

I agree from a logical standpoint.

From a social standpoint, I am worried that the Venn diagram of people who should write this book about orcs and the people who are excited to publish this book about orcs in the current climate is a picture of two isolated circles.

 

[Reynard]

I agree from a logical standpoint.

From a social standpoint, I am worried that the Venn diagram of people who should write this book about orcs and the people who are excited to publish this book about orcs in the current climate is a picture of two isolated circles.

I'm not, not even a little bit. not everyone is rubbing their hands together like a cartoon villain waiting to get their racism on.

 

[SlyFlourish]

I don't really think WotC bypassed the problem at all by classifying gnolls and fiends. So long as you have intelligent human-like creatures that are presented as almost always evil, someone is going to feel icky about it.

My problem is that in their own setting, Eberron, gnolls aren't fiends and goblins aren't fey. It takes like one sentence to fix a lot of this stuff and they did it for minotaurs and to a lesser degree with lizardfolk.

 

[SlyFlourish]

This is why I so very much dislike WotC's status as the tip of the spear in the hobby. Quite frankly they don't deserve it.

Exactly. They trail far behind most other publishers when it comes to handling things like this. Ancestries and Culture was written years ago and they still just went with "species". Their own setting, Eberron, had fantastic ways to change how the "monstrous" races are handled and they ignored it. They're not leading the pack. They're barely following the pack.

 

[Lidgar]

A "Book of Villainy" is one way to introduce NPC statblocks for intelligent humanoids that are meant to be fought. Evil drow, orcs, humans, elves, etc.

 

[MGibster]

My problem is that in their own setting, Eberron, gnolls aren't fiends and goblins aren't fey. It takes like one sentence to fix a lot of this stuff and they did it for minotaurs and to a lesser degree with lizardfolk.

Aren't all the settings "theirs?" Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms, Dark Sun, Birthright, etc., etc. all belong to WotC.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Aren't all the settings "theirs?" Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms, Dark Sun, Birthright, etc., etc. all belong to WotC.

As opposed to 5e settings not owned by WotC.

 

[cbwjm]

I loved the orcs in the volo's guide (I think it was that one), from memory there was one that exploded in a pile of goo and disease when it died.