D&D (2024) One D&D Permanently Removes The Term 'Race'

In line with many other tabletop roleplaying games, such as Pathfinder or Level Up, One D&D is removing the term 'race'. Where Pathfinder uses 'Ancestry' and Level Up uses 'Heritage', One D&D will be using 'Species'.

Moving On From 'Race' in the 2024 Core Rulebooks

We understand "race" is a problematic term that has had prejudiced links between real world people and the fantasy peoples of D&D worlds.

www.dndbeyond.com

In a blog post, WotC announced that "We have made the decision to move on from using the term "race" everywhere in One D&D, and we do not intend to return to that term."

 

[DEFCON 1]

I'm good with moving on from the term 'Race'. Doesn't bother me.

Funny part though is that I think the game could actually have two different new terms for this... based upon the two different types of "race" there are in the game. The completely different "species" (like Humans to Dwarves to Elves to Orcs)... and "lineages" (which are species that have bloodlines from other peoples in their ancestry that have made its way down through the generations-- like Tieflings, Genasi, Shifters, Aasimar, Half-Elves, Half-Orcs and the like.)

Of course the reason they wouldn't do this would be the confusion of using two different terms for the same character generation thing-- like how would you identify the chapter header for instance... and you would always have to try and remember the correct term of the two every time one got mentioned in any of the books. More trouble than its worth... even if it's more "correct" per se.

 

[sevenbastard]

Makes sense. When I immigrated here from Alpha Centauri the forms I filled out at MIB used that term to have me identify my origin.

Now if they will just remove the offensive centaur stereotypes from the MM all will be good.

 

[Lieslo]

I dislike the term species as this could imply the biological species concept as members of a population that can potentially interbreed. Where does this leave half-orcs, half elves etc? Its too loaded a term to be of use for the game as is race. My preference is ancestry

 

[Scribe]

Would have rathered something less...sterilized?

Lineage, Ancestry, Heritage...Species?!

 

[Incenjucar]

Glad to see it.

There are species that are fully compatible but separated by geography, so this is fine linguistically, even if it's a bit of an awkward word.

 

[delericho]

I'm happy to see 'race' gone.

I have rather more mixed feelings about 'species' - it doesn't feel right for a fantasy game (too sci-fi), but then I wasn't really happy with any of the alternatives. That may be part of why 'race' lasted so long. Anyway, it's not a big deal.

 

[payn]

I dislike the term species as this could imply the biological species concept as members of a population that can potentially interbreed. Where does this leave half-orcs, half elves etc? Its too loaded a term to be of use for the game as is race. My preference is ancestry

Ancestry was taken.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

sounds good to me

 

[Veltharis ap Rylix]

Will take some getting used to, but not a bad decision by any means.

Would still like a better way of handling mixed characters, and especially Half-Elves and Half-Orcs, than the "pick a parent" reflavoring method.

 

[SteveC]

I think the removal of the race term is something that's been expected for a long time. I think the term species is a poor choice for a fantasy game, and the scientist in me says "okay, so that means there are no half elves any more?"

I think there are a lot better alternatives (Ancestry or Kin come immediately to mind, I'm sure there are many others) but from the things I have a mind to argue on, it doesn't make the list. I do think think the specific choice will be jarring as there are better options for a fantasy based rpg.