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

[Chaltab]

I don't think anyone is trying to tell Jews what they should be offended by. We're just trying to explain why publishers of RPGs changed it. They want to preempt any controversy even if it wasn't likely to ever become one.

 

[Bedrockgames]

I don't think anyone is trying to tell Jews what they should be offended by. We're just trying to explain why publishers of RPGs changed it. They want to preempt any controversy even if it wasn't likely to ever become one.

But that is the sort of thing people find patronizing. Maybe some are upset about the presence of the golem in the game, but maybe people are happy about. Also this constant preemption is what sucks so much flavor from the game

 

[Micah Sweet]

But obscure words are part of the fun of D&D. I mean, I fondly remember poring over the 1e DMG and encountering hundreds of weird words. It gave everything a sense of mystique.

Has anyone ever encountered jacinth outside the context of D&D?

100%. D&D has done wonders for me over the years in improving my vocabulary. That is real value, and I honestly find it very disappointing that it seems this is being moved away from.

 

[DarkCrisis]

I've gone my whole non-jewish life only ever hearing about Phylacteries from D&D and Liches.

I'll just put this in the Orcs and Drow are based on real people and not Norse folklore no-no bucket.

 

[Micah Sweet]

So then what? Boycott any game that made the change until they change it back? That includes D&D (Spirit jar), Pathfinder (soul cage) and Level Up (soul vessel). Tales of the Valiant still uses phylactery, so I guess go support the Kobolds.

You can dislike a change but still have it not be enough to change your gaming or purchasing habits.

 

[Tsuga C]

Private companies are allowed to do as they please with their own products. You may not like it, but to take it so personally as an affront or insult is unfortunate.

As you said, there are other games out there that better meet your sensibilities. And communities too, I can think of at least one forum out there that revels in the past ways of doing things...

They may do as they please, but there are very definite reasons linked directly to WotC's choices and attitudes that Mike Mearls carefully danced around when stating that D&D is "uncool again". He stated the outcome, but not the key factors in WHY D&D has arrived at this low point.

And what forum might that be?

 

[Remathilis]

But that is the sort of thing people find patronizing. Maybe some are upset about the presence of the golem in the game, but maybe people are happy about. Also this constant preemption is what sucks so much flavor from the game

Ok, is the fact that the magic item the lich uses called a phylactery vital to the game? Per everyone, it's an archaic word for amulet. The game has plenty of magical amulets that aren't called phylacteries. Does it ruin anyone's game that that a company calls it a spirit jar or soul vessel?

 

[TiQuinn]

Er, no. That video was not about complaints in the Jewish community about lich phylacteries. It was about him ranting that nobody in the Jewish community calls it a phylactery, so that word is not offensive to us.

There has been no complaint that I am aware of from the Jewish community about lich phylacteries. Nobody is being an ally here. We have a situation where a bunch of non-jews are trying to dictate to us Jews what we should be offended at, and that itself is what is offensive about the phylactery situation.

And I go back to someone being part of a community does not necessarily speak for the whole community.

 

[Remathilis]

You can dislike a change but still have it not be enough to change your gaming or purchasing habits.

Then this is all yelling at clouds. None of those publishers are going to rush to change it back unless there is significant pushback, and the only pullback that matters is lost sales (or potential).

Of course, we can just ask Morrus if he will change the word back. He's only a tag away. Let's see if he'll do it or why he won't. We might not be able to convince WotC or even Paizo, but EN Publishing is right here.

If it matters, ask.

 

[MGibster]

Geek moment: can you name the source with the only canonical appearance of orcs in Ravenloft prior to 5e?

Without checking online, I'm going to guess The House of Gryphon Hill? It was the direct sequel to I-6 and something of an oddity in Ravenloft history. It's been so long since I've played it, I remember next to nothing.