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."

 

[Bedrockgames]

If you had a utopian home base why leave it?

I think a utopian base could be interesting in some settings. I could see a City and the Stars style setting where either the tedium of the home base, some secret, or as Yaarel points out, the need for resources would work. I am not against utopian elements in a setting. I just don't think this would add to Dark Sun (it feels like filing away the rough edges to the concept: i.e. it isn't meant to be a pleasant setting).

 

[Cadence]

If you had a utopian home base why leave it?

To spread the Utopia. It gets the Borg and Phyrexians out and about.

 

[Yaarel]

If it lacks resources it isn't really a utopia then is it.

Heh, people killing each other because of scarcity of resourses is ... less utopian.

People cooperating to figure out together the best use for any resources is more utopian.

 

[Dire Bare]

So I'm wrapping a Spelljammer 3PP supplement (custom ships, full deck plans and a Nebula Wildspace system), that I included a couple 'races', which I knew were being renamed. Not knowing what that is, I chose "beings" although "sapients" crossed my mind as another alternative...

There was another sci-fantasy RPG I stumbled across recently . . . can't remember the name . . . that used the term "sophonts", which means "intelligent being".

WotC hasn't gone back to "race", they'll likely stick to "species" . . . but until One D&D comes out in 2024, "race" is the official term. Use what you want, however . . . just probably a good idea to include a sidebar explaining your choice of terms.

 

[billd91]

There was another sci-fantasy RPG I stumbled across recently . . . can't remember the name . . . that used the term "sophonts", which means "intelligent being".

WotC hasn't gone back to "race", they'll likely stick to "species" . . . but until One D&D comes out in 2024, "race" is the official term. Use what you want, however . . . just probably a good idea to include a sidebar explaining your choice of terms.

MegaTraveller used sophont for intelligent species. They probably got it from Poul Anderson (who apparently got it from his wife).

 

[Clint_L]

There was another sci-fantasy RPG I stumbled across recently . . . can't remember the name . . . that used the term "sophonts", which means "intelligent being".

WotC hasn't gone back to "race", they'll likely stick to "species" . . . but until One D&D comes out in 2024, "race" is the official term. Use what you want, however . . . just probably a good idea to include a sidebar explaining your choice of terms.

I mean...is anybody seriously confused by this?

However, while I'm here I wish to resurrect "schmorp" for consideration. If a term made up by Poul Anderson's wife is up for consideration, I feel schmorp should also be in the running. It has zero baggage!

 

[Dire Bare]

I mean...is anybody seriously confused by this?

However, while I'm here I wish to resurrect "schmorp" for consideration. If a term made up by Poul Anderson's wife is up for consideration, I feel schmorp should also be in the running. It has zero baggage!

Thanks for taking folks concerns seriously, it's always appreciated.