D&D 5E (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."

 

[Yaarel]

It feels like dealing with racism and sexism still show up in lots of popular movies, TV shows, and books and so might still be interesting to quite a few people? Or was Black Panther, for example, just touching on colonialism without racism being a thing? (As was noted above by @codo , how they're interestingly used seems to have changed.)

Challenges with sexism remain interesting, including phobias about gay and trans.

Challenges about how to value ones ethnic identity in a homogenizing culture is also interesting. Black Panther seems part of that. For example, it explores what African cultures (or an American Pan-African identity) might look like while integrating accelerating technology.

 

[Mecheon]

They're the same size mechanically, anyone can get darkvision incredibly easily, and tusks and other aesthetic considerations are meaningless. Are you sure you want to stand by the only real difference between orc and human being Powerful Build?

Y'know, if we're breaking stuff down like this, I'd argue you're arguing for the removal of most player. Because, well, going off this, all of the long life stuff of elves and dwarves isn't really important as you can get that semi-easily. Aesthetic is the reason why folks care about a bunch about races as well and completely it just seems... Not understanding a lot of the draw? I know folks strip away the Dragonborn aesthetic a lot of times for just 'human with horns and a tail' or whatever, but its still an important part of why there's a draw for stuff

Folks like orcs because we're in a universe where Warhammer and Warcraft have done more for the orc image than D&D ever has, and people want to be green peeps, go 'zug zug', and be the popular orc image. Being a human isn't going to sell you on that.

 

[Vaalingrade]

You wouldn't let your kids play 5E as as it was released originally cause of how racist it is?

Wouldn't let thme use Volo's Guide, that's for dang sure.

 

[codo]

You wouldn't let your kids play 5E as as it was released originally cause of how racist it is?

I think overall 5E did a pretty good job, and I believe the designers actually care about not being racist and are trying, but nobody is perfect. There have been a few issues, but they are attempting to correct them when pointed out. The new policy on cultural consultants in a really good move.

I don't have a kid, I mentioned my nephew, but yes I would let them play 5E, but there are a few things I would need to discuss with them first. Just like I know my sister needs to screen most of the movies or books from our childhood before letting my nephews watch them, and when she does let them watch one of the movies, she almost inevitable needs to discuss certain inappropriate parts with them before watching.

Turns out, just because you enjoyed something when you were a kid, it doesn't mean it isn't full of some shockingly racist, misogynistic , and homophobic content.

 

[Yaarel]

It feels like dealing with racism and sexism still show up in lots of popular movies, TV shows, and books and so might still be interesting to quite a few people? Or was Black Panther, for example, just touching on colonialism without racism being a thing?

I want to emphasize, Black Panther avoids racism.

There is no hint that some human groups are superior because of their genetics, or different.

(Heh, any human group might birthe mutants.)

It is about preserving cultural identity. The citizens of Wakanda actually hide from the world in order to preserve their cultural identity. The decision to champion Wakandan identity out in the open, was a difficult one.

Critique of colonialism does show up in Black Panther, noting the injustice when cultures prey on other cultures.

But racism is uninteresting. Even in Black Panther.

 

[codo]

I want to emphasize, Black Panther avoids racism.

There is no hint that some human groups are superior because of their genetics, or different.

(Heh, any human group might birthe mutants.)

It is about preserving cultural identity. The citizens of Wakanda actually hide from the world in order to preserve their cultural identity. The decision to champion Wakandan identity out in the open, was a difficult one.

Critique of colonialism does show up in Black Panther, noting the injustice when cultures prey on other cultures.

But racism is uninteresting. Even in Black Panther.

I haven't had a change yet to see the new Black Panther yet, but the lack of racism in the first movie was a breath of fresh air. It was nice just to have a fantasy story about black people without having to wallow around examining racism. It really gets exhausting sometimes.

 

[Remathilis]

You wouldn't let your kids play 5E as as it was released originally cause of how racist it is?

This feels like the "you couldn't make Blazing Saddles in 202X" argument. I can look at Blazing Saddles as a movie and still find it hilarious and yet acknowledge there are parts of it that go over the line today (the use of the N word and the homophobic dance number). You can acknowledge something is good and still try to do better.

 

[Yaarel]

I haven't had a change yet to see the new Black Panther yet, but the lack of racism in the first movie was a breath of fresh air. It was nice just to have a fantasy story about black people without having to wallow around examining racism. It really gets exhausting sometimes.

Yeah. Positivity is more empowering than negativity.

It is important to confront negative challenges.

But it is more effective when one is coming from a good place to face it.

 

[Cadence]

I want to emphasize, Black Panther avoids racism.

There is no hint that some human groups are superior because of their genetics, or different.

(Heh, any human group might birthe mutants.)

It is about preserving cultural identity. The citizens of Wakanda actually hide from the world in order to preserve their cultural identity. The decision to champion Wakandan identity out in the open, was a difficult one.

Critique of colonialism does show up in Black Panther, noting the injustice when cultures prey on other cultures.

But racism is uninteresting. Even in Black Panther.

I haven't had a change yet to see the new Black Panther yet, but the lack of racism in the first movie was a breath of fresh air. It was nice just to have a fantasy story about black people without having to wallow around examining racism. It really gets exhausting sometimes.

Didn't one of the flashback scenes that was pretty central to it have the 1992 riots in LA playing live (in movie time) on TV in the background to help explain what N'Jobu was experiencing? And it feels odd to me to separate colonialism from racism (especially in a game forum where the two usually seem to come up in tandem - say any time B2 is mentioned).

But I agree that the movie certainly didn't do anything I would call wallowing!

 

[Yaarel]

Didn't one of the flashback scenes that was pretty central to it have the 1992 riots in LA playing live (in movie time) on TV in the background to help explain what N'Jobu was experiencing? And it feels odd to me to separate colonialism from racism (especially in a game forum where the two usually seem to come up in tandem - say any time B2 is mentioned).

But I agree that the movie certainly didn't do anything I would call wallowing!

I need to see the movie again to comment carefully how it characterizes the riots in LA.

But it is probably fair to say, a majority of American citizens are impatient with any racist cops.